The Loadmaster line was initially produced by John G. Hagan at the City Tank Corporation in Corona, New York. The first refuse collection bodies introduced were branded as Roto Pac, with the City of New York’s Department of Sanitation as their primary customer. In 1957, Hagan relocated operations to Culpepper, Virginia, establishing Old Dominion Manufacturing to produce the Loadmaster line. The new plant opened in 1959 and experienced rapid growth, largely due to the rear-load packing system developed in 1961, which laid the foundation for the modern Loadmaster product line.
In 1972, interest in sales outside the sanitation industry grew, and in late 1981, Hackney Industries, Inc. recognized Loadmaster’s potential and acquired its assets, trademark, and patents in March 1984, leasing the Culpepper plant for production. Under Hackney’s ownership, Loadmaster expanded, attracting investors like Waste Disposal Equipment Acquisition Corporation (WDEAC) in August 1990. However, the lack of industry knowledge among the management led to financial difficulties, and the company ran out of funds within a year. In 1992, leadership returned when David Brisson purchased Loadmaster from Larry Downing, who had intended to sell only parts. Brisson aimed to revitalize the refuse body line. Growing up in the manufacturing industry, David was influenced by his father, J. Raymond Brisson, who created the Lodal refuse equipment line, and he continues to operate his private refuse hauling company, Great American Disposal.
