East Manufacturing Corp. Midwest Regional Sales Manager Jerry Shepherd has retired after 54 years of service to the trucking industry,  the last 24 with East. He will be succeeded in this position by Mark Fletcher, who joined the company in March 2011.

Shepherd started his career with Fruehauf Trailers in 1962. He later served as branch manager and sales representative for four other trailer manufacturers prior to joining East Manufacturing in 1989 as Midwest Regional Sales Manager, a post he held for 24 years.

Shepherd will continue to reside in the Indianapolis area, and plans to manage tradeshows and offsite meetings for trucking industry clientele.