Industry Week magazine lists Wabash National one of the best manufacturers in the United States. The Lafayette-based company is ranked at number 49 on the list that includes computer-maker Apple, Coach apparel company and Hershey foods.
Wabash National executives credit the company’s strategic growth and diversification over the past few years. Industry Week compiles the list by ranking its top 500 companies based on their financial performance in six key areas over a three year period. Those are inventory turns, profit margin, asset turns, return on assets, return on equity and revenue growth.
Senior Vice President of Human Resources Bill Pitchford says it’s an honor to make the list at this point in time, given the state of the trailer industry several years ago and the more recent economic downturn.
He says the company is hiring for positions in finance, sales and engineering, as well as for hourly jobs. His office has been in contact with Caterpillar’s Lafayette plant, which announced layoffs for 125 production workers effective later this month.
In addition to semi trailers, Wabash National makes liquid tank trailers, frac tanks and associated products via three subsidiaries. It has nearly 6,000 associates worldwide.