Leer Group shows off lighter, flexible truck upfits

Commercial truck upfitting is moving away from static, heavy solutions of the past into more modular, lighter, and versatile accessories that offer fleets running light- and medium-duty equipment more efficiency and flexibility.

JBPCO subsidiary Leer Group, one of North America’s largest truck cap, cover, and truck accessory suppliers, showed off some of its latest innovations during SEMA 2025 in Las Vegas last week. A lot of Leer’s accessories attract pickup truck enthusiasts looking for different ways to trick out their rides with sharp-looking, useful upfits; the company also has a strong commercial fleet presence, Tracy Harper, Leer’s VP of marketing and ecommerce, told FleetOwner during a visit to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Leer’s latest accessories are designed to solve real-world problems for truck owners, Harper said. “We have a strong commercial presence,” he noted. “We work with a lot of fleets, particularly the trades like HVAC and plumbing that like our truck caps and bed slide products.”

Modular caps, versatility

The shift in market preference from heavy, traditional fiberglass or aluminum shells toward flexible modular systems is most pronounced in the truck cap segment.

Harper said this is a significant area of growth for Leer Group, noting the popularity of the new modular cap (such as the Leer NexCap). These caps are often metal-constructed and feature Molly panels on the sides, allowing for endless customization and mounting options for specialized tools or recovery gear.

The modular design means the cap can be easily removed by an individual, eliminating the need for a forklift—a feature that provides instant flexibility for fleet managers. “I would say that my favorite is the modular cap with the Molly panels on the sides,” Harper said. “You can do different things, like you can mount your fishing poles on the side, or you can put… different mounts on there, you know, bike rack or whatever.”

Maximizing efficiency inside the box

While the caps provide a versatile shell, another significant component of modern fleet efficiency lies in how easily technicians can access their gear inside the bed. Leer Group has expanded its BEDSLIDE lineup to eliminate wasted time and prevent technicians from having to crawl into the cargo area. The new Bedslide Stacked Drawer System offers secure, customizable, stackable storage for easy organization, with a quick-release feature that lets you remove elements as needed.

For straightforward access to heavy items, slide-out trays like the BedSlide 500Go (rated for 500 lb.) and its heavier-duty counterparts (offering capacities up to 1,500 lb.) can ease the burden on trade workers’ backs, Harper noted. These non-drill install systems are also easily transferred between trucks, making them a cost-effective solution for replacing vehicles.

Cargo security, weather protection

Beyond organization, fleets need security and reliable weather protection for tools and inventory. Leer Group addressed this with new hard-folding tonneau covers, such as the Leer HF680.

Combining the strength of a hard shell with multi-position latching for flexibility, these covers are built for security and feature an advanced rail-and-seal system for superior water management, protecting the bed’s contents without the need for drain tubes.

Other innovations

Leer Group also used SEMA to show off several other accessories designed to maximize truck bed utility:

• BedSlide 600Slim: A new compact truck bed slide with a 600-pound capacity, featuring a slim design that allows for side-by-side placement to double the sliding storage area.
• Leer NexRak: A modular bed rack that integrates with the NexGen system, offering a flexible design to support a wide range of accessories and seamlessly pair with other Leer and BedSlide products.
• Leer NexStor: A drawer system sold as part of the NexGen lineup, boasting universal compatibility, secure sliding, and weather-resistant components that are easy to install and detach.