Wabash National Builds 500,000th DuraPlate(R) Van

December 10, 2013
Company Leads Industry With Production of Half a Million Duraplate Dry Vans

LAFAYETTE, IN -- (Marketwired) -- 12/10/13 -- Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) today announced its Commercial Trailer Products group has produced its 500,000th DuraPlate® van trailer.

The company's 500,000th DuraPlate trailer was built for Crete Carrier Corporation, one of the largest privately owned trucking companies in the United States.

"Wabash has always led the industry in innovation, going back to the early plate trailer that revolutionized the design and construction of traditional sheet and post trailers," said Tonn Ostergard, chief executive officer and president of Crete Carrier Corporation. "The DuraPlate van provides maximum cube space, which helps us serve our customers, and the smooth interior walls reduce cargo damage. The durability of the DuraPlate van provides us with a quality asset with a low total cost of ownership and a solid residual value at time of sale or trade."

In addition to the conventional DuraPlate van, Wabash National offers a range of DuraPlate dry freight vans designed for superior performance. The DuraPlate HD® van includes a high-strength aluminum base plate in the lower sidewall. DuraPlate XD-35® is the only dry van with a 35,000-pound floor rating, and DuraPlate® Pups are specifically designed to reduce the total cost of ownership in less-than-truckload applications.

"Reaching this milestone of building half a million DuraPlate dry vans is a significant accomplishment for our associates and our customers," said Brent Yeagy, group president of Commercial Trailer Products at Wabash National. "It is further evidence of how customers, both large and small fleets alike, value the durability, longevity and low total cost of ownership provided by our line of American-made DuraPlate vans."

Nearly 20 of the top 50 truckload and less-than-truckload carriers in the United States use Wabash National DuraPlate vans. Introduced in 1996, the innovative DuraPlate van was designed for a wide range of freight hauls, providing maximum cube capacity, exceptional durability, lightweight performance and resale values among the best in the industry.

DuraPlate composite sidewall panels, produced by Wabash Composites, are constructed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) core bonded between two high-strength steel skins to provide unmatched damage resistance and maximum interior width. They are the only composite plate sidewall panels manufactured in the United States.

Customers can learn more about the full line of DuraPlate dry vans at www.wabash-trailers.com or 765-771-5300.

About Wabash Commercial Trailer Products
Wabash Commercial Trailer Products is the leading producer of semi-trailers in North America. Since 1985 the business has revolutionized the trailer industry, building a legacy of innovation that has been recognized with more than 70 patents. From a full line of dry vans to refrigerated vans, intermodal equipment, and platform trailers, Wabash Commercial Trailer Products sets new standards in design and performance. Learn more at www.wabash-trailers.com.

About Wabash National Corporation
Headquartered in Lafayette, Ind., Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) is a diversified industrial manufacturer and North America's leading producer of semi trailers and liquid transportation systems. Established in 1985, the company specializes in the design and production of dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, platform trailers, intermodal equipment, liquid tank trailers, frac tanks, engineered products, and composite products. Wabash National's operations are largely organized under three wholly owned subsidiaries: Transcraft Corporation, Walker Group Holdings LLC and Wabash National Trailer Centers, Inc. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Wabash National®, Transcraft®, Benson®, DuraPlate®, ArcticLite®, Walker Transport, Walker Stainless Equipment, Walker Defense Group, Walker Barrier Systems, Walker Engineered Products, Brenner® Tank, Beall ®, Garsite, Progress Tank, TST®, Bulk Tank International and Extract Technology®. Visit www.wabashnational.com to learn more.

Source: Wabash National Corporation