Wabash National Corporation announced a commitment from a fourth fleet to join the company’s launch program for its Cold Chain Series refrigerated van trailer made with molded structural composites—the first trailer of its kind.
Leonard’s Express joins Werner Enterprises, K&B Transportation and Combined Transport—with dealers Regional International, TEC Equipment and Wick’s Truck Trailers—to bring the company’s refrigerated trailer to the North American market.
“We’re excited to show the progress we’ve made since we introduced our prototype trailer in February,” added Robert Lane, director of business development for Wabash National’s Commercial Trailer Products. “We’ve spent the past eight months in R&D undergoing further testing and qualifications and finalizing repair procedures.”
Wabash National’s Cold Chain Series refrigerated van is made out of the company’s proprietary molded structural composite with thermal technology (MSCT), which improves thermal performance by up to 25% and is up to 20% lighter, while improving puncture and damage resistance. In addition, the molded structural composite floor system promises higher floor ratings—up to 24,000 pounds.
Molded structural composites are used in a range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, marine and commercial construction. This is the first time the technology is being used in the trailer industry. Wabash National also employed this technology in its previously commercialized refrigerated truck body.
Production and field testing for the initial launch trailers will begin in the first quarter of 2017.
See www.wabash-trailers.com for further details.
