Ricky Baker

While growing up on a farm in rural East Texas, Ricky Baker developed a deep appreciation for the value of hard work. From an early age, Ricky embraced adult responsibilities with enthusiasm, demonstrating a rare ability to rise to challenges and see tasks through to completion. The farm life taught him self-reliance, problem-solving, and perseverance—qualities that would become the foundation of his extraordinary success.

In his formative years, trailers were an integral part of daily life and building them from scratch was considered a normal skill. Ricky's journey into the trailer industry began in 1977 at the age of 17, when he started building trailers for a local businessman after school. His natural aptitude for the trade and entrepreneurial spirit quickly became apparent. Within two years, Ricky and his employer were building 5 to 10 trailers a week. By the age of 19, Ricky purchased the company, Texas Bragg Trailers, and brought on a partner. Under their leadership, production soared to over 100 trailers per week in just a few short years.

During this period, Ricky observed the shortcomings of the trailer industry, which he found disorganized and overly focused on reducing costs, often at the expense of safety and quality. This realization sparked a vision for an industry built on innovation, efficiency, and uncompromising standards—principles that would define his career.

In 1982, Ricky sold his interest in Texas Bragg Trailers and relocated to the Midland/Odessa area in West Texas. There, he began crafting a groundbreaking vision for trailer manufacturing and founded Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing. From the outset, Big Tex revolutionized the industry, becoming the first company in the utility and open trailer market to implement fixture built and assembly-line manufacturing processes. Shortly after, Ricky introduced further innovations, including a monorail production system and state-of-the-art paint finishing processes. These advancements allowed Big Tex to produce superior trailers at a lower cost than competitors, all while maintaining rigorous quality standards.

Under Ricky’s leadership, Big Tex quickly rose to become the industry standard and remained the top selling trailer manufacturer for decades. Ricky and his team built the company on a foundation of innovation, operational excellence, and integrity, creating a legacy that continues to define the trailer industry.

In 2012, after 30 years of ownership, Ricky partnered with H.I.G. Capital out of Miami, Florida, retaining a significant share in the company while serving as CEO. Three years later, in 2015, the company was acquired by Bain Capital of Boston, Massachusetts, further fueling its growth. At the time of the sale, Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing included 8 manufacturing facilities, 40 Big Tex Trailer World retail outlets, and 11 TexTrail Trailer Parts locations. Over the past nine years, the company—now operating as American Trailer World (ATW)—expanded to 21 manufacturing plants, 70 retail locations, 30 TexTrail Parts locations, and brands such as Big Tex Trailers, CM Truck Beds, PJ Trailers, BWise Trailers, RC Trailers, and Carry-On Trailers, employing over 5,000 people.

Ricky's visionary leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for U.S. Manufacturers in 2001. In 2015, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers honored Ricky and his Big Tex team with the Outstanding Member Award, and in 2016, the Titus County Chamber of Commerce in Mount Pleasant, TX presented Ricky with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional contributions to the community and industry.

Today, Ricky remains an influential leader, serving on several boards, including Guaranty Bank Shares Inc. (NYSE:GNTY) and Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, TX. He operates KRB Investments and RB Capital Investments, managing ventures in ranching, real estate development, oil and gas, and other industries. Even though Ricky could easily hang his hat on all of his accomplishments, he has decided he is not done. He is currently preparing to launch a new venture, NXG Truck Bodies, in May 2025. NXG Truck Bodies is focused on exceptional customer service while designing and manufacturing cutting-edge truck bodies that prioritize strength, functionality, and modern design to meet the needs of today's sophisticated chassis.

Despite his monumental success, Ricky remains deeply rooted in his family and community. He and his wife, Kelly, are the proud parents of seven children and grandparents to twenty grandchildren. They reside in Mount Pleasant, Texas, where they continue to invest in local initiatives and pursue their shared passion for creating meaningful, lasting impact.

The NATDA Lifetime Achievement Award honors Ricky Baker’s extraordinary contributions to the trailer industry. His visionary leadership, innovative thinking, and relentless dedication have left a lasting legacy, setting a standard of excellence for future generations in the trailer and manufacturing industries.

Read more about the Industry Excellence Awards here.