The Story of White Spruce Trailer Sales

White Spruce Trailer Sales is a locally-owned company with three partners who have lived in Alaska collectively for 92 years. We pride ourselves in being the trailer specialists in the state of Alaska. Recently I've heard folks say that we must be a "big corporate" trailer dealership. Nothing could be further from the truth so we would like to share our story with you.

Jerry Gustafson came to Alaska in 1968 from Wisconsin. He had his master's in chemistry and physics and was a high school teacher for 27 years. He also did a few other things while teaching: had two different construction businesses, a logging, and sawmill operation, ran a fishing charter business for 8 years in Valdez, lived in the village of Norvik for two years, and ran sled dogs for 18 years.

Leslie Gustafson came to Alaska in 1977 from Washington state. She had her business degree and master's in teaching. She was a high school teacher for 20 years, teaching business and technology. She also did a few other things: lived in Hooper Bay and Tooksook Bay, partnered in the logging, sawmill, and construction business, and loves world travel. Both Leslie and Jerry see many of their old students in the trailer sales offices.

After trying to purchase a trailer, Leslie and Jerry found that the State of Alaska needed a dealership for trailers. No one else had a variety of trailers in a dealership lot for viewing. Some folks had 1 or 2 trailers for sale in a yard, some were tied to a post at the gas station, but there was not a real "dealership" where a customer could find a trailer for their needs, know it had a warranty, and know they could get it repaired by an expert. So, in 1999, the first White Spruce Trailer Sales dealership opened.

The first lot was in Salcha and was moved to its current location in North Pole a year later. North Pole features 5 acres of trailers with 3 buildings to provide parts and trailer service repairs. The location also has a large sales office that holds a wide variety of parts and accessories. Also located in this office is Express Title and Tag, our DMV partnership for the public.

In 2001, White Spruce Trailer Sales opened the Anchorage sales lot and was able to serve the entire State. It features 3 acres of trailers, a sale office and a trailer service repair shop. That office has a great variety of repair parts and accessories as well.

In January of 2015, we took on a younger, and very talented partner, Megan Swank, who is now serving as CEO of the company.  Megan has her Degree in Accounting and Economics and has been working for White Spruce Trailers since 2009. Adding Megan as the 3rd partner was a natural fit to keep the company growing and strong. Megan is from Honolulu, Hawaii, as were 7 generations of her family. She is now a true Alaskan with a young family, snow machines, ATVs, (several trailers) and everything else that makes living in Alaska the best.

In May of 2018, White Spruce opened our 3rd location in Wasilla to serve our customer base in the Valley.  Along with the addition of the Wasilla store, we welcomed Kenneth Swank as the General Manager.  Ken spent 14 years serving in the US Air Force as a JTAC working with special forces.

In July of 2022, the original owners of the company, Leslie & Jerry Gustafson, officially retired after 23 years.  Megan Swank became President of the company and Kenneth Swank became Vice President.

This "Mom and Pop" owned and run business has been the leading trailer dealership in Alaska since 1999.  The goal of White Spruce Trailer Sales is to offer quality trailers, in stock, with warranties and aftercare for Alaskan recreators and businesses. We only carry trailers from manufacturers who are a member of NATM, the National Association of Trail Manufacturers, whose job is to provide quality control for all trailers on DOT regulations and engineering. 

White Spruce Trailers has our full selection of trailers on our website. Our pricing is always competitive, and we carry only quality items. Buying a trailer from White Spruce Trailer Sales gives you the peace of mind to know that we can take care of all your trailer needs.

That's our story. Thought you should know that we are a team of Alaskans who care about how you haul your loads safely and the local Alaskan economy. We always appreciate your business.