Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

August 13, 2001

Arthur R. Brown
8103 North Bridge Way
Maumee, OH  43537

Dear Art:

On behalf of Wabash National, I am pleased to offer you the position of Vice
President & Chief Operating Officer located in Lafayette, IN. In this position,
you will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

As the VP & COO, you will be considered a full partner peer with top management
and will be allowed to recruit and build your team. The functions reporting to
you will be: All Manufacturing encompassing four (4) manufacturing locations
(Indiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee), Industrial Engineering, Purchasing,
Manufacturing Engineering and Quality.

The MINIMUM base salary for this exempt position is $25,000 per monthly pay
period, which converts to $300,000 annually. In addition, you will receive a
guaranteed bonus in the amount of $100,000 for FY2001. This amount will be paid
to you in February 2002. Going forward, you will be eligible to participate in
the annual Bonus Plan with a minimum target level of 50% of your base annual
salary.

This offer of employment includes the following terms and conditions:

-    You must successfully complete and pass a company provided drug screen and
     physical

-    You are eligible for Wabash National benefits beginning your first day of
     employment

-    A sign on bonus equal to $100,000 will be paid to you within thirty (30)
     days from the start of your employment

-    Four (4) weeks of annual vacation. You will receive a prorated amount of
     eight (8) days for the balance of FY 2001

-    Wabash National will cover the full cost to enter and complete the
     Executive MBA program at Purdue University regardless of employment status
     as long as you are not released for gross misconduct or voluntarily
     terminate your employment

<PAGE>

-    Stock options - 5k restricted stock and 10k options, each vesting over
     three (3) years - 100k of Phantom, or equivalent, stock issued immediately
     at the start of employment at current market price - vesting will be over
     three (3) years

-    If your employment terminates for any reason at the discretion of the
     Company, other than for reasons of gross misconduct (i.e., theft, fraud,
     etc.), you will vest automatically in all restricted stock, stock options
     and Phantom Stock

-    Full relocation package to include all closing costs on both ends, moving
     all goods, storage, temporary living for ninety (90) days, home buy out and
     3 points, reimbursement will be grossed up for tax purposes

-    You will be guaranteed 2 years of employment from your date of hire, or pay
     in lieu of, if released. In addition, you will be guaranteed a two (2) year
     severance package (base salary) if you are released from employment by the
     company for any reason other than gross misconduct

All associates of Wabash National are considered employees at will. Nothing
contained in this offer of employment or any other document provided to you is
intended to be, nor should be, construed as a guarantee that employment,
compensation, or any benefit will be continued for any period of time greater
than those stipulated in this document.

Art, provided you are in agreement and understand the terms and conditions of
this employment offer, please endorse the enclosed copy of this letter and
return to me. We are pleased to make you this offer and look forward to your
joining our Wabash National Team. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact me at 765-771-5300.

Best Regards,

Richard E. Dessimoz
Acting CEO

I understand and accept the terms and conditions contained in this employment
offer.

---------------------------                 -------------------
Arthur R. Brown                                    Date<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.21

                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                (THE "AGREEMENT")

                                JANUARY 11, 2002

                                    between

1.    BAYERISCHE TRAILERZUG GESELLSCHAFT FUR BIMODALEN GUTERVERKEHR MBH,
      Poccistrasse 7, D-80336 Munich (the "Purchaser" or "BTZ" ),

                                      and

2.    WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION,
      1000 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, Indiana 47905, U.S.A. (the
      "SELLER" or "WABASH").

The Purchaser and the Seller, as the case may be, each are referred to herein as
a "PARTY" and collectively as the "PARTIES".
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

WHEREAS

(1)   The Purchaser is a company with limited liability under German law with
      its registered seat in Munich, Germany, and is registered in the
      Commercial Register Munich under registration number HRB 97439.

(2)   The Seller is a corporation under the laws of Delaware, with its
      commercial seat in Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A.

(3)   ETZ Europaische Trailerzug Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH ("ETZ" or the
      "COMPANY") is a company with limited liability under German law with its
      registered seat in Munich, Germany, registered under registration number
      HRB 106942 in the Commercial Register Munich. As of this date Brennero
      Trasporto Rotaio S.p.A., Bimodal and Wabash have concluded a Framework
      Agreement (the "FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT").

(4)   In execution of the respective terms and conditions of the Framework
      Agreement, the Seller wishes to sell the Purchaser, and the Purchaser
      wishes to purchase from the Seller the assets listed in Annex ./1 to the
      Framework Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein and mutual
benefits to be derived from this Agreement, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

Except if expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, the defined terms in
this Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Framework Agreement.

The defined terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning as set out below:

<TABLE>
<S>                         <C>
AGREEMENT                   This asset purchase agreement.

FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT         The framework agreement between the Parties as of
                            this date.

PURCHASE PRICE              The aggregate purchase price for the Acquired Assets
                            pursuant to Article IV of this Agreement.

PURCHASER                   BTZ Bayerische Trailerzug Gesellschaft fur bimodalen
                            Guterverkehr mbH.

PARTIES                     Wabash and BTZ.
</TABLE>

                                                                               2
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

                                   ARTICLE II
                                    PURCHASE

(1)   The assets to be sold are existing trailers and bogies as listed in Annex
      ./1 to the Framework Agreement (the "ACQUIRED ASSETS") owned by the Seller
      and currently operated by BTZ.

(2)   The Seller hereby sells to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser purchases from
      the Seller the Acquired Assets at the Purchase Price and under the
      conditions provided in this Agreement.

(3)   The Purchaser hereby undertakes to pay the Purchase Price set forth in
      Article IV to the Seller pursuant to the terms and conditions provided in
      this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                          TRANSFER OF ACQUIRED ASSETS

(1)   This Agreement shall be enter into force upon effectiveness of the
      Framework Agreement. The Purchaser and the Seller agree that ownership in
      the Acquired Assets shall pass from the Seller to the Purchaser upon
      effectiveness of this Agreement and upon fulfilment of the financing
      obligation pursuant to Article IV of the Framework Agreement.

(2)   As of the date as indicated in Paragraph (1) of this Article III above,
      the Seller shall transfer to the Purchaser the Acquired Assets including
      the letters pursuant to Annex ./1 of the Framework Agreement. In the event
      of the Seller not being in direct possession (unmittelbarer Besitz) of
      the Acquired Assets, the Seller hereby assigns its claim for redelivery
      (Herausgabeanspruch) against the respective possessor (Besitzer) to the
      Purchaser. The Seller will use its best knowledge to make efforts to
      support the bank financing provided for under the Framework Agreement by
      entering into a so-called remarketing agreement in conformity with banking
      and referring to the Acquired Assets, such remarketing agreement
      corresponding to existing remarketing agreements entered into with KfW and
      Deutsche Bank.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                 PURCHASE PRICE

(1)   The Purchase Price for the Acquired Assets sold pursuant to Article II
      above shall be in the total amount of (euro) 1,-- (Euro one) plus, if
      applicable, VAT (the "PURCHASE PRICE").

(2)   The Purchase Price shall be due as of the date of this Agreement and shall
      be paid by the Purchaser to the Seller in cash.

                                                                               3
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

                                   ARTICLE V
               LIMITATION OF WARRANTY/EXCLUSION OF FURTHER CLAIMS

Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Framework Agreement
the following shall apply:

(1)   The Acquired Assets are sold "as is- where is" out of the property of the
      Seller, unencumbered by third party rights. All necessary and/or required
      technical examinations, in particular the main technical check ups and
      examinations of the breaks (Haupt- und Bremsuntersuchung) have been
      conducted in due manner and time. Considering the inspection performed by
      the Purchaser and the continued use of the Acquired Assets by it, any
      contractual liability or liability based on statue of the Seller in terms
      of material defects (Sachmangel) is expressly excluded. The Seller shall,
      however, be liable for defect of title (Rechtsmangelhaftung) according to
      the relevant provisions of statutory law. Rescission from (Rucktritt) and
      unwinding of (Wandlung) the Agreement is excluded, unless otherwise
      provided in the Agreement.

(2)   Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) of this Article V above, the provisions of
      the Framework Agreement shall apply to the type and volume of liability
      arising under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                CONFIDENTIALITY

(1)   The Parties agree that the existence and the substance of this Agreement
      including all Annexes hereto shall remain confidential and, subject to the
      requirements of mandatory law, shall not be announced or otherwise
      disclosed without the prior written consent of the other Party.

(2)   All communications, in particular addressed to the media, to customers, to
      suppliers or to distributors, shall be agreed upon in advance by the
      Parties.

(3)   This obligation of confidentiality shall not apply to information that is
      generally available to the public, or is required to be disclosed by law,
      court order or request by any governmental or regulatory authority.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                         COSTS, STAMP DUTIES AND TAXES

(1)   All costs resulting from negotiation and drafting of this Agreement,
      including but not limited to fees charged by advisers in legal,
      accountancy and financial matters, shall be borne by such Party where they
      occurred and shall not be reimbursable by the other Party.

(2)   The Purchaser and the Seller shall respectively bear 50% of any transfer
      and sales taxes and fees, including but not limited to, notarial fees in
      connection with this Agreement. The Purchaser undertakes to file the
      transaction documents with the relevant authorities, to the extent
      necessary, for the assessment of transfer taxes, stamp duties and other
      public dues.

                                                                               4
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

(1)   This Agreement and the Framework Agreement including its Annexes contain
      the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the transaction
      contemplated by this Agreement. They supersede respectively replace any
      previous agreements between the Parties relating to this transaction. Each
      of the Parties confirms that by agreeing to enter into this Agreement it
      does not rely on any representation, warranty or other assurance except as
      expressly set out in this Agreement.

(2)   The Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely
      for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties
      and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of this
      Agreement.

(3)   This Agreement shall not be amended or completed orally and shall not be
      amended or discharged in whole or in part, otherwise than by an instrument
      in writing signed by the Parties or their successors or assignees.

(4)   Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any of the
      Parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition of
      this Agreement may be waived by the Party or Parties entitled to the
      benefits of such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition only by an
      instrument in writing signed by the Party granting such waiver. Such
      waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with any such
      obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver
      of any other obligation, covenant, agreement or condition and shall not be
      deemed to represent any subsequent or other failure. Whenever this
      Agreement requires or permits consent by or on behalf of any Party to this
      Agreement, such consent shall be given in writing in a manner consistent
      with the requirements for a waiver of compliance as set forth above.

(5)   Should any provision of this Agreement become wholly or partly invalid or
      unenforceable, this will not affect the validity or enforceability of the
      remaining provisions hereof. In this event, the Parties shall start
      negotiations without undue delay with a view to amend this Agreement so
      that the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be substituted by a
      valid or enforceable provision the essence and purpose of which comes as
      close as possible to the invalid or unenforceable provision.

(6)   The failure of any Party to enforce or exercise, at any time or for any
      period of time, any term of, or any right or remedy arising pursuant to,
      or under this Agreement, does not constitute and shall not be construed
      as, a waiver of such term or right or remedy and shall in no way affect
      the Parties' right to enforce or exercise such term or right or remedy at
      a later time, provided that such right is not time barred or precluded.
      Any waiver to this effect must be expressly in writing.

(7)   Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations
      hereunder shall be susceptible of assignment by any of the Parties hereto
      without the prior written consent of the other Parties.

(8)   This Agreement is executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be
      deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the
      same instrument. This Agreement has been produced in the German language;
      any translations of this

                                                                               5
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

      Agreement are for working purposes only and shall have no influence on the
      construction of the Agreement.

(9)   All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent to
      the following addresses per registered or certified mail or by confirmed
      facsimile transmission:

      For the Seller:

      WABASH National Corporation,       Tel.:+765 771 5300
      1000 Sagamore Parkway South,       email: rich.dessimoz@wabashnational.com
      Lafayette, Indiana 47905, U.S.A.
      Attn.: Mr Rich Dessimoz, CEO

      For the Purchaser:

      Bayerische Trailerzug Gesellschaft
      fur bimodalen Guterverkehr mbH,
      Poccistrasse 7, D-80336 Munich
      Attn.: Management Board

(10)  All such notices shall be deemed received upon (i) actual receipt thereof
      by the addressee, (ii) actual delivery thereof to the appropriate address
      or (iii) in the case of a facsimile transmission, upon transmission
      thereof by the sender and by return facsimile by the addressee confirming
      that the number of pages constituting the notice have been received
      without error. In the case of notices sent by facsimile transmission, the
      sender shall contemporaneously send a copy of the notice by registered
      mail to the addressee at the address provided for above. However, such
      mailing shall in no way alter the time at which the facsimile notice is
      deemed received.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 APPLICABLE LAW

(1)   This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
      laws of Germany, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of
      law thereof. The applicability of the provisions of the United Nations
      Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods expressly
      excluded.

(2)   The courts of Munich shall have exclusive jurisdiction to decide on all
      litigations arising under and in connection with this Agreement including
      all its Annexes.

           [reminder of the following page intentionally left blank]

                                                                               6
<PAGE>
                      TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

Munich, 11 January, 2002

                                 FOR THE SELLER

_____________________________                    _______________________________

                               FOR THE PURCHASER

_____________________________                    _______________________________

Agreeing to the contents of this Agreement:

____________________________________
Bimodal Verwaltungs Gesellschaft mbH

                                                                               7

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