Wabash National (WNC) 8-K Third Quarter and Year-To-Date Results

Press Contact: Tom Rodak
Marketing and Communications
Manager
(765) 771-5535 Investor Relations
(765) 771-5310

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wabash National Corporation Announces

Third Quarter and Year-To-Date Results

LAFAYETTE, Ind., — November 9, 2006 — Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) today announced results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006. Net sales for the quarter were $362 million compared to $294 million for the same period last year. Net income for the quarter was $5 million or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to $24 million or $0.66 per diluted share for the year ago period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net sales were $958 million compared to $873 million for 2005. Net income for the nine months of 2006 totaled $14 million or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to $91 million or $2.50 per diluted share for 2005. Results in the 2005 quarter and year-to-date periods included reversals of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets amounting to $6 million or $0.17 per diluted share and $36 million or $0.94 per diluted share, respectively.

Commenting on the quarter, Bill Greubel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Van trailer shipments of 15,200 units were right in line with our expectations. However, as anticipated, results were adversely affected by the tailing effect of bringing our ERP system on-line. The majority of trailers shipped in the quarter were manufactured in June, July and August while we were combating the worst of the material shortages and consequent line outages. Operationally, we have made significant progress as process yield, hours per start, schedule attainment, and other key measures of performance have all exceeded pre-implementation levels. The number of trailers that had been built, but due to parts shortages, could not be completed and shipped was reduced from approximately 1,200 units as of June 30, 2006, to approximately 400 units as of September 30, 2006.”

“Quote and order activity during the quarter, while in line with seasonal patterns, was weaker than that of the prior year, in part reflecting a weak freight environment. A backlog of $558 million is a decline of $36 million from June 30, 2006. We continue to have great success in growing our customer base with over 350 new accounts closed through the first nine months of 2006. We intend to manage production, inventory, and shipments throughout the quarter to achieve our target of 55,000 van trailer units for the year.”

Wabash National Corporation will conduct a conference call to review and discuss its third quarter results on Monday, November 13, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. EST. The phone number to access the conference call is 877-407-8035. The call can also be accessed live on the company’s website atwww.wabashnational.com. For those unable to participate in the live webcast, the call will be archived atwww.wabashnational.com within three hours of the conclusion of the live call and will remain available through February 5, 2007.

Headquartered in Lafayette, Ind., Wabash National^® Corporation (NYSE: WNC) is one of the leading manufacturers of semi trailers in North America. Established in 1985, the company specializes in the design and production of dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, flatbed trailers, drop deck trailers, and intermodal equipment. Its innovative core products are sold under the DuraPlate^®, ArcticLite^®, and Eagle^® brand names. The company operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: Transcraft Corporation, a manufacturer of flatbed and drop deck trailers; and Wabash National Trailer Centers, a retail distributor of new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are, however, subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include increased competition, reliance on certain customers and corporate partnerships, shortages and costs of raw materials, continued improvements in our manufacturing capacity and cost containment, and dependence on industry trends. Readers should review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in its reports to its stockholders and periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

# # #

WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
	2006			2005			2006			2005
NET SALES	$	362,290		$	293,834		$	957,981		$	872,922
COST OF SALES		336,177			263,749			881,805			772,330
Gross profit		26,113			30,085			76,176			100,592
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		12,068			10,068			36,998			29,499
SELLING EXPENSES		3,651			3,810			10,446			11,772
Income from operations		10,394			16,207			28,732			59,321
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense		(2,081	)		(1,666	)		(5,163	)		(4,889	)
Foreign exchange gains and losses, net		(28	)		698			(28	)		246
Other, net		(365	)		1,975			(123	)		978
Income before income taxes		7,920			17,214			23,418			55,656
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)		2,931			(6,441	)		9,045			(35,736	)
NET INCOME	$	4,989		$	23,655		$	14,373		$	91,392
COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS DECLARED	$	0.045		$	0.045		$	0.135		$	0.135
BASIC NET INCOME PER SHARE	$	0.16		$	0.76		$	0.46		$	2.94
DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE	$	0.15		$	0.66		$	0.44		$	2.50
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income	$	4,989		$	23,655		$	14,373		$	91,392
Foreign currency translation adjustment		86			934			843			553
NET COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	5,075		$	24,589		$	15,216		$	91,945

			Retail and					Consolidated
	Manufacturing		Distribution		Eliminations			Totals
Three Months Ended
2006
Net Sales	$	336,842	$	51,424	$	(25,976	)	$	362,290
Income (Loss) from Operations	$	9,467	$	1,183	$	(256	)	$	10,394
2005
Net Sales	$	258,105	$	62,532	$	(26,803	)	$	293,834
Income from Operations	$	14,794	$	636	$	777		$	16,207
Nine Months Ended
2006
Net Sales	$	870,359	$	144,812	$	(57,190	)	$	957,981
Income (Loss) from Operations	$	27,091	$	2,092	$	(451	)	$	28,732
2005
Net Sales	$	777,784	$	185,932	$	(90,794	)	$	872,922
Income (Loss) from Operations	$	57,562	$	2,343	$	(584	)	$	59,321

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2006		2005		2006		2005
Basic net income per share:
Net income applicable to common stockholders	$	4,989	$	23,655	$	14,373	$	91,392
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,174		31,249		31,148		31,121
Basic net income per share	$	0.16	$	0.76	$	0.46	$	2.94
Diluted net income per share:
Net income applicable to common stockholders	$	4,989	$	23,655	$	14,373	$	91,392
After-tax equivalent of interest on convertible notes		741		1,234		2,222		3,679
Diluted net income applicable to common stockholders	$	5,730	$	24,889	$	16,595	$	95,071
Weighted average common shares outstanding		31,174		31,249		31,148		31,121
Dilutive stock options/shares		154		196		191		314
Convertible notes equivalent shares		6,619		6,548		6,598		6,534
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		37,947		37,993		37,937		37,969
Diluted net income per share	$	0.15	$	0.66	$	0.44	$	2.50

WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

	September 30, 2006		December 31, 2005
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	16,211	$	67,437
Accounts receivable, net		161,983		131,671
Current portion of finance contracts		51		1,472
Inventories		169,788		108,044
Deferred income taxes		27,920		40,550
Prepaid expenses and other		3,401		7,425
Total current assets		379,354		356,599
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net		131,518		131,561
EQUIPMENT LEASED TO OTHERS, net		6,264		7,646
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES		—		3,050
GOODWILL		77,670		33,018
INTANGIBLE ASSETS		36,863		2,116
OTHER ASSETS		17,776		14,663
	$	649,445	$	548,653
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	134,719	$	84,147
Current maturities of long-term debt		36,974		500
Other accrued liabilities		55,129		58,751
Total current liabilities		226,822		143,398
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current maturities		125,000		125,000
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES		3,090		—
OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES AND CONTINGENCIES		972		1,553
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		293,561		278,702
	$	649,445	$	548,653

WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2006			2005
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	14,373		$	91,392
Adjustments to reconcile net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		15,587			11,864
Net loss (gain) on the sale of assets		54			(1,069	)
Recovery of losses on accounts receivable and finance contracts		—			(23	)
Deferred income taxes		8,007			(35,986	)
Trailer valuation charges		—			161
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		(339	)		—
Stock-based compensation		3,029			1,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(25,380	)		(31,139	)
Finance contracts		1,393			3,254
Inventories		(56,987	)		(70,212	)
Prepaid expenses and other		2,394			1,697
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		30,727			29,048
Other, net		1,464			652
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(5,678	)		639
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures		(10,899	)		(22,989	)
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(69,307	)		—
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment		1,890			9,623
Net cash used in investing activities		(78,316	)		(13,366	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		713			3,752
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		339			—
Purchase of treasury stock		(507	)		—
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		205,496			15,286
Payments under revolving credit facility		(168,521	)		(15,286	)
Payments under long-term debt obligations		(500	)		(1,500	)
Common stock dividends paid		(4,252	)		(2,820	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		32,768			(568	)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(51,226	)		(13,295	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD		67,437			41,928
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	16,211		$	28,633