Wabash National Announces New Plant in Lafayette with Lofty $70M Cash Injection

LAFAYETTE, IN — One of Star Trailer Sales’ manufacturing brand partners, Wabash National, has announced plans to inject $70 million into their Lafayette manufacturing plant in Indiana at a recent Lafayette City Council meeting. Customer demand has been on the rise for Wabash. The company’s vice president of tax and treasury, Justin Ross, said the facilities need to expand to keep pace with demand for their semi trailers for sale.

Star Trailer Sales carries semi trailers for sale under the Wabash National family of brands.

“Wabash is going to invest over $70 million into our two facilities here in Lafayette,” Ross said. “The south plant, which is on Veteran Memorial and our north plant.”

Ross noted capacity constraints as the primary driver of the decision to expand facilities in Lafayette, according to an article in the Journal Courier. Wabash National also recently acquired another North American semi trailer brand, Benson International. Wabash National is a top North American semi trailer manufacturer. Star Trailer Sales is a nationally authorized dealer for Wabash National semi trailers for sale in the USA.

“For the past 10 years, we haven’t been able to meet the demands of our customers and we feel like this investment is something that we need to ensure to continue meeting our customers’ demands and maintaining stability within the Lafayette area.”

The company is seeking two resolutions to be approved by the council, on both sides of Lafayette, Indiana: north and south plants the company operates: resolutions No. 2021-25 and Resolution No. 2021-24 respectively. Wabash wants both plants designated as Economic Revitalization Areas, which would allow for an abatement partially on property taxes tied to redevelopment. Wabash is requesting an annual descending percentage deduction from taxes, according to the JC’s reporting.

From the first year of the plan, the company is requesting an exemption from all of the assessed value that fiscal year. The exemption will decrease 10 percent per year thereafter. After year 10, the ERA designation will be removed from the designated plants. The company says it will keep 385 positions and add 75 to payrolls as part of the plan.

The town’s mayor, Tony Roswarski, expressed backing for the local business and their plan for the area’s plants. Roswarski said the deal will provide jobs, technologies and new manufacturing capabilities to the workforce in Lafayette, making the plant more globally competitive in a “very tight global market,” he said.

“Wabash has been a big part of our community for many years and I would certainly appreciate it if you guys vote on these resolutions,” Roswarski said.

The council passed the resolution in a unanimous vote and set a public hearing for October 4. Star Trailer Sales is a family owned national semi trailer dealership in the Midwest. Our family has been in the business more than 40 years with three generations of sales professionals for construction, agriculture, logistics, trucking and heavy industries. Call us for leasing or semi trailer financing information or go to our website to browse our inventory and make an offer. We also have a Facebook page and sell semi trailers on Marketplace and respond via Messenger.