In the 1980s new markets and new technologies gave birth to the truck bed liner. By and large, truck owners were quite happy with the performance of the truck bed; however, the appearance of their trucks became of greater importance. Used truck beds looked…used, lowering the resale value of the truck. Two products emerged during this time, the plastic vacuum molded truck bed liner, which covers the entire surface area of the truck bed and the vacuum molded rubber bed mat, which protects only the floor of the truck bed. These truck bed liners greatly enhanced the appearance of new and used trucks and also improved the strength and durability of the truck bed itself.

Companies such and Penda Corporation (makers of Pendaliner®) and Durakon Industries (makers of Duraliner®) ushered in the truck bed liner era. The popularity of these new products exploded. They became so popular that the truck bed liner market has almost become a commodity market. For very little cost, one could greatly improve the performance and appearance of their truck bed, increasing the overall value of the truck to the user. Today, the only aftermarket truck accessory that is more popular than the truck bed liner is the interior floor mat.

Other bed liners also began to compete in this new truck bed liner market. Bedrug® from Wise Industries, Inc. offered its own version of the plastic truck bed liner. Made from solid plastic polymer fiber backed and bound by a closed cell foam pad, the Bedrug®, as its name suggests, looks and feels like a carpet. This truck bed liner offered new benefits to the truck owner. A softer feel was far more comfortable for truck owners and their animals that used the truck bed, protecting the truck bed from dents and scratches along the way.

These truck bed liner products paved the way for the next generation of bed liners…the spray bed liner.

For information on Spray Truck Bed Liners.

Numerous options now exist in the truck bed liner market. Truck owners get to choose from a plethora of options, colors and price points to find the bed liner that is perfect for their needs and demands. It is a market that has enjoyed enormous growth over the past twenty-five years and continues today. As long as people buy trucks, companies will continue to create bed liner products to improve the performance and longevity of the truck bed.