INDEPENDENT TRUCK COMPANY ONLINE STORE

Independent Trucks is an icon in the world of skateboarding, founded in 1978 in San Francisco, possibly on May 23. They are undoubtedly the inventors of the perfect truck, and what’s most impressive about Independent is their durability and reliability.

Plus, the quality of your turns when you’ve got an Indy under your feet is something you really notice and feel.

The brand has a highly respected team and, over nearly 40 years, has sponsored some of the world’s greatest champions. Independent is built to grind, so expect endless, smooth, and fast grinds; if you decide to break an Independent truck, you’ll really have to give it your all because it’ll be a truly tough feat.

Indy offers a lifetime warranty on its trucks against manufacturing defects, which are practically nonexistent. In addition to producing the best skateboard trucks in the world, the California-based brand also offers a clothing line featuring hoodies, t-shirts, beanies, and various accessories.

ù

INDEPENDENT TRUCK CO. THE HISTORY

Back in 1978, the company was founded by Richard Novak, Jay Shiurman, Fausto Vitello, and Eric Swenson. These three crazy Californians created a brand that made skateboarding history and continues to do so after more than 35 years in business.

They entered the market during those years with their first truck model, the legendary Stage 1, which was unveiled in the Californian town of Newark. The need for a high-performance truck was the driving force behind the creation of Independent; back then, the trucks on the market had many flaws and issues.

The two main brands at the time—Tracker Trucks and Bennett Trucks—caused a ton of problems because one would break while the other didn’t turn well at all.

Initially, the first truck produced, the Stage 1, was a blend of the two brands on the market at the time: Tracker and Bennett. The release of Stage 1 caused a stir in the market, and Independent magically began to become the world’s number one skateboard truck brand.

THE BRAND’S ICONIC LOGO

The story of the cross began in California when the head of NHS started playing around with old Maltese iron crosses used by surfers in the 1960s and motorcyclists of that era.

Playing with a compass and tweaking a few lines, one day the most famous logo in skateboarding came to life. The next morning, the logo arrived at the NHS offices, where Jay and Rick Novak rejected the new logo, deeming it a bit Nazi-like. Eric Swanson was determined to use that logo, which was certainly ready for the world, but he needed to do some research to find an excuse to use it without running into trouble.

Searching through the archives, they found that the same symbol was used by firefighters and on Christopher Columbus’s sails. One day, while flipping through the June 1979 issue of Time magazine, they noticed that Pope John Paul II was wearing the exact same symbol that Swanson had designed.

THE BIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT LOGO

The following morning, the logo resurfaced at the NHS offices, but now with proof that it did not belong to any Nazi group. The company’s four executives decided that if the Pope could wear it, then it could undoubtedly be the Independent Trucks logo.

And from that day on, the legendary Independent Trucks logo was born. From the first Stage 1 truck in 1978, the brand has come a long way, and as early as 1979, an upgrade—Stage 2—was released, featuring many technical innovations compared to the original model.

Every two or three years, the brand released new, improved versions to enhance the performance of the skaters on the team. From the first Stage 1, we’ve now reached Stage 11, which, after 40 years, confirms Independent as the world’s number one brand in skateboard truck manufacturing.

THE IMMORTAL SKATEBOARD TRUCK

Independent 159 trucks offer responsive and functional steering that never lets you down. Enjoy Independent, the world’s best-selling trucks—“Ride the best, fuck the rest” remains the brand’s motto!

For any advice on choosing your truck, we recommend reading our guides on how to select the best truck. Alternatively, you can email us or call our customer service team—we’ll be happy to provide all the information you need.