DuraPlate Dry Vans
®
The best value, longest-lasting
trailers on the market
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DP0906
Overview
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Wabash National® A History of Innovation
Market-Proven Trailer Technology
The Lowest Total Cost of Ownership
The DuraPlate Advantage
Features
 DuraPlate Composite Material
 Sidewall Panel Design
 Nose Design
 Base Rail Design
 Floor System
 DuraPlate Doors
 Top Rail Design
 Wabash National Innovations
 Higher-Quality Specifications
© 2006 Wabash National, L.P. All rights reserved. Wabash® and Wabash National®, DuraPlate® are marks owned by Wabash National, L.P.
No portion of these materials may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted without prior approval from Wabash National. Wabash National continuously
improves its products. We reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice. Contact Wabash National for details.
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DP0906
A History of Innovation
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Wabash National established in 1985
Wabash National has remained at the forefront of trailer technology
Introduction of the aluminum plate trailer – dominant producer
Developing new technologies by working with the world’s largest truckload
carriers
 Continuously improving trailer designs enables Wabash National
to remain the market leader in dry van production
Sheet & Post
FRP Trailer
Aluminum Plate
DuraPlate
DuraPlate HD
• commodity
• smooth
interior
• wide/smooth
interior
• high performance
• high performance
• durable
• durable
• increased
interior width
• low maintenance
• longest useful life
• longest useful life
• low material price
fluctuation
• heavy-duty
applications
• lowest total cost of
ownership
• lowest total cost of
ownership
• versatile
• high
maintenance
• high total cost of
ownership
• difficult repair
• heavy
• high material
costs
• aluminum price
fluctuation
“Leading the way in trailer technologies that deliver value”
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DP0906
Market-Proven Trailer Technology
 Large carriers have adopted the
DuraPlate for its superior
performance and return on
investment
 Over 325,000 units in service today
 Delivers savings of over $0.03 per
mile compared to sheet and post
designs
Dry Van Market
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
DuraPlate Market Share
*Statistics based on DuraPlate sales compared to ACT
industry build volumes.
“The largest carriers have standardized their fleets to DuraPlate
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because of its low total cost of ownership”
DP0906
The Lowest Total Cost of Ownership
Determining a trailer’s total cost of ownership (TCO), incorporates all
aspects of trailer ownership, from purchase price and operating costs to
resale value
“DuraPlate delivers the lowest total cost of ownership of any
trailer in the industry to save you money with every mile”
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DP0906
The DuraPlate Advantage
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Composite material provides superior performance characteristics
Higher-quality specifications ensure highest return on investment
Increases shipper satisfaction
Provides lowest total cost of
ownership of any trailer on
the market
 Lower maintenance costs by
up to $0.03 per mile
depending on application
 Extend trailer’s useful life
by 3-5+ years
 Extend depreciation
period by 3-5 years
 Maintain appearance of
trailer over entire useful life
 Enhance trailer resale value
by at least $1,000 - $2,000
over sheet and post designs
“DuraPlate lowers your total cost of ownership by maximizing
productivity and minimizing operating costs”
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DP0906
DuraPlate Composite Material
DuraPlate Composite Material Features
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The DuraPlate panel is constructed of a high
density polyethylene (HDPE) core bonded
between two sheets of high-strength steel.
Together these materials produce a
composite panel that is extremely strong,
lightweight, and damage resistant.
The panel’s composite characteristics allow
it to flex and absorb impact which helps
reduce damage and prevent permanent
deformation.
The plastic core material will not absorb
moisture, making the panel resistant to rot
and delamination that is commonly
associated with the use of wood products.
Lightweight and incredibly strong, the
foamed plastic core reduces panel weight
without compromising performance.
The panel’s 80,000 psi-yield steel skins
provide exceptional protection against
impact, abrasion and puncture.
Pre-coated, galvanized steel skins protect
against corrosion.
Pre-coated galvanized steel skin
Foamed HDPE
core
Galvanized steel
skin
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DP0906
Sidewall Panel Design
Sidewall Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
Composite
sidewall
material
• Material absorbs impact
to resist scrapes, tears,
punctures, and
permanent deformation
• Sidewall will flex and
return to vertical center
• Significantly reduces sidewall damage, maintenance
costs, and related downtime
• Eliminates the need to maintain and replace plywood
liners that can damage cargo
• Provides a bright, white loading environment for
increased safety
Sidewall panel
design
Design allows for efficient
repairs and panel
replacement
• Reduces maintenance costs and downtime
• Provides maximum interior width of 101” for
maximum capacity
Logistic seams
Logistic seams rated at
1,800 lbs. working load
and support both A and E
load bars
• Provides reliable load securement and exceptional
strength
• Supports a wide range of load types
• Smooth outside rivets for superior customer graphics
Load variations
Trailer design supports all
types of cargo
• Provides the flexibility to transport tires, carpet,
automotive components, beverage containers, paper,
and general freight
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DP0906
Sidewall Panel Design
Interior Logistic Seam
 Patented logistic seam is an integral
part of the sidewall providing a
smooth, snag-free loading area
 Provides more reliable load
securement and exceptional
strength
 A-slot logistic seam, rated at 1,800
pounds working load, supports both
A and E type load bars
Logistic Seam
Raised embossing eliminates rivet snag
Steel inner and outer skins
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DP0906
Sidewall Panel Design
Exterior Advantages
 Lack of exterior posts provides a superior finish for customer graphics
 80,000 psi steel skins resist tears and dents, maintaining a superior
appearance for years
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DP0906
Nose Design
Nose Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
6-post nose with
structural corner
post
Provides superior
strength in high-impact
areas
• Increases strength in front wall and corners to
reduce damage and maintenance costs
• No corner liner to maintain makes repairs easy
and less costly
.125” heavy-duty
extruded aluminum
corner
Provides high-strength
and maximum structural
integrity in damage
prone corners
• “Outer cap” design allows corners to be repaired
simply and efficiently
• Corner material is heavy enough for quick weld
repair if damaged
• Reduces damage and related maintenance costs
5” radius corners
Provides square interior
• Square pallets fit into corners to maximize
capacity
• Provides greater flexibility for varying load types
Stainless steel
lower nose rail
3/16” stainless steel
welded to coupler
provides superior
strength
• Extreme durability prevents freight “blow out”
• Structurally superior to aluminum riveted front rail
Nose header design
Single-piece, wrapped
design reduces splices in
nose header
• Reduces air drag
• Reduces the possibility for leaks that could damage
freight
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DP0906
Nose Design
Nose Features
 6-post nose with structural corner
posts resists damage in the highimpact areas
 No corner liner to repair reduces
maintenance time and costs
 5” radius, .125” heavy-duty
extruded aluminum corners
provide superior damage
resistance and square inside
corners
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DP0906
Base Rail Design
Base Rail Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
Heavy-duty design
Base rail design provides an
additional 5” of inside
protection and is recessed to
capture lower edge of steel
scuff
• Significantly reduces lower sidewall
damage, maintenance costs, and related
downtime
Corrugated steel
scuff
Corrugated, 18 ga/80,000 psi
steel scuff provides superior
lower sidewall protection to 11”
above floor
• Resists forklift damage in lower sidewall
from loading and unloading
• Reduces cargo damage caused by torn
scuff liners
Scuff liner
installation
Sidewall panels allow scuff
liner to be continuously
supported throughout the
interior and backed by a solid
wall of 80,000 psi steel
• Prevents edge damage commonly
associated with scuff liners that have
separated from the sidewall
• Eliminates cargo snags and associated
costs
• Reduces maintenance costs and
downtime
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DP0906
Base Rail Design
Base Rail Features
 Base rail design provides 5" of inside protection and is recessed to capture
the lower edge of the tall steel scuff, providing 11” of overall lower sidewall
protection
 Corrugated 18ga / 80psi steel scuff allows fasteners to be recessed, reducing
shearing of fasteners and snagging of freight
 Scuff liner is supported continuously by the DuraPlate panel, fastened every
8" providing additional damage resistance
Scuff liner
Recessed, flat
head fasteners
Optional 1-1/4”
extruded aluminum
floor
Patented extruded
aluminum base rail outside
floor seal to house wiring
and air lines
HDPE core
material
Steel outer skin
Extruded
aluminum base
rail
(4) 3/8” Grade 5
low-profile bolts
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DP0906
Floor System
Floor System Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
Full, 1-3/8” oak
floor
Full 1-3/8” laminated oak
floor ensures longer floor life
compared to nominal 1-3/8”
floor thickness or other
types of wood flooring
• 20,000 lbs dynamic floor rating with built-in
safety margin supports the heaviest loads
• Oak flooring has a higher moisture tolerance
than other hardwoods resulting in longer floor
life
Extruded
aluminum floor
seal
Electrical and service lines
run through floor seal down
the side of the trailer and
over the crossmembers
• Eliminates the possibility of crushing lines or
accidental nailing when securing cargo
• Crossmembers can be changed without
breaking lines
(3) 5/16” screws
per board, per
crossmember
Strong connection of floor to
crossmembers
• Fasteners will not sheer under high forklift
loading
Bolted
crossmember
attachment
Rounded/low-profile, 3/8”
Grade 5 steel bolt has 2-1/2
times the sheer strength of
3/8” aluminum rivet
• Floor system surpasses concentrated load
patterns of competing floors
• Provides greater floor strength for heavy loads
• Eliminates external fastener shearing caused
by routine sideswipes
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DP0906
Floor System
Floor System Features
 Full, 1-3/8" thick, laminated oak
ensures long floor life under all
conditions
 Oak flooring has higher moisture
tolerance than hardwoods for
longer floor life
 Aluminum extruded floor seal
provides routing space for airlines
and electrical on both sides of the
trailer
 Bolted crossmember attachment
provides the industry’s strongest
structural floor connection
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DP0906
DuraPlate Doors
Swing Door Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
DuraPlate Door
Panel
Composite material is
impervious to moisture
eliminating plywood and
metal skin deterioration
commonly associated
with conventional door
designs
• Reduces the frequency and cost of replacing
swing doors
• Extends the life of fasteners and door hardware
reducing maintenance costs
• Eliminates door rot, corrosion, and delamination
commonly associated with plymetal door
HDPE core
Core is not subject to
moisture absorption like
plywood
• Eliminates fastener deterioration experienced with
plymetal doors
• Eliminates delamination, rot, and core swell that
adds cost to seal replacement in plymetal doors
Dual durometer,
PVC gasket
system
Simple one-piece
design with non-metal
frame
• No dented extrusion to prevent seal insertion
• Efficient repairs that reduce cost and downtime
Mechanical seal
attachment
Seal screws into HDPE
core
• Eliminates typical bonding of seal to frozen or
water soaked core
• Allows efficient, cost-effective repairs
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DP0906
DuraPlate Doors
Swing Door Features
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Doors are impervious to moisture
absorption eliminating core rot and
delamination - extending the life of
fasteners and hardware
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Swing doors utilize a dual-durometer,
PVC gasket system fastened directly into
the HDPE core
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Allows for simple repairs
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Eliminates fastener deterioration
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DP0906
Top Rail Design
Top Rail Features
Feature
Advantage
Benefit
Low-profile design
on swing door
model
Provides a square
interior upper corner to
deliver maximum wall
height
• Eliminates typical top rail to sidewall connection
restrictions in can haul applications
• Allows for flexibility in load types
• Increases capacity for larger loads
Narrow recess for
marker lights
LED marker lights are
well protected from
damage
• Significantly reduces light replacement costs and
downtime
• Eliminates the need and additional costs of front
and side marker lights
• LED lights provide significantly longer life
Wrapped roof edge
One-piece .040”
aluminum roof material
is wrapped over top rail
edge
• Wrap design allows water to run off roof surface
• Competing designs (“J” moldings) trap water on
roof surface which funnels water into cargo area in
the event of a roof puncture
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DP0906
Top Rail Design
Top Rail Features
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Top rail design provides maximum interior wall height for greater volume and flexibility in
load types
Narrow recess for marker lights prevents damage from overhead obstacles significantly
reducing maintenance costs
Wabash marker light well
protected
One-piece .040”
aluminum roof
Top rail
5/8” LED fully
recessed marker
light
80,000 lb. yield
galvanized anti-snag
roof bow
1/4” top rail
rivet
Wrapped roof
edge
Competitor marker lights
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vulnerable to damage DP0906
Wabash National Innovations
Wabash EZ-7 Modular 7-Way
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Wiring is permanently attached to stacking studs located in the base of the J560
receptacle
Replacement of the receptacle is simple and efficient
Eliminates lengthy rewiring process, shorts, and broken terminals
Weather resistant, non-corrosive, reinforced nylon housing
Bolt pattern of junction box is industry standard for simple conversion of older models
Junction box allows any
wiring combination
Simply pull out to
replace – no rewiring
necessary
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DP0906
Wabash National Innovations
Marker Light Protection – PC-Rated, TL-35 LED
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Narrow LED marker lights prevent damage from overhead obstacles significantly
reducing maintenance costs
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Eliminates the need for an additional set of front markers
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No wiring to damage
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Backed by Truck-Lite’s Exclusive Limited Lifetime Warranty
Wabash National
marker light well
protected
Competitor marker
lights vulnerable to
damage
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DP0906
Wabash National Innovations
Truck-Lite® Model 33™ LED Mini-Marker™
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Light is flush mounted to provide unparalleled damage resistance
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Light is 3/4” in both diameter and depth - small size helps reduce the potential for physical
damage from docks, tree limbs and other obstacles
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Exceeds legal lighting requirements
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The lamp housing is completely filled with epoxy to seal the housing and
eliminate water leakage
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The entire assembly, lights and wiring harness, are backed by Truck-Lite’s Exclusive
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Model 33™ and Truck-Lite® are marks of Truck-Lite Co., Inc.
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DP0906
Wabash National Innovations
WP Axle
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Wabash is standard on the Parallel Spindle (P-Spindle) axle
No outer bearing lube starvation on P-spindle (both bearings are on same plane/level)
Precise adjustment of bearing with single castellated nut (safe,
pre-loading of bearings)
Internal venting from P-spindle ends into axle tube prevents outside contamination
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DP0906
Wabash National Innovations
G2 Coating
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A proprietary formulated powder coating designed specifically for Wabash
National
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Provides maximum performance as related to crack resistance, impact
resistance, and UV stability
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Textured, matte finish conceals minor dings and scrapes
Flat Impact
Flat Impact
Steel Exposed
Polyester Powder
45 Degree Impact
No Steel
Exposed
New G2 Powder
45 Degree Impact
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DP0906
Higher-Quality Specifications
Wabash National has established standard specifications that supercede
typical trailer specifications
Specification
Wabash National Standards
The Wabash National Advantage
Coupler
Wabash Coupler
Kingpin certified to AAR
specifications
• Wabash coupler provides superior strength and
meets AAR requirements
• AAR certified kingpin allows trailer to be railloaded for shipper flexibility
Slider
Hutch 9801
4-Pin design with E-Z Pull
• Holes punched in 4” increments allow precise
variations in vehicle weight distribution to
provide flexibility for different applications
• E-Z Pull with spring-assisted locking
mechanism reduces effort to reposition slider
by 40% preventing back injuries
• (2) spring-loaded lock pins ensure secure slider
placement
• Gusseted front and rear stop bar with solid
steel inserts provides superior safety and
reliability
Suspension
Hutch 9700 Series
3 leaf spring
• Innovative and durable design extends service
life, reduces downtime, and protects cargo
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DP0906
Higher-Quality Specifications
Wabash National has established standard specifications that supercede
typical trailer specifications
Specification
Wabash National Standards
Axle
• Hendrickson® HP Axle
• P-spindle axle
• Pre-loaded bearings
• Hendrickson HXS brakes
• Abex 3030-197 long-life
brake linings
Brake
Chambers
Long stroke brake chambers
ABS System
WABCO 2S/1M
The Wabash National Advantage
• Pre-loaded bearings ensure optimal bearing life and
prevent “wheel wobble”
• Hendrickson HXS brakes provide extra thickness
for longer life
• Abex3030-197 long-life brake lining material resists
brake wear due to a higher tolerance of balance
differences between the tractor and trailer
• Provide greater reliability and increased highway
safety
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DP0906
Higher-Quality Specifications
Wabash National has established standard specifications that
supercede typical trailer specifications
Specification
Wabash National
Standards
The Wabash National Advantage
Rear Frame: G2
Powder Coating
on Carbon Steel
G2 Powder coating’s
superior performance
prevents corrosion
better than typical wet
coat systems
• G2 Powder coating provides a textured, matte finish to
resist chips and scrapes
• Corrosion-resistance reduces the need for shot
blasting and repainting
• Eliminates the need for costly stainless steel rear
frames
Wiring System
Wabash 3.0 Sealed
Harness
• Molded, plug-in design prevents moisture leakage and
corrosion ensuring maximum life
Standard Lights:
All upper lights
LED
• Front Markers: TruckLite® PC-Rated, TL35 LED
• Rear Markers: TL-33
LED Mini-Marker
• Single marker light is located on the side of the trailer
not on the front or corner
• Prevents tree limb damage and associated
replacement costs
• Backed by Truck-Lite’s Exclusive Limited Lifetime
Warranty
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