Wabash National

Truck Talk: Next acts edition

This week, we’re looking at a lot of industry experience being brought to bear on startups and a familiar SPAC sponsor that has recruited a former U.S. president to a board role that could help pick a merger target. 

Moving on

It doesn’t matter what industry, second acts are common in professional careers. In baseball parlance, there are not many Tony Gwynns or Cal Ripken Jrs. who spend their entire careers with one team. 

Consider Rich Mohr, 25 “seasons” with Ryder System Inc. (NYSE: R), the last...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-next-acts-edition

Wabash National seeing promise fulfilled in final-mile body business

The waiting to see its investment in final-mile products pay off may finally be happening for Wabash National (NYSE: WNC).

The trailer maker that books most of its revenue from dry vans and refrigerated trailers saw great potential for last-mile delivery in 2017 when it paid $364 million for Supreme, the second-largest bodybuilder behind Morgan-Olson, the leading producer of aluminum walk-in vans. 

Whipping Supreme into shape has taken time, patience and money. 

As the COVID pandemic expands...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/wabash-national-seeing-promise-fulfilled-in-final-mile-body-business

January trailer orders slip as manufacturing capacity fills up

Trailer orders cooled off in January as manufacturers scrambled to keep up with four months of near-record bookings and considered whether to take orders to build in 2022.

“The order surge last September through December is actually somewhat of a limiting factor for additional orders in the short term,” said Frank Maly, ACT Research director of commercial vehicle analysis and research.

ACT reported preliminary January net orders of 29,100 trailers. That was up 94% from the same month last year...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/january-trailer-orders-slip-as-manufacturing-capacity-fills-up

Truck Talk: Decoding messages on stressed supply chains

This week, we decode warnings about what stressed supply chains mean to truck makers; share some social commentary from Cummins and Wabash National; and look at a busy round of business tie-ups. You can get Truck Talk delivered via email by subscribing at https://www.freightwaves.com/truck-talk.

May the chain be unbroken

Messages from truck makers and major suppliers in their earnings reports this week suggest downtime and production delays impacting the light-vehicle industry may be closing in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-decoding-messages-on-stressed-supply-chains

The Daily Dash: Some advice for Pete Buttigieg; Strong earnings season continues

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, FreightWaves’ editorial staff offers up suggestions for new U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Plus, a number of companies released strong earnings in the past two days, including Echo Global Logistics and Old Dominion Freight Lines, and looking back at Jeff Bezos’ logistics legacy.

Welcome, Secretary Pete, here are a few ideas to get you started

Pete Buttigieg has taken over...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-some-advice-for-pete-buttigieg-strong-earnings-season-continues

Wabash National refocuses business on cold chain and e-commerce

Trailer builder Wabash National Corp. (NYSE: WNC) is refocusing its business on cold chain, home delivery and parts and service as it pushes resources to refrigerated vans needed to move vaccines and food to a homebound nation.

Wabash sees the growth in home delivery having staying power even as more Americans receive inoculations against COVID-19. New technology and products to keep goods refrigerated presents significant organic growth prospects, CEO Brent Yeagy said on the company’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabash-national-refocuses-business-on-cold-chain-and-e-commerce

The Daily Dash: Activist investor seeks more value from Forward Air

forward air truck

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, an activist investor is pushing Forward Air to create more shareholder value. Plus, looking at the major trends expected to impact the retail supply chain in 2021, and Deutsche Bank’s Amit Mehrotra shares his truckload stock outlook.

Pushing for more shareholder value

As Forward Air (NASDAQ: FWRD) retooled its corporate strategy in 2020, its share price lagged comparable less-than-truckload carriers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-activist-investor-seeks-more-value-from-forward-air

Wabash National adopts sustainability reporting trend

Wabash National released a sustainability report.

Semi-trailer manufacturer Wabash National (NYSE: WNC) hopped on the bandwagon and shared its first sustainability report Tuesday. A growing number of companies throughout supply chains are disclosing efforts and goals to operate more sustainably.

Wabash National’s sustainability report is based on 2019 operations and statistics. It focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with safety of employees, customers and communities as the No. 1 priority. The company celebrated a zero...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabash-national-adopts-sustainability-reporting-trend

Wabash National to sell Beall brand tankers to MAC Trailers

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. (NYSE: WNC) plans to sell its Beall Tank Trucking Co. unit to MAC Trailer Enterprises Inc. The price was not disclosed.

Beall specializes in aluminum tank trailers for the petroleum and dry bulk markets. Wabash purchased certain Beall assets out of bankruptcy in January 2013. Beall had $23 million in sales in 2019. It is one of four tanker brands in Wabash’s $385 million Diversified Products Group.

“The sale of Beall Tank Trailers represents another tangible...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabash-national-to-sell-beall-brand-tankers-to-mac-trailers

Trailer orders top 50,000 units for second straight month in October

Preliminary orders for new trailers topped 50,000 for the second consecutive month in October. Fleets booked equipment to replace older units, add capacity in a consumer goods-driven freight boom and out of concern that material shortages may crimp trailer production.

After setting a record for the second-highest monthly orders in history in September, bookings for new trailers rose to 56,500 units in October, 9% higher month over month and 68% greater than October 2019, according to FTR...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/trailer-orders-top-50000-for-second-straight-month-in-october

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