8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 4, 2000

Commission File Number:        0-24354
                        --------------------------

                              DORSEY TRAILERS, INC.
         -------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                           58-2110729
- -------------------------------------------         ---------------------------
 (State of Incorporation)                                (IRS Employer
                                                      Identification Number)

 One Paces West, Suite 1700
    2727 Paces Ferry Road
        Atlanta, Georgia                                       30339
- -------------------------------------------         ---------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (770) 438-9595
                                                    ---------------------------
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                              DORSEY TRAILERS, INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

ITEM 3.  Bankruptcy or Receivership

On December 4, 2000 the Registrant filed a Chapter 11 Voluntary Petition for
bankruptcy with the Middle District of Alabama, United States Bankruptcy Court.
Judge William A. Sawyer was assigned as presiding judge, and file number,
00-06792, was assigned to the Petition.

ITEM 5.  Other Information

On December 5, 2000, Dorsey Trailers, Inc. issued the press release attached as
Exhibit 99.4 to this report.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

         (a)      Financial Statements.

                        None.

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.

                        None.

         (c)      Exhibits.

                        99.4    Press Release
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                           DORSEY TRAILERS, INC.



Date:  December 6, 2000                By: /s/ Marilyn R. Marks
      ------------------                   ------------------------------------
                                               Marilyn R. Marks
                                               Chairman of the
                                               Board of Directors

EX-99.4

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.4


For Immediate Release                                    Contact: John L. Pugh
                                                                (770) 438-9595

                           DORSEY FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, December 5, 2000 - Dorsey Trailers, Inc. (DSYT) announces it
has filed for bankruptcy.

Mr. John L. Pugh, Chief Executive Officer for Dorsey, issued this statement,
"Dorsey Trailers has filed a voluntary petition for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in
the Middle District of Alabama. We have been unsuccessful in negotiating a line
of credit with our lender in order to continue operations. We have filed in the
State of Alabama because the majority of the Company's assets and employees are
in Alabama. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court we hope to be able to
attract interested parties to continue manufacturing Dorsey's well known product
line."

Certain statements in this press release and statements by the Company in
reports to its stockholders and public filings, as well as, oral public
statements by Company representatives may be deemed to be forward-looking
statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Any forward-looking statements included herein have been included based upon
facts available to management as of the date of the statement. Any forward
looking statement is, however, inherently subject to the uncertainty of future
events, whether economic, competitive or otherwise, many of which are beyond the
control of the Company, or which may involve determinations which may be made by
management in the future. There can, therefore, be no assurances that the events
or results described in such forward-looking statements will occur and actual
events or results may vary materially from those included herein.

Without limitation, the following are some of the factors which may affect
whether the events or results described in such forward-looking statements will
occur: increased competition, dependence on key management, continued
availability of credit from vendors, continued advancement of funds from lender,
reliance on certain customers, shortages of raw materials, component prices,
labor shortages or work stoppage, dependence on current industry trends and
demand for product, manufacturing interruption due to unfavorable natural
events, unfavorable results of outstanding litigation, government regulations
and new technologies or products. Readers should review and consider the various
disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in its reports to
stockholders and periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.