8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                December 9, 2004

                           Wabash National Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                   1-10883               52-1375208
  ----------------------        ---------------      ---------------------
     (State or other              (Commission            (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction                File No.)          Identification No.)
    of incorporation)

      1000 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, Indiana          47905
      -----------------------------------------------       -----------
         (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (765) 771-5310

                               ------------------

                                 Not applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


Item 5.02. Departure of Director or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officers.

     (d) On December 9, 2004, Wabash National Corporation issued a press release
announcing the appointment of Ronald L. Stewart to the Company's Board of
Directors on December 8, 2004. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits

         99.1  Wabash National Corporation press release dated December 9, 2004.



                                     Page 2





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                              WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION

Date:  December 9, 2004                       By: /s/ Robert J. Smith
                                                  -------------------------
                                                  Robert J. Smith
                                                  Senior Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


                                     Page 3






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


         EXHIBIT NO.         DESCRIPTION
        -------------        ----------------------------------------------

            99.1             Wabash National Corporation Press Release
                             dated December 9, 2004


                                     Page 4

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                     Contact: Investor Relations
                                                                  (765) 771-5310

                           WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
                    ANNOUNCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT



         LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, December 9, 2004 . . . . . . Wabash National
Corporation (NYSE: WNC) announces the appointment of Ronald L. Stewart to the
Company's Board of Directors.

         Mr. Stewart, 62, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Material
Sciences Corporation, a recognized leader in the field of design and analysis of
advanced materials and structures. Previously, Mr. Stewart was President and
Chief Executive Officer of Pangborn Corporation. Mr. Stewart holds a B.S. in
Industrial Management from Purdue University and conducted post graduate studies
at both Ball State University and Wayne State University.

         Commenting on this appointment, John T. Hackett, Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Company, said, "We are pleased to welcome Ron to the Board
of Directors of Wabash National Corporation. Ron brings to the Company more than
thirty years of operations expertise and experience. He is an exceptional
addition to the Board and an excellent choice to represent the Company's
stakeholders. We look forward to his contributions."

         The appointment of Mr. Stewart brings Wabash National Corporation's
Board to seven members. Six of the directors qualify as independent directors
under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. With the exception of the Executive
Committee, all of the Board of Director committees continue to be comprised of
only independent directors.

         Wabash National Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets standard
and customized truck trailers under the Wabash(R) brand name. The Company is one
of the world's largest manufacturers of truck trailers and a leading
manufacturer of composite trailers. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary,
Wabash National(R) Trailer Centers, is one of the leading retail distributors of
new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the U.S. and Canada.