Wabash National Corp has announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Net sales for the Lafayette IN-based trailer manufacturer's first quarter were $262.1 million compared with $256.1 million for the same period a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $4.3 million versus $18.5 million for the same period a year earlier. Income for the 2006 first quarter was taxed at a 39% effective tax rate while the prior year was taxed at alternative minimum tax rates. The acquisition of Transcraft, completed March 3, 2006, added about $2.7 million to sales in the quarter.
The company achieved new trailer unit sales of 11,700 for first quarter 2006 compared with 11,200 the first quarter of 2005. Backlog on March 31, 2006, amounted to about $610 million, including $42 million related to Transcraft.