Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.27

Tenneco Automotive                                  [TENNECO LOGO]
500 North Field Drive
Lake Forest, IL  60045
Tel 847-482-5000
Fax 847-482-5940

                                  July 27, 2000

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Timothy E. Jackson
13694 Shady Lane
Monroe, MI   48161

Dear Mr. Jackson:

          On behalf of Tenneco Automotive Inc. (the "Company"), I am pleased
to set forth and confirm the terms and conditions of your continued service as
Senior Vice President and General Manager - North American Original Equipment
and Worldwide Program Management of the Company:

1.        COMMENCEMENT. Except as specifically provided herein, the terms and
     conditions hereof will be effective immediately upon the signing hereof.
     You will report to and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of
     the Company (the "Board").

2.        BASE SALARY. Effective on January 1, 2000, you will be paid a base
     salary of $260,000.00 per year, which will be subject to such increases as
     may from time to time be approved by the Board or such committee of the
     Board to which such power has been delegated (the "Committee"), payable
     according to the regular pay schedule for salaried employees.

3.        ANNUAL BONUS. You will be eligible for an annual performance bonus.
     Commencing with calendar year 2000, your annual target bonus will be, at
     least, $155,000.00 subject to fulfillment of performance goals as
     determined by the Board or Committee.

<PAGE>   2

Mr. Timothy E. Jackson
July 27, 2000
Page 2

4.        PERFORMANCE UNITS, STOCK OPTIONS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK
     EQUIVALENT UNITS. At the time of the spin-off of Pactiv Corporation
     (formerly Tenneco Packaging Inc.) by the Company (the "Spin-off"), you were
     granted 16,500 performance units under the Company s Stock Ownership Plan
     (the "Plan"), payable in shares of the Company s stock in January 2003,
     subject to fulfillment of performance goals as determined by the Committee
     and the other terms of the grant determined by the Committee. At the time
     of the Spin-off, you were granted under the Plan an option to purchase
     90,000 shares of Company stock, subject to terms and conditions set by the
     Committee under the Plan. You have received a restricted stock grant of
     29,308 shares and one-third of such restricted stock will vest on each of
     the first three anniversaries of the Spin-off if you continue to be
     employed by the Company on such anniversary. The number of shares set forth
     above with respect to the performance unit, restricted stock and stock
     option awards is after giving effect to the one-for-five reverse stock
     split completed in November 1999. In December, 1999 (effective November 5,
     1999), you were granted 87,567 stock equivalent units under the Plan for
     the three-year period ending December 31, 2002. This grant is payable in
     cash in three annual installments, subject to and in accordance with the
     terms and conditions of the grant determined by the Committee. The grants
     described herein are without prejudice to your receipt of additional grants
     as determined by the Board or the Committee under the Plan and/or any other
     similar benefit plan or compensation program or arrangement of the Company.
     The vesting terms and the other conditions, events and circumstances under
     which you will be entitled to receive the Performance Units, Stock Options,
     Restricted Stock and Stock Equivalent Units shall be the terms, conditions,
     events and circumstances set forth in your grant agreements for the
     Performance Units, Stock Options, Restricted Stock and Stock Equivalent
     Units as of the date of this letter.

5.        EXECUTIVE BENEFIT PLANS. You will be eligible to participate in all
     employee benefit plans applicable to salaried employees generally and all
     executive compensation structures applicable to senior executives
     generally.

6.        PERQUISITE ALLOWANCE. You will receive an annual perquisites
     allowance of $30,000.00 which you may receive in either cash, perquisites,
     or a combination at your election.

7.        VACATION. You will receive four weeks vacation (with pay) per year.

8.        KEY EXECUTIVE PENSION AND SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN.
     You will be a participant in the Company's Key Executive Pension Plan and
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

9.        CHANGE IN CONTROL. You will participate in the Company's Change in
     Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key Executives (the "Change in Control
     Plan"); provided, that

<PAGE>   3

Mr. Timothy E. Jackson
July 27, 2000
Page 3

     your cash severance benefit under Section 3A or 3B, as applicable, of the
     Change in Control Plan will be 3 times the total of (i) your annual base
     salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (as defined in
     the Change in Control Plan), plus (ii) the higher of (a) your highest
     target bonus over the last 3 years of your employment, and (b) the average
     of your annual awards under any bonus plan of the Company or its
     subsidiaries, including any special awards, for the last three years of
     your employment (or such shorter period as you have been employed by the
     Company or its subsidiaries); and provided further that all of your
     outstanding awards under the Plan or any other similar benefit plan or
     compensation arrangement or program of the Company or its subsidiaries will
     be treated as exercisable, earned at target and vested, as the case may be,
     immediately upon the Change in Control (as that term is currently defined
     in the Change in Control Plan) and shall be paid to you or otherwise
     treated in the manner currently specified in, and in accordance with the
     current terms of, the Change in Control Plan.

10.       SEVERANCE. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 9, if your
     employment is terminated other than by you voluntarily or for death,
     disability, or non-performance of your duties, subject to your execution of
     a general release and such other documents as the Company may reasonably
     request: (a) you will be paid a severance benefit in an amount equal to two
     times the total of your then current annual base salary plus your bonus for
     the immediately preceding year; (b) subject to Board and/or Committee
     approval, all your outstanding awards under the Plan (or any other similar
     benefit plan or compensation program or arrangement of the Company or its
     subsidiaries) may vest and/or become exercisable on the date of your
     termination; (c) vested stock options you hold will remain exercisable for
     a period of not less than 90 days from your termination; and (d) the
     Company will continue to provide to you, for one year following the date of
     the termination of your employment, health and welfare benefits amounting
     to no less than the amount of health and welfare benefits you receive at
     the time your employment commences. COBRA continuation coverage will begin
     following this one year period.

11.       TAX GROSS-UP PAYMENT. If any portion of the payments described
     herein, and/or any other payments, shall be subject to the tax imposed by
     Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the portion of such payments
     which are subject to the Excise Tax being referred to herein as the
     "Payments"), the Company shall pay you, not later than the 30th day
     following the date you become subject to the Excise Tax, an additional
     amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by you
     after deduction of the Excise Tax on such Payments and all federal, state,
     and local income tax, interest and penalties, and Excise Tax on the
     Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the amount which would have been
     retained by you had the payments not been subject to the Excise Tax.

<PAGE>   4

Mr. Timothy E. Jackson
July 27, 2000
Page 4

12.       GOVERNING LAW. This letter agreement shall be governed by, and shall
     be construed in accordance with, the internal laws (and not the laws of
     conflicts) of the State of Illinois.

          Please acknowledge your agreement with these terms by executing a
copy of this letter in the space provided below and returning it to me.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.

                                   By:  /s/ Mark P. Frissora
                                      -----------------------------------------

                                   Its: Chairman, CEO and President
                                        ---------------------------------------

ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED

/s/ Timothy E. Jackson             Date:
-------------------------               ---------------------------------------<PAGE>   1

                                                                   Exhibit 10.15

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of June 22, 2000

                                      among

                          WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION,
                                  as Borrower,

                THE INSTITUTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
                                   as Lenders

                                       and

                            BANK ONE, INDIANA, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

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

                         BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
                                   as Arranger

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                              PAGE
                                                                                              ----

<S>                                                                                           <C>

ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS .....................................................................    1

1.1 Certain Defined Terms ..................................................................    1

ARTICLE II: THE CREDITS ....................................................................   17

2.1 Loans ..................................................................................   17
2.2 Rate Options ...........................................................................   18
2.3 Optional Prepayments ...................................................................   18
2.4 Reduction of Commitments ...............................................................   18
2.5 Method of Borrowing ....................................................................   18
2.6 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Advances; Determination of
      Applicable Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee ......................................   19
2.7 Minimum Amount of Each Advance .........................................................   21
2.8 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Conversion and Continuation of
        Advances ...........................................................................   21
2.9   Default Rate .........................................................................   21
2.10 Method of Payment .....................................................................   21
2.11 Notes; Telephonic Notices .............................................................   22
2.12 Promise to Pay; Interest and Fees; Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis; Loan
          Accounts .........................................................................   22
2.13 Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Aggregate Commitment
        Reductions .........................................................................   24
2.14 Lending Installations .................................................................   24
2.15 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent ......................................   24
2.16 Termination Date ......................................................................   24
2.17 Extension of Termination Date .........................................................   24

ARTICLE III: CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES .......................................................   25

3.1 Yield Protection .......................................................................   25
3.2 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations ................................................   26
3.3 Availability of Types of Advances ......................................................   26
3.4 Funding Indemnification ................................................................   26
3.5 Taxes ..................................................................................   27
3.6 Mitigation; Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity ...................................   28

ARTICLE IV: CONDITIONS PRECEDENT ...........................................................   28

4.1 Initial Loans ..........................................................................   28
4.2 Each Loan ..............................................................................   29
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                                                           <C>

ARTICLE V:REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ...................................................   29

5.1 Corporate Existence and Standing .......................................................   29
5.2 Authorization and Validity .............................................................   29
5.3 No Conflict; Government Consent ........................................................   30
5.4 Financial Statements ...................................................................   30
5.5 Material Adverse Change ................................................................   30
5.6 Taxes ..................................................................................   30
5.7 Litigation and Contingent Liabilities ..................................................   31
5.8 Subsidiaries ...........................................................................   31
5.9 ERISA ..................................................................................   31
5.10 Accuracy of Information ...............................................................   31
5.1 Securities Activities ..................................................................   32
5.12 Material Agreements ...................................................................   32
5.13 Compliance with Laws ..................................................................   32
5.14 Assets and Properties .................................................................   32
5.15 Statutory Indebtedness Restrictions ...................................................   32
5.16 Environmental Matters .................................................................   32
5.17 Foreign Employee Benefit Matters ......................................................   33
5.18 Patents, Trademarks, Permits, Etc .....................................................   33

ARTICLE VI: COVENANTS ......................................................................   34

6.1 Reporting ..............................................................................   34
6.2 Affirmative Covenants ..................................................................   38
6.3 Negative Covenants .....................................................................   41
6.4 Financial Covenants ....................................................................   45

ARTICLE VII: DEFAULTS ......................................................................   46

7.1 Defaults ...............................................................................   46

ARTICLE VIII :ACCELERATION, DEFAULTING LENDERS; WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES ...........   48

8.1 Remedies ...............................................................................   48
8.2 Defaulting Lender ......................................................................   49
8.3 Amendments .............................................................................   50
8.4 Preservation of Rights .................................................................   51

ARTICLE IX: GENERAL PROVISIONS .............................................................   52

9.1 Survival of Representations ............................................................   52
9.2 Governmental Regulation ................................................................   52
9.3 Headings ...............................................................................   52
9.4 Entire Agreement .......................................................................   52
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                                                           <C>

9.5 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement ........................................   52
9.6 Expenses; Indemnification ..............................................................   52
9.7 Numbers of Documents ...................................................................   54
9.8 Accounting .............................................................................   54
9.9 Severability of Provisions .............................................................   54
9.10 Nonliability of Lenders ...............................................................   54
9.11 CHOICE OF LAW .........................................................................   54
9.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL ..................................................................   54
9.13 No Strict Construction ................................................................   54
9.14 Release of Guarantors .................................................................   54

ARTICLE X: THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ........................................................   55

10.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship ...................................................   55
10.2 Powers ................................................................................   55
10.3 General Immunity ......................................................................   55
10.4 No Responsibility for Loans, Creditworthiness, Recitals, Etc ..........................   56
10.5 Action on Instructions of Lenders .....................................................   56
10.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel ......................................................   56
10.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel ........................................................   56
10.8 The Administrative Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification ..........................   57
10.9 Rights as a Lender ....................................................................   57
10.10 Lender Credit Decision ...............................................................   57
10.11 Successor Administrative Agent .......................................................   57

ARTICLE XI: SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS .......................................................   58

11.1 Setoff ................................................................................   58
11.2 Ratable Payments ......................................................................   58

ARTICLE XII: BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS .............................   58

12.1 Successors and Assigns ................................................................   58
12.2 Participations ........................................................................   59
12.3 Assignments ...........................................................................   60
12.4 Confidentiality .......................................................................   61
12.5 Dissemination of Information ..........................................................   61

ARTICLE XIII: NOTICES ......................................................................   61

13.1 Giving Notice .........................................................................   61
13.2 Change of Address .....................................................................   61

ARTICLE XIV: COUNTERPARTS ..................................................................   62
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>   5

                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A       --        Commitments
                          (Definitions)

EXHIBIT B       --        Form of Note
                          (Definitions)

EXHIBIT C       --        Form of Assignment Agreement
                          (ss.ss.2.19, 12.3)

EXHIBIT D       --        List of Closing Documents
                          (ss. 4.1)

EXHIBIT E       --        Form of Officer's Certificate
                          (ss.ss.4.2, 6.1(A)(iv))

EXHIBIT F       --        Form of Compliance Certificate
                          (ss.ss.4.2, 6.1(A)(iv))

                                       iv
<PAGE>   6

                                    SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1.1    --    Permitted Existing Contingent Obligations (Definitions)
Schedule 1.1.2    --    Permitted Existing Indebtedness (Definitions)
Schedule 1.1.3    --    Permitted Existing Investments (Definitions)
Schedule 1.1.4    --    Permitted Existing Liens (Definitions)
Schedule 5.7      --    Litigation; Loss Contingencies (ss.5.7)

Schedule 5.8      --    Subsidiaries (ss.5.8)
Schedule 5.14     --    Assets and Properties (ss.5.14)
Schedule 5.16     --    Environmental Matters (ss.5.16)
Schedule 6.3(L)   --    Other Indebtedness (ss.6.3(L))

                                       v
<PAGE>   7

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

     This 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of June 22, 2000 is entered into
among Wabash National Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the institutions from
time to time a party hereto as Lenders, whether by execution of this Agreement
or an assignment and acceptance pursuant to Section 12.3, and Bank One, Indiana,
N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for itself and the other Lenders.
The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS

     1.1 Certain Defined Terms. In addition to the terms defined in other
sections of this Agreement, the following terms used in this Agreement shall
have the following meanings, applicable both to the singular and the plural
forms of the terms defined:

     As used in this Agreement:

     "ACQUISITION" means any transaction, or any series of related transactions,
by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any going business
or all or substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or division
thereof which constitutes a going business, whether through purchase of assets,
merger or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction
or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a
majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have
ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities
having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a
majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding partnership
interests of a partnership or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the
outstanding ownership interests of a limited liability company.

     "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT" means Bank One in its capacity as contractual
representative for itself and the Lenders pursuant to Article X hereof and any
successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article X hereof.

     "ADVANCE" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same
Type made to the Borrower by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1, and
for, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the same Interest Period.

     "AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person
shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person is the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) of greater than ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting
securities (or other voting interests) of the controlled Person or possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of
stock, membership, ownership or other equity interests, by contract or
otherwise. In addition, each director of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

<PAGE>   8

     "AGGREGATE COMMITMENT" means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the
Lenders, as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial
Aggregate Commitment is $70,000,000.00.

     "AGREEMENT" means this 364-Day Credit Agreement, as it may be amended,
restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

     "AGREEMENT ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES" means generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect as of the date of this Agreement in the United States,
applied in a manner consistent with that used by the Borrower in its preparation
of its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1999.

     "ALTERNATE BASE RATE" means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum
(rounded to the next higher multiple of 1/16 of 1% if the rate is not such a
multiple) equal to the higher of (i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the
sum of the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus 1/2% per annum. For
purposes hereof, "PRIME RATE" means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of
interest announced from time to time by Bank One or its parent (which is not
necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as said
prime rate changes; and "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" means, for any day, an
interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight
Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day
is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately
10:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) on such day on such transactions received by the
Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. Any change in the
Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change.

     "APPLICABLE COMMITMENT FEE" as at any date of determination, shall be the
rate per annum then applicable in the determination of the amount payable under
Section 2.14(C) with respect to the unused Aggregate Commitment, determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.6(b).

     "APPLICABLE MARGIN" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section
2.6(b).

     "ARRANGER" means Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.

     "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" means any of the chief executive officer, chief
financial officer, controller and treasurer of the Borrower, acting singly.

     "AVAILABLE ASSETS" means, with respect to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries as of the date of any determination thereof, the book value of the
assets (other than the capital stock of, or other ownership interests in,
Subsidiaries) of such Person minus the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of any
intercompany receivables owing to such Person from the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) the aggregate amount of any intercompany payables owing by
such Person to any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor and (ii)
the aggregate book value of assets of such

                                       2

<PAGE>   9

Person that are subject to any Lien securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries other than the Obligations.

     "BANK ONE" means Bank One, Indiana, N.A. in its individual capacity.

     "BASE RATE" means, with respect to any Base Rate Advance, the sum of (i)
the Alternate Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.

     "BASE RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance which bears interest at the Base Rate.

     "BASE RATE LOAN" means a Loan, or portion thereof, which bears interest at
the Base Rate.

     "BENEFIT PLAN" means a defined benefit plan as defined in Section 3(35) of
ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) in respect of which the Borrower or any
other member of the Controlled Group is, or within the immediately preceding six
(6) years was, an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

     "BORROWER" means Wabash National Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and
its successors and assigns.

     "BORROWING DATE" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.

     "BORROWING NOTICE" has the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).

     "BUSINESS DAY" means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate
selection of Loans bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate, a day (other than a
Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in Indianapolis,
Indiana and New York, New York and on which dealings in United States Dollars
are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all other purposes a
day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in
Indianapolis, Indiana and New York, New York.

     "CAPITALIZED LEASE" of a Person means any lease of property by such Person
as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared
in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

     "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS" of a Person means the amount of the
obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be capitalized
on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with Agreement
Accounting Principles.

     "CASH EQUIVALENTS" means (i) marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the government of the United States; (ii) domestic
and Eurocurrency certificates of deposit and time deposits, bankers' acceptances
and base rate certificates of deposit issued by any commercial bank organized
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of
Columbia, or its branches or agencies and having capital and surplus in an
aggregate

                                        3
<PAGE>   10

amount not less than $500,000,000 (fully protected against currency fluctuations
for any such deposits with a term of more than ten (10) days); (iii) shares of
money market, mutual or similar funds having net assets in excess of
$500,000,000 maturing or being due or payable in full not more than one hundred
eighty (180) days after the Borrower's acquisition thereof and the investments
of which are limited to investment grade securities (i.e., securities rated at
least Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or at least BBB by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group) and (iv) commercial paper of United States banks and bank
holding companies and their subsidiaries and United States finance, commercial,
industrial or utility companies which, at the time of acquisition, are rated A-1
(or better) by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or P-1 (or better) by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc.; provided that the maturities of such Cash Equivalents
shall not exceed 365 days.

     "CHANGE" is defined in Section 3.2 hereof.

     "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means the acquisition by any Person, or two or more
Persons acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 of the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or
more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Borrower.

     "CLOSING DATE" means the date on which the initial Loans are made under
this Agreement.

     "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or
otherwise modified from time to time.

     "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any Person
succeeding to the functions thereof.

     "COMMITMENT" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make
Loans not exceeding the amount set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement opposite
its name thereon under the heading "Commitment" or the signature page of the
Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender, as such amount may be
modified from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or to give
effect to any applicable Assignment and Acceptance.

     "COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE" means a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit F delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender by the Borrower
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and covering, among other things,
its calculation of the Applicable Margin, Applicable Commitment Fee, its
compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.4 and certain
other provisions of this Agreement.

     "CONSOLIDATED FUNDED DEBT" means Funded Debt of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis eliminating intercompany items.

     "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with reference to any period, the net
income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (taken as
a cumulative whole), as determined in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles, after eliminating all offsetting

                                        4
<PAGE>   11

debits and credits between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and all other items
required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with
Agreement Accounting Principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE ASSETS" means as of the date of any determination
thereof, Consolidated Total Assets, but excluding therefrom goodwill, patents,
patent applications, permits, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, licenses,
franchises, experimental expense, organizational expense, unamortized debt
discount and expense, the excess of cost of shares acquired over book value of
related assets and such other assets as are properly classified as "intangible
assets" in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" means as of the date of any determination
thereof, the arithmetic sum of:

          (a) the amount of the capital stock accounts (net of treasury stock,
     at cost) plus (or minus in the case of deficit) the surplus and retained
     earnings of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,

     PLUS

          (b) minority interests and deferred taxes of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries,

     MINUS

          (c) the net book value, after deducting any reserves applicable
     thereto, of all items of the following character which are included in the
     assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to wit:

               (i) the incremental increase in an asset resulting form any
          reappraisal, revaluation or write-up of assets (other than any
          revaluation or write-up of assets in accordance with Agreement
          Accounting Principles); and

               (ii) goodwill, patents, patent applications, permits, trademarks,
          trade names, copyrights, licenses, franchises, experimental expense,
          organizational expense, unamortized debt discount and expense, the
          excess of cost of shares acquired over book value of related assets
          and such other assets as are properly classified as "intangible
          assets" acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary after December 1,
          1996 to the extent and in the amount by which the fair market value
          thereof is in excess of 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of any
          date of determination of Consolidated Total Assets;

     all determined in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED TOTAL ASSETS" means as of the date of any determination
thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

                                       5

<PAGE>   12

     "CONSOLIDATED TOTAL CAPITALIZATION" means as of the date of any
determination thereof, the sum of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt plus (b)
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

     "CONTAMINANT" means any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance, toxic
substance, hazardous waste, special waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived
substance or waste, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs"), or any
constituent of any such substance or waste, and includes but is not limited to
these terms as defined in Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law.

     "CONTINGENT OBLIGATION", as applied to any Person, means any obligation
(except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable
instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect
guaranteeing any Indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person
in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including (without limitation)
obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such
Person:

          (a) to purchase such Indebtedness or obligation or any property
     constituting security therefor;

          (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such
     Indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or
     other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any
     other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the
     purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or obligation;

          (c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services
     primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or
     obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the
     Indebtedness or obligation; or

          (d) otherwise to assure the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation
     against loss in respect thereof.

In any computation of the Indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under
any Contingent Obligation, the Indebtedness or other obligations that are the
subject of such Contingent Obligation shall be assumed to be direct obligations
of such obligor.

     "CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION", as applied to any Person, means any provision of
any equity or debt securities issued by that Person or any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, security agreement, pledge agreement, guaranty, contract,
undertaking, agreement or instrument, in any case in writing, to which that
Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, or to which
it or any of its properties is subject.

     "CONTROLLED GROUP" means the group consisting of (i) any corporation which
is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of
Section 414(b) of the Code) as the Borrower; (ii) a partnership or other trade
or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under common control (within
the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Borrower; and (iii) a member
of the same affiliated service group (within the

                                       6
<PAGE>   13

meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code) as the Borrower, any corporation
described in clause (i) above or any partnership or trade or business described
in clause (ii) above.

     "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE" is defined in Section 2.8(D) hereof.

     "CURE LOAN" is defined in Section 8.2 hereof.

     "CUSTOMARY PERMITTED LIENS" means:

          (i) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor of the
     IRS or the PBGC) with respect to the payment of taxes, assessments or
     governmental charges in all cases which are not yet due or which are being
     contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to
     which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being
     maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles;

          (ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of suppliers, mechanics,
     carriers, materialmen, warehousemen or workmen and other similar Liens
     imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not
     yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
     proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other
     appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with Agreement
     Accounting Principles;

          (iii) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor of the
     IRS or the PBGC) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of
     business in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance
     or other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of
     bids, tenders, sales, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed
     money), surety, appeal and performance bonds; provided that (A) all such
     Liens do not in the aggregate materially detract from -------- the value of
     assets or property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or
     materially impair the use thereof in the operation of their businesses
     taken as a whole, and (B) all Liens securing bonds to stay judgments or in
     connection with appeals that do not secure at any time an aggregate amount
     exceeding $5,000,000;

          (iv) Liens arising with respect to zoning restrictions, easements,
     licenses, reservations, covenants, rights-of-way, utility easements,
     building restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances on the use
     of real property which do not interfere in any material respect with the
     ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
     Borrower;

          (v) Liens of attachment or judgment with respect to judgments, writs
     or warrants of attachment, or similar process against the Borrower or any
     Subsidiary of the Borrower which do not constitute a Default under Section
     7.1(h);

          (vi) Liens arising from leases, subleases or licenses granted to
     others which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of
     the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

                                       7
<PAGE>   14

          (vii) any interest or title of the lessor in the property subject to
     any operating lease entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
     Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

     "DEFAULT" means an event described in Article VII hereof.

     "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor and any Person succeeding
to the functions thereof.

     "DOLLAR" and "$" means dollars in the lawful currency of the United States
of America.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF LAW" means all
Requirements of Law derived from or relating to federal, state and local laws or
regulations relating to or addressing pollution or protection of the
environment, or protection of worker health or safety, including, but not
limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
29 U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq., and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq., in each case including any amendments thereto,
any successor statutes, and any regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder,
and any state or local equivalent thereof.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL LIEN" means a lien in favor of any Governmental Authority
for (a) any liability under Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law,
or (b) damages arising from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in
response to, a Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the
environment.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time including (unless the context otherwise requires) any
rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "EURODOLLAR BASE RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Advance for
the relevant Interest Period, the applicable British Bankers' Association
Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars appearing on Reuters
Screen FRBD as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first
day of such Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest
Period, provided that, (i) if Reuters Screen FRBD is not available to the Agent
for any reason, the applicable Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest
Period shall instead be the applicable British Bankers' Association Interest
Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars as reported by any other generally
recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a
maturity equal to such Interest Period, and (ii) if no such British Bankers'
Association Interest Settlement Rate is available to the Agent, the applicable
Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate
determined by the Agent to be the rate at which Bank One or one of its Affiliate
banks offers to place deposits in U.S. Dollars with first-class banks in the
London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount
of Bank One's relevant Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a maturity equal to such
Interest Period.

                                       8
<PAGE>   15

     "EURODOLLAR RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Advance for the
relevant Interest Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Base
Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve
Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such Interest Period, plus
(ii) the Applicable Margin. The Eurodollar Rate shall be rounded to the next
higher multiple of 1/16 of 1% if the rate is not such a multiple.

     "EURODOLLAR RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance which bears interest at the
Eurodollar Rate.

     "EURODOLLAR RATE LOAN" means a Loan, or portion thereof, which bears
interest at the Eurodollar Rate.

     "EXCLUDED TAXES" means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending
Installation and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net
income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by (i) the jurisdiction under the
laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent is incorporated or
organized or any political subdivision thereof or (ii) the jurisdiction in which
the Administrative Agent's or such Lender's principal executive office or such
Lender's applicable Lending Installation is located or any political subdivision
thereof.

     "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" shall have the meaning assigned to that term
in the definition of Alternate Base Rate above.

     "FOREIGN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any employee benefit plan as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is maintained or contributed to for the benefit
of the employees of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any members of its
Controlled Group and is not covered by ERISA pursuant to ERISA Section 4(b)(4).

     "FOREIGN PENSION PLAN" means any employee benefit plan as described in
Section 3(3) of ERISA which (i) is maintained or contributed to for the benefit
of employees of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its ERISA
Affiliates, (ii) is not covered by ERISA pursuant to Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA,
and (iii) under applicable local law, is required to be funded through a trust
or other funding vehicle.

     "FUNDED DEBT" of any Person means all Indebtedness of such Person which
would, in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles, constitute long-term
Indebtedness, including, without limitation (a) all Indebtedness of such Person
for borrowed money or which has been incurred in connection with the acquisition
of assets in each case having a final maturity of more than one year for the
date of origin thereof (or which is renewable or extendible at the option of the
obligor for a period or periods more than one year from the date of origin),
including in any event all payments in respect thereof that are required to be
made within one year from the date of any determination of Funded Debt, whether
or not the obligation to make such payments shall constitute a current liability
of the obligor under Agreement Accounting

                                       9
<PAGE>   16

Principles, and all Indebtedness of such Person outstanding under any revolving
credit, line of credit, commercial extension of credit or similar agreement
between such Person and a financial institution or institutional investor which
is classified as long-term in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles,
(b) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, (c) all Contingent
Obligations of such Person with respect to Funded Debt of others, and (d) all
Indebtedness of such Person outstanding under any revolving credit, line of
credit, commercial extension of credit or similar agreement between such Person
and financial institution, whether or not classified as long-term or short-term
Indebtedness, if, during the 365-day period immediately preceding the date of
any determination of Funded Debt of such Person, there shall not have been a
period of at least 30 consecutive days during which Indebtedness of such Person
outstanding under such revolving credit, line of credit, commercial extension of
credit or similar agreement is equal to zero, in which event there shall be
included in such determination of Funded Debt an amount equal to the highest
aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness outstanding during any period of 30
consecutive days selected by such Person during such preceding 365-day period.

     "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any federal,
state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.

     "GUARANTOR" means each of Wabash National, L.P., Wabash National Finance
Corporation, Freuhauf Trailer Services, Inc. and each other Subsidiary that
executes and delivers a supplemental guaranty pursuant to Section 6.2(N) hereof
and Section 19 of the Guaranty (a "SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR"), and in each case
their respective successors and assigns.

     "GUARANTY" means the unconditional guaranty of payment of the Obligations,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the
Initial Guarantors and any Supplemental Guarantors pursuant to Section 6.2(N),
as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented and/or
restated.

     "INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication,

          (a) its liabilities for borrowed money, including reimbursement
     obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit;

          (b) its liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property
     acquired by such Person (excluding accounts payable arising in the ordinary
     course of business but including, without limitation, all liabilities
     created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention
     agreement with respect to any such property);

          (c) its Capitalized Lease Obligations;

          (d) all liabilities for borrowed money secured by any Lien with
     respect to any property owned by such Person (whether or not it has assumed
     or otherwise become liable for such liabilities);

          (e) any Contingent Obligation of such Person with respect to
     liabilities of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (d) hereof.

                                       10
<PAGE>   17

Indebtedness of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the
character described in clauses (a) through (e) to the extent such Person remains
legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is
deemed to be extinguished under Agreement Accounting Principles. In no event
shall Indebtedness include Unfunded Liabilities of any Plan of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, which amount, as of December 31, 1999, was zero, or the
unrecovered investment of purchasers of "Receivables Interests" under, and as
such term is defined in, the Receivables Purchase Agreement or any other
obligation of WFC, the Borrower or the Originators to purchasers or the agent
for such purchasers pursuant to or in connection with the Receivables Purchase
Agreement.

     "INDEMNIFIED MATTERS" is defined in Section 9.6(B) hereof.

     "INDEMNITEES" is defined in Section 9.6(B) hereof.

     "INITIAL GUARANTORS" means Wabash National, L.P., Wabash National Finance
Corporation and Fruehauf Trailer Services, Inc.

     "INTEREST PERIOD" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period
of one (1), two (2) or three (3) months commencing on a Business Day selected by
the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on (but
exclude) the day which corresponds numerically to such date one, two or three
months thereafter; provided, however, that if there is no such numerically
corresponding day in such next, second or third succeeding month, such Interest
Period shall end on the last Business Day of such next, second or third
succeeding month. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding
Business Day, provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls
in a new calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the immediately
preceding Business Day.

     "INVESTMENT" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any purchase or other
acquisition by that Person of stock, partnership interest, ownership or
membership interest, notes, debentures or other securities, or of a beneficial
interest in stock, partnership interest, ownership or membership interest,
notes, debentures or other securities, issued by any other Person, (ii) any
purchase by that Person of all or substantially all of the assets of a business
conducted by another Person, and (iii) any loan, advance (other than deposits
with financial institutions available for withdrawal on demand, prepaid
expenses, accounts receivable, advances to employees and similar items made or
incurred in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by that
Person to any other Person, including all Indebtedness to such Person arising
from a sale of property by such Person other than in the ordinary course of its
business.

     "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service and any Person succeeding to the
functions thereof.

     "LENDERS" means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages of
this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

                                       11
<PAGE>   18

     "LENDING INSTALLATION" means, with respect to a Lender or the
Administrative Agent, any office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender
or the Administrative Agent.

     "LEVERAGE RATIO" is defined in Section 6.4(C).

     "LIEN" means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference,
priority or security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor
under any conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title retention
agreement).

     "LOAN" means a loan by a Lender to the Borrower as part of an Advance.

     "LOAN ACCOUNT" is defined in Section 2.15(E) hereof.

     "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty and all
other documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith or
contemplated thereby, including the letter agreement regarding fees among the
Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Borrower, in each case as the same
may be amended, restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

     "LOAN PARTIES" means the Borrower and each of the Guarantors.

     "MARGIN STOCK" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Regulation U
promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as from
time to time in effect.

     "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse effect upon (a) the
business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance or
Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the
ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to perform their respective
obligations under the Loan Documents, or (c) the ability of the Lenders or the
Administrative Agent to enforce the Obligations in any material respect.

     "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means a "Multiemployer Plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is, or within the immediately preceding six (6) years
was, contributed to by either the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group.

     "1997 CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Credit Agreement dated as of September
30, 1997, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, among
the Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, and
Bank One, Indiana, N.A. (formerly known as NBD Bank, N.A.), as administrative
agent.

     "NON PRO RATA LOAN" is defined in Section 8.2 hereof.

     "NOTE" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any
Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing the aggregate
indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Loans made by
such Lender to the Borrower.

                                       12
<PAGE>   19

     "NOTE AGREEMENTS" means, in the case of the holders of the Borrower's
Series A Senior Notes, those certain separate and several Note Purchase
Agreements, each dated as of January 31, 1996, between the Borrower and such
holders, and in the case of the holders of the Borrower's Series B through H
Senior Notes, those certain separate and several Note Purchase Agreements, each
dated as of December 1, 1996, between the Borrower and such holders, in each
case as amended through September 30, 1999.

     "NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT" is defined in Section 12.3(B) hereof.

     "OBLIGATIONS" means all Loans, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations,
covenants and duties owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the
Arranger, any Lender, any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or any Indemnitee,
of any kind or nature, present or future, arising under this Agreement, the
Notes or any other Loan Document, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty
or other instrument, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by
reason of an extension of credit, loan, guaranty, indemnification, or in any
other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by
assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter arising and however acquired. The term includes, without limitation,
all interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorneys' fees and disbursements,
paralegals' fees (in each case whether or not allowed), and any other sum
chargeable to the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     "ORIGINATORS" means Wabash National, L.P. and Fruehauf Trailer Services,
Inc., in their capacities as parties to the Receivables Sale Agreement.

     "OTHER TAXES" is defined in Section 3.5 hereof.

     "PARTICIPANTS" is defined in Section 12.2(A) hereof.

     "PAYMENT DATE" means the first Business Day of each calendar quarter.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereto.

     "PERMITTED ACQUISITION" means any Acquisition made by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries provided that: (a) as of the date of such Acquisition, no
Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
result from such Acquisition or from the incurrence of any Indebtedness in
connection with such Acquisition; (b) prior to the date of such Acquisition,
such Acquisition shall have been approved by the board of directors and, if
applicable, the shareholders of the Person whose stock or assets are being
acquired in connection with such Acquisition and no claim or challenge has been
asserted or threatened by any shareholder or director of such Person which could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on such Acquisition or
a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) as of the date of any such Acquisition, all
approvals required in connection with such Acquisition shall have been obtained.

     "PERMITTED EXISTING CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS" means the Contingent
Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule
1.1.1 to this Agreement.

                                       13
<PAGE>   20

     "PERMITTED EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" means the Indebtedness of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.2 to this Agreement.

     "PERMITTED EXISTING INVESTMENTS" means the Investments of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.3 to this Agreement.

     "PERMITTED EXISTING LIENS" means the Liens on assets of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries identified as such on Schedule 1.1.4 to this Agreement.

     "PERMITTED RECEIVABLES TRANSFER" means (i) a sale or other transfer by any
Originator to WFC of "Receivables," "Related Security" and "Collections" under,
and as such terms are defined in, the Receivables Sale Agreement, in accordance
with the terms of the Receivables Sale Agreement, and/or (ii) a sale by WFC to
purchasers of "Receivables Interests" under, and as such term is defined in, the
Receivables Purchase Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Receivables
Purchase Agreement.

     "PERSON" means any natural person, corporation, firm, company, joint
venture, partnership, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or
organization, or any government or political subdivision or any agency,
department or instrumentality thereof.

     "PLAN" means an employee benefit plan defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA in
respect of which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group is, or
within the immediately preceding six (6) years was, an "employer" as defined in
Section 3(5) of ERISA.

     "PRIORITY DEBT" means (i) all Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary secured by a Lien on any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
excluding Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by clauses (i), (ii) or (iii)
of Section 6.3(C), and (ii) all Indebtedness of Subsidiaries, excluding
Indebtedness consisting of intercompany loans from the Borrower to any
Subsidiary.

     "PROPERTY" of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal,
tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or
operated by such Person.

     "PRO RATA SHARE" means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage obtained
by dividing (A) such Lender's Commitment at such time (in each case, as adjusted
from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement) by (B)
the Aggregate Commitment at such time.

     "PURCHASERS" is defined in Section 12.3(A) hereof.

     "RATE OPTION" means the Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate.

     "RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means that certain Receivables Purchase
Agreement contemplated to be entered into among WFC, Falcon Asset Securitization
Corporation ("Falcon"), the other purchasers party thereto and The First
National Bank of

                                       14
<PAGE>   21

Chicago, as agent for Falcon and such other purchasers, as such agreement may be
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or any replacement or
substitution therefor.

     "RECEIVABLES PURCHASE DOCUMENTS" means the Receivables Sale Agreement and
the Receivables Purchase Agreement.

     "RECEIVABLES SALE AGREEMENT" means that certain Amended and Restated
Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1999, among Wabash
National, L.P., Fruehauf Trailer Services, Inc., WFC and the Borrower, as such
agreement may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or
any replacement or substitution therefor.

     "REGISTER" is defined in Section 12.3(C) hereof.

     "REGULATION D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to
reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

     "RELEASE" means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor
or outdoor environment, including the movement of Contaminants through or in the
air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

     "REPORTABLE EVENT" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan,
excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the
requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days after
such event occurs, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding
standards of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a
Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice
requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d)
of the Code.

     "REQUIRED LENDERS" means Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares, in the aggregate,
are greater than fifty percent (50%); provided, however, that, if any of the
Lenders shall have failed to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Revolving Loan
requested by the Borrower which such Lenders are obligated to fund under the
terms of this Agreement and any such failure has not been cured, then for so
long as such failure continues, "REQUIRED LENDERS" means Lenders (excluding all
Lenders whose failure to fund their respective Pro Rata Shares of such Revolving
Loans have not been so cured) whose Pro Rata Shares represent greater than fifty
percent (50%) of the aggregate Pro Rata Shares of such Lenders; provided,
further, however, that, if the Commitments have been terminated pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, "REQUIRED LENDERS" means Lenders (without regard to
such Lenders' performance of their respective obligations hereunder) whose
aggregate ratable shares (stated as a percentage) of the aggregate outstanding
principal balance of all Loans are greater than fifty percent (50%).

     "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW" means, as to any Person, the charter and by-laws or
other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, rule or
regulation, or

                                       15
<PAGE>   22

determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in
each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to
which such Person or any of its property is subject including, without
limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act 1934,
Regulations T, U and X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, ERISA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any
certificate of occupancy, zoning ordinance, building, environmental or land use
requirement or permit or environmental, labor, employment, occupational safety
or health law, rule or regulation, including Environmental, Health or Safety
Requirements of Law.

     "RESERVE REQUIREMENT" means, with respect to an Interest Period, the
maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental,
marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency
liabilities.

     "RISK-BASED CAPITAL GUIDELINES" is defined in Section 3.2 hereof.

     "SENIOR NOTES" means $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Borrower's Senior Notes, Series A through H, due 2001-2008.

     "SINGLE EMPLOYER PLAN" means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of
the Controlled Group.

     "SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more
of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or
(ii) any company, partnership, association, joint venture or similar business
organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting
power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise
expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" shall mean a direct
or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower.

     "SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Guarantor" above.

     "TANGIBLE ASSETS" means as of the date of any determination thereof, with
respect to any Person, total assets of such Person in accordance with Agreement
Accounting Principles, but excluding therefrom goodwill, patents, patent
applications, permits, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, licenses,
franchises, experimental expense, organizational expense, unamortized debt
discount and expense, the excess of cost of shares acquired over book value of
related assets and such other assets as are properly classified as "intangible
assets" in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

     "TAXES" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with respect to
the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes.

                                       16
<PAGE>   23

     "TERMINATION DATE" means June 21, 2001 or any later date as may be
specified as the Termination Date in accordance with Section 2.17 or any earlier
date of termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 8.1.

     "TERMINATION EVENT" means (i) a Reportable Event with respect to any
Benefit Plan; (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any member of the
Controlled Group from a Benefit Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or
such Controlled Group member was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section
4001(a)(2) of ERISA or the cessation of operations which results in the
termination of employment of twenty percent (20%) of Benefit Plan participants
who are employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group; (iii)
the imposition of an obligation on the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group under Section 4041 of ERISA to provide affected parties written notice of
intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a distress termination described in
Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate a Benefit Plan; (v) any event or condition which could reasonably be
expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination
of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Benefit Plan; or (vi) the
partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group from a Multiemployer Plan.

     "TRANSFEREE" is defined in Section 12.5 hereof.

     "TYPE" means, (a) with respect to any Loan, its nature as a Base Rate Loan
or a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to any Advance, its nature as a
Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance.

     "UNFUNDED LIABILITIES" means the amount (if any) by which the present value
of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Single Employer Plans
exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan assets allocable to such
benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such
Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.

     "UNMATURED DEFAULT" means an event which, but for the lapse of time or the
giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

     "WFC" means Wabash Funding Corporation, a Missouri corporation and a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

     The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular
and plural forms of the defined terms. Any accounting terms used in this
Agreement which are not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings
customarily given them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in existence as of the date hereof.

ARTICLE II: THE CREDITS

     2.1 Loans. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof, from and including the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Termination Date,

                                       17
<PAGE>   24

each Lender severally and not jointly agrees, on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, to make Loans to the Borrower from time to time, in
Dollars in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding
the amount of such Lender's Commitment. Each Advance under this Section 2.1
shall consist of Loans made by each Lender ratably in proportion to such
Lender's respective Pro Rata Share. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the
Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Loans at any time prior to the
Termination Date. The Loans made on the Closing Date shall initially be Base
Rate Loans and thereafter may be continued as Base Rate Loans or converted into
Eurodollar Rate Loans in the manner provided in Section 2.8 and subject to the
other conditions and limitations therein set forth and set forth in this Article
II. On the Termination Date, the outstanding principal balance of the Loans
shall be paid in full by the Borrower.

     2.2 Rate Options. The Advances may be Base Rate Advances or Eurodollar Rate
Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by the Borrower in accordance with
Sections 2.6 and 2.8. The Borrower may select, in accordance with Sections 2.6
and 2.8, Rate Options and Interest Periods applicable to portions of the
Advances.

     2.3 Optional Prepayments. Subject to Section 3.4 and the requirements of
Section 2.7, the Borrower may (a) following notice given to the Administrative
Agent by the Borrower, by not later than 11:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) on the
Business Day preceding the date of the proposed prepayment, such notice
specifying the aggregate principal amount of and the proposed date of the
prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the
outstanding principal amounts of the Base Rate Loans comprising part of the same
Advance in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date
of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and (b) following notice
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower by not later than 11:00 a.m.
(Indianapolis time) on, if the Advance to be prepaid is a Eurodollar Rate
Advance, the third Business Day preceding the date of the proposed prepayment,
such notice specifying the Advance to be prepaid and the proposed date of the
prepayment, and, if such notice is given, the Borrower shall, prepay the
outstanding principal amounts of the Eurodollar Rate Loans comprising a
Eurodollar Rate Advance in whole (and not in part), together with accrued
interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid. Each
partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than
$5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

     2.4 Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may permanently reduce the
Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in part ratably among the Lenders, in an
aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in
excess of that amount, upon at least three Business Days' prior written notice
to the Administrative Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any such
reduction; provided, however, that the amount of the Aggregate Commitment may
not be reduced below the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Advances. All accrued commitment fees shall be payable on the
effective date of any termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder.

     2.5 Method of Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender
by 12:00 noon (Indianapolis time) of each Advance on the Borrowing Date of each
Base Rate Advance

                                       18
<PAGE>   25

and three Business Days before the Borrowing Date of each Eurodollar Rate
Advance, and not later than 1:00 p.m. (Indianapolis time) on each Borrowing
Date, each Lender shall make available its Loan or Loans, in funds immediately
available in Indianapolis to the Administrative Agent at its address specified
pursuant to Article XIII hereof. The Administrative Agent will promptly make the
funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrower.

     2.6 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Advances;
Determination of Applicable Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee.

           (a) Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Advances. The
Borrower shall select the Type of Advance and, in the case of each Eurodollar
Rate Advance, the Interest Period applicable to each Advance from time to time.
The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a
"BORROWING NOTICE") not later than 11:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) on the
Borrowing Date of each Base Rate Advance and three Business Days before the
Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar Rate Advance, specifying: (i) the Borrowing
Date (which shall be a Business Day) of such Advance; (ii) the aggregate amount
of such Advance; (iii) the Type of Advance selected; and (iv) in the case of
each Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto. There
shall be no more than six (6) Interest Periods in effect with respect to all of
the Advances at any time. Each Base Rate Advance shall bear interest from and
including the date of the making of such Advance to (but not including) the date
of repayment thereof at the Base Rate, changing when and as such Base Rate
changes. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance
maintained as a Base Rate Loan will take effect simultaneously with each change
in the Alternate Base Rate. Each Eurodollar Rate Advance shall bear interest
from and including the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto to
(but not including) the last day of such Interest Period at the interest rate
determined as applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Advance.

          (b) Determination of Applicable Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee.

          (i) Definitions. As used in this Section 2.6(b) and in this Agreement,
     the following terms shall have the following meanings:

               "Applicable Margin" and "Applicable Commitment Fee" shall mean
          the per annum rates constituting the Applicable Margin and Applicable
          Commitment Fee, respectively, determined in accordance with the
          provisions of this Section 2.6(b), by reference to the following:

                                       19
<PAGE>   26

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  APPLICABLE MARGIN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 APPLICABLE
LEVERAGE RATIO               BASE RATE     EURODOLLAR RATE     COMMITMENT FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO        0.25%            1.50%            0.30%
0.50 TO 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS THAN 0.50 TO 1 AND
GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO          0%             1.25%            0.25%
0.40 TO 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS THAN 0.40 TO 1 AND
GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO          0%             1.00%           0.225%
0.30 TO 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS THAN 0.30 TO 1 AND
GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO          0%             0.75%            0.20%
0.20 TO 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS THAN 0.20 TO 1               0%             0.50%            0.15%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          "Leverage Ratio" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in
     Section 6.4(A).

     (ii) Determination of Applicable Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee.

     (A) Subject to the provisions of clause (C) below, the Applicable Margin in
respect of any Loan and the Applicable Commitment Fee payable under Section
2.14(C) shall be determined by reference to the tables set forth in clause (i)
above, as applicable, on the basis of the Leverage Ratio (calculated as provided
in Section 6.4) determined by reference to the most recent financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(A)(i) or 6.1(A)(ii).

     (B) Upon receipt of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section
6.1(A)(i) or Section 6.1(A)(ii), as applicable, the Applicable Margin and
Applicable Commitment Fee shall be adjusted, such adjustment being effective on
the first (1st) Business Day after receipt of such financial statements and the
Compliance Certificate to be delivered in connection therewith; provided,
however, if the Borrower shall not have timely delivered such financial
statements in accordance with Section 6.1(A)(i) or Section 6.1(A)(ii), as
applicable, beginning with the date upon which such financial statements should
have been delivered and continuing until such financial statements are
delivered, it shall be assumed for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin
and the Applicable Commitment Fee that the Leverage Ratio was greater than or
equal to 0.50 to 1.

     (C) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, from the date hereof
to but not including the 90th day after the date hereof, the Applicable Margin
and Applicable Commitment Fee shall be determined based upon an assumption that
the Leverage Ratio is less than 0.40 to 1 and greater than or equal to 0.30 to
1.

                                       20
<PAGE>   27

     2.7 Minimum Amount of Each Advance. Each Advance shall be in the minimum
amount of $5,000,000 (and in multiples of $1,000,000 if in excess thereof),
provided, however, that any Base Rate Advance may be in the amount of the unused
Aggregate Commitment.

     2.8 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Conversion and
Continuation of Advances.

     (A) Right to Convert. The Borrower may elect from time to time, subject to
the provisions of Section 2.6, Section 2.7 and this Section 2.8, to convert all
or any part of a Advance of any Type into any other Type or Types of Advance;
provided that any conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be made on,
and only on, the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

     (B) Automatic Conversion and Continuation. Base Rate Loans shall continue
as Base Rate Loans unless and until such Base Rate Loans are converted into
Eurodollar Rate Loans. Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue as Eurodollar Rate
Loans until the end of the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which
time such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate
Loans unless the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent notice in
accordance with Section 2.8(D) requesting that, at the end of such Interest
Period, such Eurodollar Rate Loans continue as a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

     (C) No Conversion Post-Default or Post-Unmatured Default. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.8(A) or Section 2.8(B), no Loan
may be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan except with the
consent of the Required Lenders when any Default or Unmatured Default has
occurred and is continuing.

     (D) Conversion/Continuation Notice. The Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE") of
each conversion of a Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Rate Loan or continuation
of a Eurodollar Rate Loan not later than 11:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) three
Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or continuation,
specifying: (1) the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) of such
conversion or continuation; (2) the amount and Type of the Loan to be converted
or continued; and (3) the amounts of Eurodollar Rate Loan(s) into which such
Loan is to be converted or continued and the duration of the Interest Periods
applicable thereto.

     2.9 Default Rate. After the occurrence and during the continuance of a
Default, at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the direction of the
Required Lenders, the interest rate(s) applicable to the Obligations shall be
increased by two percent (2.0%) per annum above the interest rate otherwise
applicable.

     2.10 Method of Payment. All payments of principal, interest, and fees
hereunder shall be made, without setoff, deduction or counterclaim, to the
Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's office in Indianapolis,
Indiana in immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m. local time in Indianapolis
on the date when due and shall be made ratably among the Lenders. Each payment
delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender

                                       21
<PAGE>   28

shall be delivered promptly by the Administrative Agent to such Lender at its
address specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation
specified in a notice received by the Administrative Agent from such Lender. The
Borrower authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account of the
Borrower maintained with Bank One for each payment of principal, interest and
fees as it becomes due hereunder.

     2.11 Notes; Telephonic Notices. Each Lender is authorized to record the
principal amount of each of its Loans and each repayment with respect to its
Loans on the schedule attached to its respective Notes; provided, however, that
the failure to so record shall not affect the Borrower's obligations under any
such Note. The Borrower authorizes the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to
extend Advances, effect selections of Types of Advances and to transfer funds
based on telephonic notices made by any person or persons the Administrative
Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting on behalf of the
Borrower. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to the Administrative Agent a
written confirmation, signed by an Authorized Officer, if such confirmation is
requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, of each telephonic notice.
If the written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action
taken by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, (i) the telephonic notice
shall govern absent manifest error and (ii) the Administrative Agent or the
Lender, as applicable, shall promptly notify the Authorized Officer who provided
such confirmation of such difference.

     2.12 Promise to Pay; Interest and Fees; Interest Payment Dates; Interest
and Fee Basis; Loan Accounts.

     (A) Promise to Pay. The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay when due
the principal amount of each Loan made to it and all other Obligations incurred
by it, and to pay all unpaid interest accrued thereon, in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and the Notes.

     (B) Interest Payment Dates. Interest accrued on each Base Rate Loan shall
be payable on each Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to occur
after the date hereof, on any date on which such Base Rate Loan is prepaid,
whether due to acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity (whether by
acceleration or otherwise). Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
be payable on the last day of its applicable Interest Period, on any date on
which the Eurodollar Rate Loan is prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise,
and at maturity. Interest accrued on the principal balance of all other
Obligations shall be payable in arrears (i) upon repayment thereof in full or in
part, (ii) if not theretofore paid in full, at the time such Obligation becomes
due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and (iii) if not
theretofore paid in full, on demand, commencing on the first such day following
the date such Obligation became payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
or the other Loan Documents.

     (C) Fees. (i) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares,
a commitment fee accruing at the rate of the Applicable Commitment Fee per annum
from and after the date hereof until the Termination Date on the amount by which
(A) the Aggregate Commitment in effect from time to time exceeds (B) the
aggregate outstanding amount of the Advances from time to time. All such
commitment fees payable under this clause (C) shall be payable quarterly in

                                       22
<PAGE>   29

arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter occurring after the
date hereof and, in addition, on the Termination Date.

     (ii) Utilization Fee. For each day on which the Utilization (as defined
below) is greater than 33.3% but less than or equal to 66.6%, the Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders in accordance
with their Pro Rata Shares, a utilization fee at the rate of 0.125% per annum on
the outstanding principal amount of the Borrower's Loans on such day, and for
each day on which the Utilization is greater than 66.6%, the Borrower shall pay
to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders in accordance with
their Pro Rata Shares, a utilization fee at the rate of 0.25% per annum on the
outstanding principal amount of the Borrower's Loans on such day. All such
utilization fees payable under this clause (C) shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter, commencing with the
first such day after the date hereof, and, in addition, on the Termination Date.
Utilization shall be deemed to be greater than 66.6% on each day from and
including the date hereof to but not including the 90th day after the date
hereof. For purposes hereof, "UTILIZATION" means, for any day, a fraction
(expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans on such day, and the denominator of which is the
Aggregate Commitment on such day (taking into account any borrowing and/or
repayment of Loans on such day and any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment
effective on such day).

     (iii) Administrative Agent's Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent the fees set forth in the letter agreement among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger dated June 19, 2000.

     (D) Interest and Fee Basis. Interest on all Loans and all fees shall be
calculated for actual days elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year. Interest
shall be payable for the day an Obligation is incurred but not for the day of
any payment on the amount paid if payment is received prior to 12:00 noon local
time in Indianapolis. If any payment of principal of or interest on a Loan or
any payment of any other Obligations shall become due on a day which is not a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day
and, in the case of a principal payment, such extension of time shall be
included in computing interest in connection with such payment.

     (E) Loan Account. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts (a "LOAN ACCOUNT") evidencing the Obligations of
the Borrower to such Lender owing to such Lender from time to time, including
the amount of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time
to time hereunder and under the Notes.

     (F) Entries Binding. The entries made in the Register and each Loan Account
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, unless
the Borrower objects to information contained in the Register and each Loan
Account within thirty (30) days of the Borrower's receipt of such information.

     2.13 Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Aggregate
Commitment Reductions. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent
will notify each Lender of

                                       23
<PAGE>   30

the contents of each Aggregate Commitment reduction notice, Borrowing Notice,
Continuation/Conversion Notice, and repayment notice received by it hereunder.
The Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate applicable
to each Eurodollar Rate Loan promptly upon determination of such interest rate
and will give each Lender prompt notice of each change in the Alternate Base
Rate.

     2.14 Lending Installations. Each Lender may book its Loans at any Lending
Installation selected by such Lender and may change its Lending Installation
from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending
Installation and the Notes shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit
of such Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written or facsimile notice to
the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, designate a Lending Installation
through which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are
to be made.

     2.15 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Borrower
or a Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the
date on which it is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative Agent of (i)
in the case of a Lender, the proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the
Borrower, a payment of principal, interest or fees to the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Lenders, that it does not intend to make such payment,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such payment has been made. The
Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount of such
payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If
such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, has not in fact made such
payment to the Administrative Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on
demand by the Administrative Agent, repay to the Administrative Agent the amount
so made available together with interest thereon in respect of each day during
the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the
Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of payment by a Lender, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day or (ii) in the case of payment by the
Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.

     2.16 Termination Date. This Agreement shall be effective until the
Termination Date. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement on the
Termination Date, until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnity
and reimbursement obligations) shall have been fully and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied and all financing arrangements among the Borrower and the Lenders
shall have been terminated, all of the rights and remedies under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents shall survive.

     2.17 Extension of Termination Date. The Borrower may request an extension
of the Termination Date by submitting a request for an extension to the
Administrative Agent (an "EXTENSION REQUEST") no more than 60 days prior to the
Termination Date. The Extension Request must specify the new Termination Date
requested by the Borrower and the date (which must be at least 30 days after the
Extension Request is delivered to the Administrative Agent) as of which the
Lenders must respond to the Extension Request (the "RESPONSE DATE"). The new
Termination Date shall be no more than 364 days after the Termination Date in
effect at the time the Extension Request is received, including the Termination
Date as one of the days in the

                                       24
<PAGE>   31

calculation of the days elapsed. Promptly upon receipt of an Extension Request,
the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the contents thereof and
shall request each Lender to approve the Extension Request. Each Lender
approving the Extension Request shall deliver its written consent no later than
the Response Date. If the consent of each of the Lenders is received by the
Agent, the Termination Date specified in the Extension Request shall become
effective on the existing Termination Date and the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender of the new Termination Date.

ARTICLE III: CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

     3.1 Yield Protection. If any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental
rule, regulation, policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) adopted after the date of this Agreement and having general
applicability to all banks within the jurisdiction in which such Lender operates
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the effect of and phasing in of capital
requirements or other regulations or guidelines passed prior to the date of this
Agreement), or any interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority charged with the interpretation or application thereof, or the
compliance of any Lender therewith,

          (i) subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation to any
     tax, duty, charge or withholding on or from payments due from the Borrower
     (excluding Excluded Taxes), or changes the basis of taxation of payments
     (other than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender in respect of its
     Loans or other amounts due it hereunder, provided, that this clause (i)
     shall not apply with respect to any Taxes to which Section 3.5 applies, or

          (ii) imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment,
     insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of,
     deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or
     any applicable Lending Installation with respect to its Eurodollar Rate
     Loans, or

          (iii) imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase
     the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation of making,
     funding or maintaining the Eurodollar Rate Loans or reduces any amount
     received by any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation in connection
     with Eurodollar Rate Loans or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending
     Installation to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of
     Loans held or interest received by it by an amount deemed material by such
     Lender,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to that Lender of
making, renewing or maintaining its Loans or to reduce any amount received under
this Agreement, then, within 15 days after receipt by the Borrower of written
demand by such Lender pursuant to Section 3.6, the Borrower shall pay such
Lender that portion of such increased expense incurred or reduction in an amount
received which such Lender determines is attributable to making, funding and
maintaining its Loans and its Commitment.

                                       25
<PAGE>   32

     3.2 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations. If a Lender determines (i) the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender, any
Lending Installation of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender
is increased as a result of a "Change" (as defined below), and (ii) such
increase in capital will result in an increase in the cost to such Lender of
maintaining its Loans or its obligation to make Loans hereunder, then, within 15
days after receipt by the Borrower of written demand by such Lender pursuant to
Section 3.6, the Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount necessary to
compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such
increased capital which such Lender determines is attributable to this
Agreement, its Loans or its obligation to make Loans hereunder (after taking
into account such Lender's policies as to capital adequacy). "CHANGE" means (i)
any change after the date of this Agreement in the "Risk-Based Capital
Guidelines" (as defined below) excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the effect
of any phasing in of such Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or any other capital
requirements passed prior to the date hereof, or (ii) any adoption of or change
in any other law, governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy,
guideline, interpretation, or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
after the date of this Agreement and having general applicability to all banks
and financial institutions within the jurisdiction in which such Lender operates
which affects the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any
Lender or any Lending Installation or any corporation controlling any Lender.
"RISK-BASED CAPITAL GUIDELINES" means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in
effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement, including transition
rules, and (ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory
authorities outside the United States implementing the July 1988 report of the
Basle Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled
"International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,"
including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior
to the date of this Agreement.

     3.3 Availability of Types of Advances. If (i) any Lender determines that
maintenance of any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans at a suitable Lending
Installation would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or directive,
whether or not having the force of law, or (ii) the Required Lenders determine
that (x) deposits of a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Eurodollar
Rate Advances are not available or (y) the interest rate applicable to a
Eurodollar Rate Advance does not accurately reflect the cost of making or
maintaining such a Eurodollar Rate Advance, then the Administrative Agent shall
suspend the availability of Eurodollar Rate Advances and, in the case of any
occurrence set forth in clause (i), require any affected Eurodollar Rate
Advances to be repaid or, at the option of the Borrower, converted to Base Rate
Advances.

     3.4 Funding Indemnification. If any payment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period,
whether because of acceleration, prepayment, or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Rate
Advance is not made or continued on the date specified by the Borrower for any
reason other than default by the Lenders, the Borrower agrees to indemnify each
Lender for any loss or cost incurred by it resulting therefrom, including,
without limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating or employing deposits
acquired to fund or maintain the Eurodollar Rate Advance.

                                       26
<PAGE>   33

     3.5 Taxes. (i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any
Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be made
free and clear of and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower
shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum
payable hereunder to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (a) the sum payable
shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section
3.5) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(b) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (c) the Borrower shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law and
(d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

     (ii) In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future
stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any Note or
from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement
or any Note ("OTHER TAXES").

     (iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and
each Lender for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without
limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this
Section 3.5) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any liability
(including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days of
the date the Administrative Agent or such Lender makes demand therefor pursuant
to Section 3.6.

     (iv) At least five Business Days prior to the first date on which interest
or fees are payable hereunder for the account of any Lender, each Lender that is
not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state
thereof (each a "NON-U.S. LENDER") agrees that it will deliver to each of the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of IRS Form 1001
or 4224, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive
payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes. Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to deliver
to each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (i) two renewals or
additional copies of such form (or any successor form) on or before the date
that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (ii) after the occurrence of any
event requiring a change in the most recent forms so delivered by it, such
additional forms or amendments thereto as may be reasonably requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent. All forms or amendments described in the
preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is entitled to receive
payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation any
change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any
such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms
inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and
delivering any such form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender advises
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not capable of receiving
payments without any deduction or withholding of United States federal income
tax.

                                       27
<PAGE>   34

     (v) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide the
Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above (unless such
failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority,
occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be
provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under
this Section 3.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided
that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a
reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure
to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the Borrower shall take
such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request to assist such
Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.

     3.6 Mitigation; Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent
reasonably possible, each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending
Installation with respect to its Eurodollar Rate Loans to reduce any liability
of the Borrower to such Lender under Sections 3.1 and 3.2 or to avoid the
unavailability of a Type of Advance under Section 3.3, so long as such
designation is not disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender requiring
compensation pursuant to this Article III shall use its best efforts to notify
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of any Change, law, policy,
rule, guideline or directive giving rise to such demand for compensation not
later than ninety (90) days following the date upon which the responsible
account officer of such Lender knows or should have known of such Change, law,
policy, rule, guideline or directive. Any demand for compensation pursuant to
this Article III shall be in writing and shall state the amount due, if any,
under Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5 and shall set forth in reasonable detail the
calculations upon which such Lender determined such amount. Such written demand
shall be rebuttably presumed correct for all purposes. Determination of amounts
payable under such Sections in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be
calculated as though each Lender funded its Eurodollar Rate Loan through the
purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding to the deposit used
as a reference in determining the Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan,
whether in fact that is the case or not. The obligations of the Borrower under
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 shall survive payment of the Obligations and
termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV: CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     4.1 Initial Loans. The Lenders shall not be required to make the initial
Loans unless the Borrower shall have furnished to the Administrative Agent, with
sufficient copies (other than in the case of the Notes) for each of the Lenders,
such documents as the Administrative Agent or any Lender or its counsel may have
reasonably requested, including, without limitation, all of the documents
reflected on the List of Closing Documents attached as Exhibit D to this
Agreement. The proceeds of the initial Loans hereunder shall be used, directly
or indirectly, in whole or in part, to repay in full all outstanding obligations
of Wabash National, L.P. under the Loan Agreement dated as of May 5, 2000 among
Wabash National, L.P., the lenders party thereto and Bank One as agent.

     4.2 Each Loan. No Lender shall be required to make any Loan, unless on the
applicable Borrowing Date:

                                       28
<PAGE>   35

          (i) There exists no Default or Unmatured Default; and

          (ii) The representations and warranties contained in Article V are
     true and correct as of such Borrowing Date, except for representations and
     warranties made with reference solely to an earlier date, which
     representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier
     date.

     Each Borrowing Notice with respect to each Loan or Advance shall constitute
a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions contained in
Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) will have been satisfied as of the date of such Loan or
Advance. Any Lender may require a duly completed officer's certificate in
substantially the form of Exhibit E hereto and/or a duly completed compliance
certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto as a condition to
making any Loan.

ARTICLE V: REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     In order to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into
this Agreement and to make the Loans to the Borrower, the Borrower represents
and warrants as follows to each Lender and the Administrative Agent as of the
Closing Date and thereafter on each date as required by Section 4.2:

     5.1 Corporate Existence and Standing. The Borrower is a corporation and
each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability
company, in each case duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be,
validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and
has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in
which its business is conducted, except to the extent that, in the case of any
Subsidiary of the Borrower, the failure to be in good standing or authorized to
conduct business in any jurisdiction could not, when taken together with all
similar failures by such Subsidiary and each other Subsidiary, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.2 Authorization and Validity. Each Loan Party has the power and
authority, corporate or otherwise, and legal right to execute and deliver the
Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder.
The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents by each Loan Party
party thereto have been duly authorized by proper proceedings, and each Loan
Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party
party thereto enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and general
principles of equity, regardless of whether the application of such principles
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     5.3 No Conflict; Government Consent. Neither the execution and delivery of
the Loan Documents by the Loan Parties party thereto, the consummation of the
transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof
will violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction,
decree or award binding on the Borrower or any Subsidiary or

                                       29
<PAGE>   36

the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's articles of incorporation or by-laws or
comparable constitutive documents or the provisions of any indenture, instrument
or agreement to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or is subject,
or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a
default thereunder, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of
or on the Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of
any such indenture, instrument or agreement which violation, conflict or
imposition could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No
order, consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing,
recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority is
required to authorize, or is required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability
of, any of the Loan Documents.

     5.4 Financial Statements. The December 31, 1999, consolidated financial
statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, previously delivered to the
Lenders, were prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principals in
effect on the date such statements were prepared and fairly present the
consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the
date thereof and the consolidated results of their operations for the period
then ended. The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries dated as of March 31, 2000, previously delivered to the Lenders,
were prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles in effect on
the date such statements were prepared and fairly present the consolidated
financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the date thereof and
the consolidated results of their operations for the three-month period then
ended, subject to normal year-end adjustments.

     5.5 Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.7 hereto,
since December 31, 1999, there has been no change in the business, Property,
prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     5.6 Taxes. All tax returns required to be filed by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have, in fact, been filed, all such tax
returns have been prepared in accordance with applicable laws, and all taxes,
assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or upon any of their respective properties, income or franchises,
which are shown on such returns have been paid except to the extent such tax
payments are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being
maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles. For all taxable
years ending on or before December 31, 1994, the United States Federal income
tax liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has been satisfied and either
the period of limitations on assessment of additional United States Federal
income tax has expired or the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary has entered
into an agreement with the IRS closing conclusively the total tax liability for
the taxable year. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries knows of any
proposed additional tax assessment against it or any of them for which adequate
provision has not been made on its or their accounts, and no controversy in
respect of additional income or other taxes due or claimed to be due to any
Governmental Authority is pending or to the knowledge of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries threatened the

                                       30
<PAGE>   37

outcome of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
except as set forth on Schedule 5.7 hereto. The charges, accruals and reserves
on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or
other governmental charges are adequate.

     5.7 Litigation and Contingent Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.7 hereto, there is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation,
proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the knowledge of any of their officers,
threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Other than
any liability incident to such litigation, arbitration or proceedings, to the
knowledge of the Borrower's officers neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any material contingent liabilities not provided for or
disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4.

     5.8 Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, Schedule 5.8 hereto contains an
accurate list of all of the Subsidiaries (except for inactive Subsidiaries with
immaterial assets and liabilities) of the Borrower, setting forth their
respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization and the percentage of
their respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned by the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock or other ownership interests of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower
listed on Schedule 5.8 hereto have been (to the extent such concepts are
relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued
and are fully paid and non-assessable and are free and clear of all Liens,
except Liens permitted under Section 6.3(C).

     5.9 ERISA. The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans do not in
the aggregate exceed $5,000,000. Neither the Borrower nor any other member of
the Controlled Group has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur, any
withdrawal liability to Multiemployer Plans in excess of $5,000,000 in the
aggregate. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred with
respect to any Plan, none of the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled
Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have
been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.

     5.10 Accuracy of Information. The information, exhibits and reports
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries to the
Administrative Agent or to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or
compliance with, the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the
Confidential Information Memorandum dated June, 2000 prepared by the Borrower,
the representations and warranties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
contained in the Loan Documents, and all certificates and documents delivered to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the terms thereof do not
contain as of the date furnished any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

     5.11 Securities Activities. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

                                       31
<PAGE>   38

     5.12 Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a
party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other
contractual or corporate restriction which will have or is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
has received notice or has knowledge that (i) it is in default in the
performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or
conditions contained in any Contractual Obligation applicable to it, or (ii) any
condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default with respect to any such Contractual Obligation, in
each case, except where such default or defaults, if any, will not have or are
not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.13 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to them and their respective
businesses, in each case where the failure to so comply individually or in the
aggregate will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.14 Assets and Properties. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.14 hereto,
the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all
of its assets and properties (tangible and intangible, real or personal) owned
by it or a valid leasehold interest in all of its leased assets (except insofar
as marketability may be limited by any laws or regulations of any Governmental
Authority affecting such assets), and all such assets and property are free and
clear of all Liens, except Liens permitted under Section 6.3(C). Substantially
all of the assets and properties owned by, leased to or used by the Borrower
and/or each such Subsidiary of the Borrower are in adequate operating condition
and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

     5.15 Statutory Indebtedness Restrictions. Neither the Borrower, nor any of
its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, or any other federal or state statute or
regulation which limits its ability to incur indebtedness.

     5.16 Environmental Matters.

     (a) Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.16 to this Agreement

          (i) the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries comply in all
     material respects with Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law;

          (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have all material permits,
     licenses or other authorizations required under Environmental, Health or
     Safety Requirements of Law and are in material compliance with such
     permits;

          (iii) neither the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their
     respective present property or operations, or, to the best of the
     Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' knowledge, any of their respective
     past property or operations, are subject to or the subject of any
     investigation known to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any
     judicial or administrative proceeding, order, judgment, decree, settlement
     or other agreement respecting: (A) any material violation of Environmental,
     Health or Safety Requirements

                                       32
<PAGE>   39

     of Law; (B) any material remedial action; or (C) any material claims or
     liabilities arising from the Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant
     into the environment;

          (iv) there is not now, nor to the best of the Borrower's or any of its
     Subsidiaries' knowledge has there ever been, on or in the property of the
     Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries any landfill, waste pile, underground
     storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, surface impoundment or hazardous
     waste storage facility of any kind, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used
     in hydraulic oils, electric transformers or other equipment, or
     asbestos-containing material the consequences of which, in each case or in
     the aggregate, could be material; and

          (v) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material
     Contingent Obligation or material contingent liability in connection with
     any Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment.

     (b) For purposes of this Section 5.16 "material" means any noncompliance or
basis for liability which could reasonably be likely to subject the Borrower to
liability in excess of $5,000,000.

     5.17 Foreign Employee Benefit Matters. Each Foreign Employee Benefit Plan
is in compliance in all respects with all laws, regulations and rules applicable
thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such
Plan, except for any non-compliance the consequences of which, in the aggregate,
would not result in a material obligation to pay money. The aggregate of the
accumulated benefit obligations under all Foreign Pension Plans does not exceed
the current fair market value of the assets held in the trusts or similar
funding vehicles for such Plans or reasonable reserves have been established in
accordance with prudent business practices or as required by Agreement
Accounting Principles with respect to any shortfall. With respect to any Foreign
Employee Benefit Plan maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any member of its Controlled Group (other than a Foreign Pension
Plan), reasonable reserves have been established in accordance with prudent
business practice or where required by ordinary accounting practices in the
jurisdiction in which such Plan is maintained. There are no actions, suits or
claims (other than routine claims for benefits) pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate with respect to any Foreign Employee Benefit Plan.

     5.18 Patents, Trademarks, Permits, Etc. The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries owns, is licensed or otherwise has the lawful right to use, or has
all permits and other approvals of Governmental Authorities, patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how and
processes used in or necessary for the conduct of its business as currently
conducted which are material to the financial condition, business, operations,
assets and prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The
use of such permits and other approvals of Governmental Authorities, patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how and
processes by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries does not infringe on the
rights of any Person, subject to such claims and

                                       33
<PAGE>   40

infringements the existence of which do not have and could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI: COVENANTS

     The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Commitments are
outstanding and thereafter until payment in full of all of the Obligations
(other than contingent indemnity and reimbursement obligations), unless the
Required Lenders shall otherwise give prior written consent:

     6.1 Reporting. the Borrower shall:

     (A) Financial Reporting. Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will
furnish copies of the following to the Lenders):

          (i) Quarterly Reports. As soon as practicable, and in any event within
     sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in
     each fiscal year, the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the
     Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such period and the related
     consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flow of the
     Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period
     from the beginning of the then current fiscal year to the end of such
     fiscal quarter, certified by the chief financial officer or controller of
     the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material
     respects the consolidated and consolidating financial position of the
     Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of
     their operations and cash flow for the periods indicated in accordance with
     Agreement Accounting Principles, subject to normal year end adjustments.
     Delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Borrower's
     Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements
     therefor and filed with the Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the
     requirements of this Section 6.1(A)(i).

          (ii) Annual Reports. As soon as practicable, and in any event within
     ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, (a) the consolidated
     and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at
     the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated and consolidating
     statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flow of the Borrower
     and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year and, in comparative form the
     corresponding figures for the previous fiscal year and (b) an audit report
     on the items (other than the consolidating financial statements) listed in
     clause (a) hereof of independent certified public accountants of recognized
     national standing, which audit report shall be unqualified and shall state
     that such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the
     consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at
     the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for
     the periods indicated in conformity with Agreement Accounting Principles
     and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such
     consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with
     generally accepted auditing standards.

                                       34
<PAGE>   41

     Delivery within the time period specified above of the Borrower's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year (together with the Borrower's
     annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a-3
     under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) prepared in accordance with the
     requirements therefor and filed with the Commission shall be deemed to
     satisfy the foregoing requirements of this Section 6.1(A)(ii), provided
     that the auditors' report contained therein satisfies the requirements
     specified in clause (b) above. The deliveries made pursuant to this clause
     (ii) shall be accompanied by a certificate of such accountants that, in the
     course of their examination necessary for their certification of the
     foregoing, they have obtained no knowledge of any Default or Unmatured
     Default, or if, in the opinion of such accountants, any Default or
     Unmatured Default shall exist, stating the nature and status thereof.

          (iii) Officer's Certificate. Together with each delivery of any
     financial statement pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section
     6.1(A), (a) an Officer's Certificate of the Borrower, substantially in the
     form of Exhibit E attached hereto and made a part hereof, stating that no
     Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if any Default or Unmatured Default
     exists, stating the nature and status thereof and (b) a Compliance
     Certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto and
     made a part hereof, signed by the Borrower's chief financial officer or
     controller, setting forth calculations which demonstrate compliance with
     the provisions of Section 6.4.

     (B) Notice of Default. Promptly upon any of the chief executive officer,
chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the
Borrower obtaining knowledge (i) of any condition or event which constitutes a
Default or Unmatured Default, or becoming aware that any Lender or
Administrative Agent has given any written notice with respect to a claimed
Default or Unmatured Default under this Agreement, or (ii) that any Person has
given any written notice to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or
taken any other action with respect to a claimed default or event or condition
of the type referred to in Section 7.1(e), deliver to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders an Officer's Certificate specifying (a) the nature and period of
existence of any such claimed default, Default, Unmatured Default, condition or
event, (b) the notice given or action taken by such Person in connection
therewith, and (c) what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to
take with respect thereto.

     (C) Lawsuits. (i) Promptly upon the Borrower obtaining knowledge of the
institution of, or written threat of, any action, suit, proceeding, governmental
investigation or arbitration against or affecting the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not
previously disclosed pursuant to Section 5.7, which action, suit, proceeding,
governmental investigation or arbitration exposes, or in the case of multiple
actions, suits, proceedings, governmental investigations or arbitrations arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances which expose, in the
Borrower's reasonable judgment, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to
liability in an amount aggregating $1,000,000 or more (exclusive of claims
covered by insurance policies of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries unless
the insurers of such claims have disclaimed coverage or reserved the right to
disclaim coverage on such claims and exclusive of claims covered by the
indemnity of a financially responsible indemnitor in favor of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries (unless the indemnitor has

                                       35
<PAGE>   42

disclaimed or reserved the right to disclaim coverage thereof)), give written
notice thereof to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders and provide
such other information as may be reasonably available to enable each Lender and
the Administrative Agent and its counsel to evaluate such matters; and (ii) in
addition to the requirements set forth in clause (i) of this Section 6.1(C),
upon request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, promptly give
written notice of the status of any action, suit, proceeding, governmental
investigation or arbitration covered by a report delivered pursuant to clause
(i) above and provide such other information as may be reasonably available to
it that would not result in loss of any attorney-client privilege by disclosure
to the Lenders to enable each Lender and the Administrative Agent and its
counsel to evaluate such matters.

     (D) ERISA Notices. Deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, at the Borrower's expense, the following information and
notices as soon as reasonably possible, and in any event:

          (i) (a) within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower obtains
     knowledge that a Termination Event has occurred, a written statement of the
     chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such Termination Event
     and the action, if any, which the Borrower has taken, is taking or proposes
     to take with respect thereto, and when known, any action taken or
     threatened by the IRS, DOL or PBGC with respect thereto and (b) within ten
     (10) Business Days after any member of the Controlled Group obtains
     knowledge that a Termination Event has occurred which could reasonably be
     expected to subject the Borrower to liability in excess of $1,000,000, a
     written statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing
     such Termination Event and the action, if any, which the member of the
     Controlled Group has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect
     thereto, and when known, any action taken or threatened by the IRS, DOL or
     PBGC with respect thereto;

          (ii) within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries obtains knowledge that a non-exempt prohibited transaction (as
     defined in ERISA and the Code) has occurred, a statement of the chief
     financial officer of the Borrower describing such transaction and the
     action which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has taken, is taking or
     proposes to take with respect thereto;

          (iii) within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries receives notice of any unfavorable determination letter from
     the IRS regarding the qualification of a Plan under Section 401(a) of the
     Code, copies of each such letter;

          (iv) within ten (10) Business Days after the filing thereof with the
     IRS, a copy of each funding waiver request filed with respect to any
     Benefit Plan and all communications received by the Borrower or a member of
     the Controlled Group with respect to such request;

                                       36
<PAGE>   43

          (v) within ten (10) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower or any
     member of the Controlled Group of the PBGC's intention to terminate a
     Benefit Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer a Benefit Plan,
     copies of each such notice;

          (vi) within ten (10) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower or
     any member of the Controlled Group of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan
     regarding the imposition of withdrawal liability, copies of each such
     notice;

          (vii) within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower or any member
     of the Controlled Group fails to make a required installment or any other
     required payment under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or
     before the due date for such installment or payment, a notification of such
     failure; and

          (viii) within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower or any member
     of the Controlled Group knows or has reason to know that (a) a
     Multiemployer Plan has been terminated, (b) the administrator or plan
     sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate a Multiemployer Plan,
     or (c) the PBGC has instituted or will institute proceedings under Section
     4042 of ERISA to terminate a Multiemployer Plan.

For purposes of this Section 6.1(D), the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries and
any member of the Controlled Group shall be deemed to know all facts known by
the Administrator of any Plan of which the Borrower or any member of the
Controlled Group or such Subsidiary is the plan sponsor.

     (E) Other Reports. Deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders copies of all financial statements, reports and notices,
if any, sent or made available generally by the Borrower to owners of ownership,
membership or other equity interests in the Borrower or filed with the
Commission by the Borrower, all press releases made available generally by the
Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to the public concerning material
developments in the business of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and all
notifications received from the Commission by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder.

     (F) Environmental Notices. As soon as possible and in any event within ten
(10) days after receipt by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, a copy of
(i) any notice or claim to the effect that the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the Release by the
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any Contaminant into
the environment, and (ii) any notice alleging any violation of any
Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries if, in either case, such notice or claim relates to an event
which could reasonably be expected to subject the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to liability in excess of $5,000,000.

     (G) Other Information. Promptly upon receiving a request therefor from the
Administrative Agent, prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders such other information with respect to the business, Property,
prospects, condition (financial or

                                       37
<PAGE>   44

otherwise) or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as from
time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the
Administrative Agent.

     6.2 Affirmative Covenants.

     (A) Existence, Etc. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain its existence and preserve and keep, or
cause to be preserved and kept, in full force and effect its rights and
franchises material to its businesses, except that any Subsidiary of the
Borrower may merge with or liquidate into the Borrower or any other Subsidiary
of the Borrower, provided that the surviving entity expressly assumes any
liabilities, if any, of either of such Subsidiaries with respect to the
Obligations pursuant to an assumption agreement reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and provided further that the consolidated net worth of the
surviving corporation is not less than the consolidated net worth of the
Subsidiary with any liability with respect to the Obligations immediately prior
to such merger.

     (B) Powers. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, qualify and remain qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which
the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified and where the failure
to be so qualified will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

     (C) Compliance with Laws, Etc. The Borrower shall, and shall cause its
Subsidiaries to, (a) comply with all Requirements of Law and all restrictive
covenants affecting such Person or the business, properties, assets or
operations of such Person, and (b) obtain as needed all permits, licenses and
franchises necessary for its operations and maintain such permits in good
standing unless failure to comply or obtain could not reasonably be anticipated
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (D) Payment of Taxes and Claims. The Borrower shall pay, and cause each of
its Subsidiaries to pay, (i) all taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges imposed upon it or on any of its properties or assets or in respect of
any of its franchises, business, income or property before any penalty or
interest accrues thereon, and (ii) all claims (including, without limitation,
claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums which have become
due and payable and which by law have or may become a Lien (other than a Lien
permitted by Section 6.3(C)) upon any of the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
property or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred
with respect thereto; provided, however, that no such taxes, assessments and
governmental charges referred to in clause (i) above or claims referred to in
clause (ii) above (and interest, penalties or fines relating thereto) need be
paid if being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently
instituted and conducted and if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if
any, as shall be required in conformity with Agreement Accounting Principles
shall have been made therefor; and provided further that no Default or Unmatured
Default shall arise or occur with respect to this Section 6.2(D) unless unpaid
taxes, assessments, governmental charges and claims (other than those being
contested pursuant to the preceding proviso) exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate.

                                       38
<PAGE>   45

     (E) Insurance. The Borrower shall maintain for itself and its Subsidiaries,
or shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain in full force and effect
insurance policies and programs providing coverage that is reasonably consistent
with prudent industry practice.

     (F) Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. The Borrower
shall permit, and cause each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to permit, any
authorized representative(s) designated by either the Administrative Agent or
any Lender to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, to examine, audit, check and make copies of their respective
financial and accounting records, books, journals, orders, receipts and any
correspondence and other data relating to their respective businesses or the
transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, in connection
with environmental compliance, hazard or liability), and to discuss their
affairs, finances and accounts with their officers and independent certified
public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times
during normal business hours, as often as may be reasonably requested. The
Borrower shall keep and maintain, and cause each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries
to keep and maintain, in all material respects, proper books of record and
account in which entries in conformity with Agreement Accounting Principles
shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to their respective
businesses and activities. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Borrower, upon the Administrative Agent's request, shall turn over any such
records to the Administrative Agent or its representatives.

     (G) ERISA Compliance. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of the
Borrower's U.S. Subsidiaries to, establish, maintain and operate all Plans to
comply in all material respects with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, all
other applicable laws, and the regulations and interpretations thereunder and
the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Plans.

     (H) Maintenance of Property. The Borrower shall cause all property used or
useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be
maintained and kept in adequate condition, repair and working order and supplied
with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs,
renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the
judgment of the Borrower may be necessary so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however,
that nothing in this Section 6.2(H) shall prevent the Borrower from
discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such property if such
discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Borrower, desirable in the conduct of
its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any
material respect to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

     (I) Environmental Compliance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall
comply with all Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law, except
where noncompliance will not have or is not reasonably likely to subject the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries to liability, individually or in the aggregate, in
excess of $5,000,000 (excluding amounts covered by indemnity claims that are not
in dispute).

                                       39
<PAGE>   46

     (J) Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loans to
provide funds for the working capital needs and other general corporate purposes
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and to repay outstanding Indebtedness. The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds
of the Loans to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to make any Acquisition,
other than any Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.3(F).

     (K) Foreign Employee Benefit Compliance. The Borrower shall, and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates to, establish, maintain and
operate all Foreign Employee Benefit Plans to comply in all material respects
with all laws, regulations and rules applicable thereto and the respective
requirements of the governing documents for such Plans, except for failures to
comply which, in the aggregate, would not result in liability in excess of
$1,000,000.

     (L) Maintenance of Rights. The Borrower shall obtain and maintain, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain and maintain, in full force and
effect all licenses, franchises, permits other similar rights necessary for the
operation of its business, except where the failure to obtain or maintain such
rights does not have and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     (M) Conduct of Business. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 6.2(A),
the Borrower will continue, and will cause each Subsidiary to continue, to
engage primarily in the material lines of business which the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries operate, respectively, as of September 30, 1999.

     (N) Subsidiary Guaranties. The Borrower shall cause each of the Initial
Guarantors to execute and deliver a Guaranty to the Administrative Agent and to
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent all related
documentation with respect to the execution and delivery of the Guaranty by such
Initial Guarantors that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,
including, without limitation, certified resolutions, incumbency certificates,
organizational documents and legal opinions. If, as of the end of any fiscal
quarter of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on June 30,
2000), either (a) the aggregate Available Assets of the Borrower and the
Guarantors were less than 75% of the Consolidated Total Assets as of such date
or (b) the Borrower and the Guarantors accounted for less than 75% of the
Consolidated Net Income (or, if Consolidated Net Income was not positive, less
than 75% of the consolidated net sales of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) for
the four fiscal quarter period then ended, then within 90 days (or, if such
fiscal quarter is the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower's fiscal year, 120
days) after the end of such fiscal quarter, the Borrower shall cause one or more
additional Subsidiaries to execute and deliver a supplemental guaranty pursuant
to Section 19 of the Guaranty so that, after taking such Supplemental Guarantors
into account, both (A) the aggregate Available Assets of the Borrower and the
Guarantors were at least 75% of the Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of
such fiscal quarter and (B) the Borrower and the Guarantors accounted for at
least 75% of the Consolidated Net Income (or, if Consolidated Net Income was not
positive, at least 75% of the consolidated net sales of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries) for the four fiscal quarter period then ended. In addition, the
Borrower shall cause any Subsidiary that guarantees the Borrower's obligations
under the 1997 Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes concurrently to become a
Supplemental Guarantor pursuant to Section 19 of the

                                       40
<PAGE>   47

Guaranty. The Borrower shall cause each Supplemental Guarantor to deliver to the
Administrative Agent, together with its supplemental guaranty, such supporting
documentation, including authorizing resolutions, as the Administrative Agent
may reasonably request.

     6.3 Negative Covenants.

     (A) Indebtedness. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or otherwise become or remain
directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

          (a) the Obligations and the Indebtedness of the Guarantors under the
     Guaranty;

          (b) Permitted Existing Indebtedness;

          (c) Indebtedness arising from intercompany loans from the Borrower to
     any Subsidiary, intercompany loans contemplated by the Receivables Purchase
     Documents, intercompany loans from Wabash Technology Corp. to Wabash
     National, L.P., and intercompany loans from WTSI Technology Corp. to Wabash
     National, L.P.;

          (d) Indebtedness with respect to surety, appeal and performance bonds
     obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
     of business;

          (e) Indebtedness constituting Contingent Obligations permitted by
     Section 6.3(E);

          (f) unsecured Indebtedness and other liabilities incurred in the
     ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, but not
     incurred through the borrowing of money or the obtaining of credit (other
     than customary trade terms);

          (g) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the 1997 Credit Agreement; and

          (h) other unsecured and purchase money Indebtedness and Priority Debt;

provided that, in the case of clauses (a), (g) and (h) above, immediately after
giving effect to the creation, issuance, assumption, guarantee or incurrence of
such Indebtedness, (i) if such Indebtedness is Funded Debt, the aggregate amount
of all Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
does not exceed 60% of Consolidated Total Capitalization determined as of the
end of the immediately prior fiscal quarter, and (ii) if such Indebtedness is
Priority Debt, the aggregate amount of all Priority Debt outstanding at such
time does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at such time.

     (B) Sales of Assets. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of any property,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or
enter into any agreement to do so, except:

                                       41
<PAGE>   48

          (i) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

          (ii) the disposition of obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of
     business;

          (iii) Permitted Receivables Transfers or other sales of accounts
     receivable for fair market value, without recourse, to (1) a bank or other
     financial institution or (2) any other Person in a transaction in which a
     bank or other financial institution then purchases such accounts receivable
     in a transaction or transactions relating to the sale by the Borrower or
     such Subsidiary to such Person of such accounts receivable;

          (iv) sales by Wabash National Finance Corporation (or its successor)
     in the ordinary course of business of lease and other finance contract
     receivables and equipment subject to lease, if such transaction (a) is for
     not less than fair market value and (b) when combined with all other such
     sales during the then current fiscal year represents disposition of not
     greater than 50% of Wabash National Finance Corporation's Tangible Assets
     at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and

          (v) sales, assignments, transfers, leases, conveyances or other
     dispositions of other assets (but not including assets of Wabash National
     Finance Corporation) if such transaction (a) is for not less than fair
     market value, and (b) when combined with all such other sales, assignments,
     transfers, conveyances or other dispositions during the then current fiscal
     year represents the disposition of not greater than ten percent (10.0%) of
     the Borrower's Consolidated Tangible Assets (but excluding Wabash National
     Finance Corporation's Tangible Assets) at the end of the immediately
     preceding fiscal year.

     (C) Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly
or indirectly create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with
respect to any of their respective property or assets except:

          (i) Permitted Existing Liens;

          (ii) Customary Permitted Liens;

          (iii) purchase money Liens (including the interest of a lessor under a
     Capitalized Lease and Liens to which any property is subject at the time of
     the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries)
     securing permitted purchase money Indebtedness; provided that such Liens
     shall not apply to any property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries other
     than that purchased or subject to such Capitalized Lease;

          (iv) Liens securing Priority Debt permitted by Section 6.3(A);

          (v) Liens arising in connection with sales of accounts, leases and
     other contract receivables permitted by Section 6.3(B)(iii) or (iv);

          (vi) Environmental Liens securing liabilities, claims, costs or
     damages not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate; and

                                       42
<PAGE>   49

          (vii) Liens arising in connection with the Receivables Purchase
     Documents.

In addition, neither the Borrower nor any or its Subsidiaries shall, after the
date hereof, become a party to any agreement, note, indenture or other
instrument, or take any other action, which would prohibit the creation of a
Lien on any of its properties or other assets in favor of the Administrative
Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders as collateral for the
Obligations; provided that any agreement, note, indenture or other instrument in
connection with permitted purchase money Indebtedness (including Capitalized
Lease Obligations) may prohibit the creation of a Lien in favor of the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders on the items of
property obtained with the proceeds of such permitted purchase money
Indebtedness; and provided further that the Receivables Purchase Documents may
prohibit the creation of a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
benefit of itself and the Lenders on the assets of WFC and on the "Purchased
Assets" (as defined in the Receivables Sale Agreement) of the Originators.

     (D) Investments. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
directly or indirectly make or own any Investment except:

          (i) Investments in Cash Equivalents;

          (ii) Permitted Existing Investments;

          (iii) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or
     reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent
     obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in
     the ordinary course of business;

          (iv) Investments consisting of deposit accounts maintained by the
     Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with their cash
     management systems;

          (v) Investments with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to
     Section 6.3(A)(c);

          (vi) Investments in connection with Permitted Acquisitions;

          (vii) Investments consisting of minority interests and joint ventures
     and loans or advances to such entities, provided that at the time any such
     Investment is made the amount of all Investments under this clause (vii)
     (including such new Investment, and including all Permitted Existing
     Investments that are of the type covered by this clause (vii)) does not
     exceed 25% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at such time; and

          (viii) Investments in WFC required in connection with the Receivables
     Purchase Documents.

     (E) Contingent Obligations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create or become or be liable with
respect to any Contingent Obligation, except: (i) recourse obligations resulting
from endorsement of negotiable instruments for

                                       43
<PAGE>   50

collection in the ordinary course of business; (ii) Permitted Existing
Contingent Obligations and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof,
provided that any such extension, renewal or replacement is not greater than the
Indebtedness under, and shall be on terms no less favorable to the Borrower or
such Subsidiary than the terms of, the Permitted Existing Contingent Obligation
being extended, renewed or replaced; (iii) obligations, warranties, and
indemnities, not relating to Indebtedness of any Person, which have been or are
undertaken or made in the ordinary course of business and not for the benefit of
or in favor of an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (iv) Contingent
Obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any
Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement; and (v) Contingent Obligations with
respect to surety, appeal and performance bonds obtained by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.

     (F) Acquisitions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
make any Acquisition other than a Permitted Acquisition.

     (G) Transactions with Affiliates. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any
transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of
the Borrower which is not its Subsidiary, on terms that are less favorable to
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, than those that might be
obtained in an arm's length transaction at the time from Persons who are not
such an Affiliate.

     (H) Restriction on Fundamental Changes. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall enter into any merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up
or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, lease, sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or series of transactions,
all or substantially all of the Borrower's or any such Subsidiary's business or
property, whether now or hereafter acquired, except transactions permitted under
Sections 6.3(B) or 6.3(F) and except that any Subsidiary of the Borrower may
merge with or liquidate into the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the
Borrower, provided that the surviving entity expressly assumes any liabilities,
if any, of either of such Subsidiaries with respect to the Obligations pursuant
to an assumption agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
and provided further that the consolidated net worth of the surviving
corporation is not less than the consolidated net worth of the Subsidiary with
any liability with respect to the Obligations immediately prior to such merger.

     (I) Margin Regulations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall use all or any portion of the proceeds of any credit extended under this
Agreement to purchase or carry Margin Stock.

     (J) ERISA. The Borrower shall not:

          (i) engage, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage, in any
     prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the
     Code for which a statutory or class exemption is not available or a private
     exemption has not been previously obtained from the DOL;

                                       44
<PAGE>   51

          (ii) permit to exist any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in
     Sections 302 of ERISA and 412 of the Internal Revenue Code), with respect
     to any Benefit Plan, whether or not waived;

          (iii) fail, or permit any Controlled Group member to fail, to pay
     timely required contributions or annual installments due with respect to
     any waived funding deficiency to any Benefit Plan;

          (iv) terminate, or permit any Controlled Group member to terminate,
     any Benefit Plan which would result in any liability of the Borrower or any
     Controlled Group member under Title IV of ERISA;

     (K) Fiscal Year. Neither the Borrower nor any of its consolidated
Subsidiaries shall change its fiscal year for accounting or tax purposes from a
period consisting of the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each calendar
year.

     (L) Prepayment of Other Indebtedness. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall make any optional prepayment, redemption, repurchase or
defeasance of any Funded Debt of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, other than
the Obligations, Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the 1997 Credit Agreement,
any intercompany indebtedness permitted by Section 6.3(A)(c) and other
Indebtedness described on Schedule 6.3(L) hereto.

     (M) Limitations on Restrictive Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Subsidiaries shall enter into, or suffer to exist, any agreement (other than
the Note Agreements) with any Person which, directly or indirectly, prohibits or
limits the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other
distributions to the Borrower or prepay any Indebtedness owed to Borrower or
(ii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower (other than with
respect to assets subject to Liens permitted by Section 6.3(C)).

     6.4 Financial Covenants. The Borrower shall comply with the following:

     (A) Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. The Borrower shall at all
times maintain Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at an amount not less than the
sum of (i) $200,000,000 plus (ii) 25% of Consolidated Net Income computed on a
cumulative basis for each of the elapsed fiscal quarters ending after December
31, 2000 plus (iii) 50% of the amount of net proceeds to the Borrower of any
public or private offering of equity securities of the Borrower after the date
hereof (other than pursuant to the Borrower's employee stock plans); provided
that notwithstanding that Consolidated Net Income for any such elapsed fiscal
quarter may be a deficit figure, no reduction as a result thereof shall be made
with respect to the sum to be maintained pursuant hereto.

     (B) Maximum Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the ratio
("LEVERAGE RATIO") of Consolidated Funded Debt to Consolidated Total
Capitalization at any time to exceed 0.60 to 1.

                                       45
<PAGE>   52

ARTICLE VII: DEFAULTS

     7.1 Defaults. Each of the following occurrences shall constitute a Default
under this Agreement:

     (a) Failure to Make Payments When Due. The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay
when due any of the Obligations consisting of principal with respect to the
Loans or (ii) shall fail to pay within three (3) Business Days of the date when
due any of the other Obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents.

     (b) Breach of Certain Covenants. The Borrower shall fail duly and
punctually to perform or observe any agreement, covenant or obligation binding
on the Borrower under:

     (i) Sections 6.1(C), 6.1(D), 6.1(E), 6.1(F), 6.1(G), 6.2(B), 6.2(C) or
6.2(F) and such failure shall continue unremedied for fifteen (15) days;

     (ii) Section 6.1(A) or 6.1(B) or Section 6.2(N) and such failure shall
continue unremedied for five (5) Business Days; or

     (iii) Section 6.3 or 6.4.

     (c) Breach of Representation or Warranty. Any representation or warranty
made or deemed made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or in any statement or certificate
at any time given by the Borrower pursuant to any of the Loan Documents shall be
false or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which made (or
deemed made).

     (d) Other Defaults. The Borrower shall default in the performance of or
compliance with any term contained in this Agreement (other than as covered by
paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7.1), or the Borrower shall default
in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in any of the other
Loan Documents, and such default shall continue for thirty (30) days after the
Borrower knew of such default or should have known of such default exercising
reasonable diligence.

     (e) Default as to Other Indebtedness. Any of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall fail to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled
maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) with respect
to any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) the outstanding principal
amount of which Indebtedness is in excess of $2,000,000; or any breach, default
or event of default shall occur, or any other condition shall exist under any
instrument, agreement or indenture pertaining to any such Indebtedness, if the
effect thereof is to cause an acceleration, mandatory redemption, a requirement
that the Borrower or any such Subsidiary offer to purchase such Indebtedness or
other required repurchase of such Indebtedness, or permit the holder(s) of such
Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of any such Indebtedness or require a
redemption or other repurchase of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness
shall be otherwise declared to be due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise)
or required to be prepaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased by the Borrower or
any of its

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<PAGE>   53

Subsidiaries (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment) prior to
the stated maturity thereof.

     (f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc.

          (i) An involuntary case shall be commenced against the Borrower or any
     of its Subsidiaries and the petition shall not be dismissed, stayed, bonded
     or discharged within sixty (60) days after commencement of the case; or a
     court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for
     relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an
     involuntary case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
     similar law now or hereinafter in effect; or any other similar relief shall
     be granted under any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law.

          (ii) A decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises
     for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
     custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower or any
     of its Subsidiaries or over all or a substantial part of the property of
     the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be entered; or an interim
     receiver, trustee or other custodian of the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries or of all or a substantial part of the property of the
     Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be appointed or a warrant of
     attachment, execution or similar process against any substantial part of
     the property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be issued and
     any such event shall not be stayed, dismissed, bonded or discharged within
     sixty (60) days after entry, appointment or issuance.

     (g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc. The Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries shall (i) commence a voluntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii)
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the
conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, (iii)
consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or
other custodian for all or a substantial part of its property, (iv) make any
assignment for the benefit of creditors or (v) take any corporate, partnership
or comparable action to authorize any of the foregoing.

     (h) Judgments and Attachments. Any money judgment(s) (other than a money
judgment covered by insurance as to which the insurance company has not
disclaimed or reserved the right to disclaim coverage), writ or warrant of
attachment, or similar process against any of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets involving in any single case or
in the aggregate an amount in excess of $1,000,000 is (are) entered and shall
remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty (60)
days or in any event later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of any
proposed sale thereunder.

     (i) Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries decreeing its involuntary dissolution or
split up and such order shall remain undischarged and unstayed for a period in
excess of sixty (60) days; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
otherwise dissolve or cease to exist except as specifically permitted

                                       47
<PAGE>   54

by this Agreement unless the dissolving entity is a limited liability company
which elects to continue its existence.

     (j) Loan Documents. At any time, for any reason, any Loan Document as a
whole that materially affects the ability of the Administrative Agent or any of
the Lenders to enforce the Obligations ceases to be in full force and effect or
any Loan Party seeks to repudiate its obligations thereunder.

     (k) Termination Event. Any Termination Event occurs which the Required
Lenders believe is reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to liability in excess of $1,000,000.

     (l) Waiver of Minimum Funding Standard. If the plan administrator of any
Plan applies under Section 412(d) of the Code for a waiver of the minimum
funding standards of Section 412(a) of the Code and any Lender believes the
substantial business hardship upon which the application for the waiver is based
could reasonably be expected to subject either the Borrower or any Controlled
Group member to liability in excess of $1,000,000.

     (m) Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur.

     (n) Environmental Matters. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be
the subject of any proceeding or investigation pertaining to (i) the Release by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Contaminant into the environment,
(ii) the liability of any of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising
from the Release by any other Person of any Contaminant into the environment, or
(iii) any violation of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which, in any case, has or is
reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to
liability individually or in the aggregate in excess of $5,000,000 (exclusive of
liabilities with respect to which the Borrower is maintaining reserves as of the
date hereof in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles).

     A Default shall be deemed "continuing" until cured or until waived in
writing in accordance with Section 8.3.

ARTICLE VIII: ACCELERATION, DEFAULTING LENDERS; WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

     8.1 Remedies

     (a) Termination of Commitments; Acceleration. If any Default described in
Section 7.1(f) or 7.1(g) occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of
the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall automatically terminate and the
Obligations shall immediately become due and payable without any election or
action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. If any other
Default occurs, the Required Lenders may (i) terminate or suspend the
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, or (ii) declare the
Obligations to be due and payable, or both, and upon any declaration under
clause (ii), the Obligations shall become

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<PAGE>   55

immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind, all of which the Borrower expressly waives.

     (b) Rescission. If at any time after termination of the Lenders'
obligations to make Loans or acceleration of the maturity of the Loans, Borrower
shall pay all arrears of interest and all payments on account of principal of
the Loans which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest on principal and, to the extent permitted by law, on overdue interest,
at the rates specified in this Agreement) and all Defaults and Unmatured
Defaults (other than nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on the
Loans due and payable solely by virtue of acceleration) shall be remedied or
waived pursuant to Section 8.3, then upon the written consent of the Required
Lenders and written notice to the Borrower, the termination of Lenders'
respective obligations to make Loans or the aforesaid acceleration and its
consequences may be rescinded and annulled; but such action shall not affect any
subsequent Default or Unmatured Default or impair any right or remedy consequent
thereon. The provisions of the preceding sentence are intended merely to bind
the Lenders to a decision which may be made at the election of the Required
Lenders; they are not intended to benefit the Borrower and do not give the
Borrower the right to require the Lenders to rescind or annul any termination of
the aforesaid obligations of the Lenders or any acceleration hereunder, even if
the conditions set forth herein are met.

     (c) Enforcement. The Borrower acknowledges that in the event the Borrower
fail to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any remedy of law may prove to
be inadequate relief to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; therefore, the
Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled
to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the
necessity of proving actual damages.

     8.2 Defaulting Lender. In the event that any Lender fails to fund its Pro
Rata Share of any Advance requested or deemed requested by the Borrower which
such Lender is obligated to fund under the terms of this Agreement (the funded
portion of such Advance being hereinafter referred to as a "NON PRO RATA LOAN"),
until the earlier of such Lender's cure of such failure and the termination of
the Commitments, the proceeds of all amounts thereafter repaid to the
Administrative Agent by the Borrower and otherwise required to be applied to
such Lender's share of all other Obligations pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement shall be advanced to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent ("CURE
LOANS") on behalf of such Lender to cure, in full or in part, such failure by
such Lender, but shall nevertheless be deemed to have been paid to such Lender
in satisfaction of such other Obligations. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary:

          (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2 shall apply only with
     respect to the proceeds of payments of Obligations and shall not affect the
     conversion or continuation of Loans pursuant to Section 2.8;

          (ii) any such Lender shall be deemed to have cured its failure to fund
     its Pro Rata Share of any Advance at such time as an amount equal to such
     Lender's original Pro Rata

                                       49
<PAGE>   56

     Share of the requested principal portion of such Advance is fully funded to
     the Borrower, whether made by such Lender itself or by operation of the
     terms of this Section 8.2, and whether or not the Non Pro Rata Loan with
     respect thereto has been repaid, converted or continued;

          (iii) amounts advanced to the Borrower to cure, in full or in part,
     any such Lender's failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Advance shall
     bear interest at the rate applicable to Loans which are Base Rate Loans, in
     effect from time to time, and for all other purposes of this Agreement
     shall be treated as if they were Base Rate Loans;

          (iv) regardless of whether or not a Default has occurred or is
     continuing, and notwithstanding the instructions of the Borrower as to its
     desired application, all repayments of principal which, in accordance with
     the other terms of this Agreement, would be applied to the outstanding Base
     Rate Loans shall be applied first, ratably to all Base Rate Loans
     constituting Non Pro Rata Loans, second, ratably to Base Rate Loans other
     than those constituting Non Pro Rata Loans or Cure Loans and, third,
     ratably to Base Rate Loans constituting Cure Loans;

          (v) for so long as and until the earlier of any such Lender's cure of
     the failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Advance and the termination
     of the Commitments, the term "Required Lenders" for purposes of this
     Agreement shall mean Lenders (excluding all Lenders whose failure to fund
     their respective Pro Rata Share of such Advance have not been so cured)
     whose Pro Rata Shares represent greater than fifty percent (50%) of the
     aggregate Pro Rata Shares of such Lenders; and

          (vi) for so long as and until any such Lender's failure to fund its
     Pro Rata Share of any Advance is cured in accordance with Section 8.2(ii),
     such Lender shall not be entitled to any commitment fees with respect to
     its Commitment, which commitment fees shall accrue in favor of the Lenders
     which have funded their respective Pro Rata Share of such requested
     Advance, shall be allocated among such performing Lenders ratably based
     upon their relative Commitments, and shall be calculated based upon the
     average amount by which the Aggregate Commitment of such performing Lenders
     exceeds the outstanding principal amount of the Loans owing to such
     performing Lenders.

     8.3 Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Article VIII, the
Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent in writing of the
Required Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto
for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or
changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or
waiving any Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental
agreement shall, without the consent of each Lender affected thereby:

          (i) Postpone or extend the Termination Date or any other date fixed
     for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees or
     other amounts payable to such Lender (except with respect to a waiver of
     the application of the default rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.11
     hereof).

                                       50
<PAGE>   57

          (ii) Reduce the principal amount of any Loans, or reduce the rate or
     extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon or other amounts
     payable hereunder.

          (iii) Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required
     Lenders or any other percentage of Lenders specified to be the applicable
     percentage in this Agreement to act on specified matters or amend the
     definitions of "Required Lenders" or "Pro Rata Share".

          (iv) Increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder or
     increase any Lender's Pro Rata Share.

          (v) Permit the Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement.

          (vi) Amend this Section 8.3.

No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Administrative
Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent may waive payment of the fee required under
Section 12.3(B) without obtaining the consent of any of the Lenders.

     8.4 Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Lenders or the
Administrative Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair
such right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence
therein, and the making of a Loan notwithstanding the existence of a Default or
the inability of the Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Loan
shall not constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise
of any such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the
terms, conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid
unless in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.3, and
then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies
contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all
shall be available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders until the
Obligations have been paid in full.

ARTICLE IX: GENERAL PROVISIONS

     9.1 Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the
Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of the Notes and the
making of the Loans herein contemplated.

     9.2 Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the
Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any
applicable statute or regulation.

     9.3 Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of
reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions
of the Loan Documents.

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<PAGE>   58

     9.4 Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and
understanding among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.

     9.5 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective
obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender
shall be the partner or agent of any other. The failure of any Lender to perform
any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of
its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer
any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement
and their respective successors and assigns.

     9.6 Expenses; Indemnification.

     (A) Expenses. The Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger for any reasonable costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses
(including attorneys' and paralegals' fees and time charges of attorneys and
paralegals for the Administrative Agent or the Arranger, which attorneys and
paralegals may be employees of the Administrative Agent or the Arranger) paid or
incurred by either the Administrative Agent or the Arranger in connection with
the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, review,
amendment, modification, and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower
also agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any costs,
internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' and
paralegals' fees and time charges of attorneys and paralegals for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, which attorneys and paralegals may be
employees of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) paid or incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the collection of the
Obligations and enforcement of the Loan Documents.

     (B) Indemnity. Each of the Borrower further agrees to defend, protect,
indemnify, and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, each and
all of the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates, and each of such
Administrative Agent's, Arranger's, Lender's or Affiliate's respective officers,
directors, employees, attorneys and agents (including, without limitation, those
retained in connection with the satisfaction or attempted satisfaction of any of
the conditions set forth in Article IV) (collectively, the "INDEMNITEES") from
and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses of any kind or nature
whatsoever (including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel
for such Indemnitees in connection with any investigative, Administrative or
judicial proceeding, whether or not such Indemnitees shall be designated a party
thereto), imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Indemnitees in any
manner relating to or arising out of:

          (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any act, event or
     transaction related or attendant thereto, the making of the Loans, the
     management of such Loans or the use or intended use of the proceeds of the
     Loans hereunder; or

                                       52
<PAGE>   59

          (ii) any liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, losses, damages,
     personal injury, death, punitive damages, economic damages, consequential
     damages, treble damages, intentional, willful or wanton injury, damage or
     threat to the environment, natural resources or public health or welfare,
     costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorney, expert and
     consulting fees and costs of investigation, feasibility or remedial action
     studies), fines, penalties and monetary sanctions, interest, direct or
     indirect, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, past, present or future
     relating to violation of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements
     of Law arising from or in connection with the past, present or future
     operations of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
     predecessors in interest, or, the past, present or future environmental,
     health or safety condition of any respective property of the Borrower or
     its Subsidiaries, the presence of asbestos-containing materials at any
     respective property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Release or
     threatened Release of any Contaminant into the environment (collectively,
     the "INDEMNIFIED MATTERS");

provided, however, the Borrower shall have no obligation to an Indemnitee
hereunder with respect to Indemnified Matters caused solely by or resulting
solely from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee or
breach of contract by such Indemnitee with respect to the Loan Documents, in
each case, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction. If the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless
set forth in the preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it is violative
of any law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion
which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law, to the payment
and satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees.

     (C) Waiver of Certain Claims; Settlement of Claims. The Borrower further
agrees to assert no claim against any of the Indemnitees on any theory of
liability for consequential, special, indirect, exemplary or punitive damages.
No settlement shall be entered into by the Borrower or any if its Subsidiaries
with respect to any claim, litigation, arbitration or other proceeding relating
to or arising out of the transaction evidenced by this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents (whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any
Indemnitee is a party thereto) unless such settlement releases all Indemnitees
from any and all liability with respect thereto.

     (D) Survival of Agreements. The obligations and agreements of the Borrower
under this Section 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

     9.7 Numbers of Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents, and
requests hereunder shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent with
sufficient counterparts so that the Administrative Agent may furnish one to each
of the Lenders.

     9.8 Accounting. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all accounting
terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting determinations
hereunder shall be made in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

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<PAGE>   60

     9.9 Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is
held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as
to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without
affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation,
enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to
this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.

     9.10 Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship among the Borrower and the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be solely that of borrower and
lender. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary
responsibilities to the Borrower. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any
Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to review or inform the
Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of the Borrower's business
or operations.

     9.11 CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF INDIANA,
BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

     9.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH
LENDER HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN
ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE
RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

     9.13 No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly
in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of
proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship
of any provisions of this Agreement.

     9.14 Release of Guarantors. If (a) as of the end of any fiscal quarter of
the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2000),
the Borrower and certain Guarantors (the "Continuing Guarantors") have satisfied
the conditions set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of the second sentence of
Section 6.2(N) for four consecutive fiscal quarters, ending with such fiscal
quarter, (b) within 90 days (or, if such fiscal quarter is the last fiscal
quarter of the Borrower's fiscal year, 120 days) after the end of such fiscal
quarter, the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate setting
forth calculations (in the form specified in section G of the Compliance
Certificate) for the Borrower and the Continuing Guarantors for each of such
four consecutive fiscal quarters demonstrating compliance with the preceding
clause (a), and (c) no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred since
the beginning of such four fiscal quarter period (and the Borrower's certificate
required by the preceding clause (b) contains a representation and warranty to
such effect), then the Borrower may deliver to the Administrative Agent,
together with such certificate, a request to release any Guarantor or
Guarantors, other than the Continuing Guarantors, from the Guaranty, and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly

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<PAGE>   61

execute and deliver such a release (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent), provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall
not be obligated to release any Guarantor pursuant hereto unless such Guarantor
shall concurrently be released from any guaranty of the Borrower's obligations
under the 1997 Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes.

ARTICLE X: THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     10.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Bank One is appointed by the
Lenders as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under each other Loan
Document, and each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Administrative
Agent to act as the contractual representative of such Lender with the rights
and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The
Administrative Agent agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the
express conditions contained in this Article X. Notwithstanding the use of the
defined term "Administrative Agent," it is expressly understood and agreed that
the Administrative Agent shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to any
Lender by reason of this Agreement and that the Administrative Agent is merely
acting as the representative of the Lenders with only those duties as are
expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its
capacity as the Lenders' contractual representative, the Administrative Agent
(i) does not assume any fiduciary duties to any of the Lenders, and (ii) is
acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited
to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Each of the Lenders agrees to assert no claim against the Administrative Agent
on any agency theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary
duty, all of which claims each Lender waives.

     10.2 Powers. The Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise such
powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as
are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent shall have no
implied duties or fiduciary duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the
Lenders to take any action hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents
except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents required to be
taken by the Administrative Agent.

     10.3 General Immunity. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable to any of the Borrower,
the Lenders or any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or
them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or
therewith except to the extent such action or inaction is found in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen
solely from (i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person or
(ii) breach of contract by such Person with respect to the Loan Documents.

     10.4 No Responsibility for Loans, Creditworthiness, Recitals, Etc. Neither
the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees
shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify
(i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with any Loan
Document or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of any
of the covenants or agreements of any obligor under any Loan

                                       55
<PAGE>   62

Document; (iii) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article IV; (iv)
the existence or possible existence of any Default or (v) the validity,
effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other instrument or
writing furnished in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall not be
responsible to any Lender for any recitals, statements, representations or
warranties herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, for the execution,
effectiveness, genuineness, validity, legality, enforceability, collectibility,
or sufficiency of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the
transactions contemplated thereby, or for the financial condition of any
guarantor of any or all of the Obligations, the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.

     10.5 Action on Instructions of Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall in
all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder
and under any other Loan Document in accordance with written instructions signed
by the Required Lenders (except with respect to actions that require the consent
of all of the Lenders as provided in Section 8.3), and such instructions and any
action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the
Lenders and on all holders of Notes. The Administrative Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder and under any
other Loan Document unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by
the Lenders pro rata against any and all liability, cost and expense that it may
incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

     10.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel. The Administrative Agent may execute
any of their respective duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or
through employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact, and shall not be answerable to
the Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized
agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled
to advice of counsel concerning the contractual arrangement among the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and all matters pertaining to such Agent's
duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document.

     10.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter,
telegram, statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct
and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect
to legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Administrative
Agent, which counsel may be employees of the Administrative Agent.

     10.8 The Administrative Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification. The
Lenders agree to reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent ratably in
proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares (i) for any amounts not
reimbursed by the Borrower for which the Administrative Agent is entitled to
reimbursement or indemnification by the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii)
for any other expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the
Lenders in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration
and enforcement of the Loan Documents, including as a result of a dispute among
the Lenders or between any Lender and the Administrative Agent, and (iii) for
any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which
may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the

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<PAGE>   63

Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents
or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions
contemplated thereby, or the enforcement of any of the terms thereof or of any
such other documents, including as a result of a dispute among the Lenders or
between any Lender and the Administrative Agent, provided that no Lender shall
be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing is found
in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
arisen solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Administrative Agent.

     10.9 Rights as a Lender. With respect to its Commitment, Loans made by it
and the Notes issued to it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights
and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document as any Lender and may
exercise the same as through it were not the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless the context
otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual
capacity. The Administrative Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of trust, debt, equity or other transaction, in
addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which such Person is not
prohibited hereby from engaging with any other Person.

     10.10 Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrower and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to
make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     10.11 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign
at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower.
Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint,
on behalf of the Lenders, a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor
Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and
shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring
Administrative Agent's giving notice of resignation, then the retiring
Administrative Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Lenders, a successor
Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, so long
as no Default has occurred and is continuing, each such successor Administrative
Agent shall be subject to approval by the Borrower, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Such successor Administrative Agent shall be a commercial
bank having capital and retained earnings of at least $500,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a
successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation
hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall
continue in

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effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other
Loan Documents.

ARTICLE XI: SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS

     11.1 Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the
Lenders under applicable law, if any Default occurs and is continuing, any
indebtedness from any Lender to the Borrower (including all account balances,
whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) may be
offset and applied toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender
and the other Obligations, whether or not the Obligations, or any part hereof,
shall then be due.

     11.2 Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise (other
than pursuant to Article XII, has payment made to it upon its Loans (other than
payments received pursuant to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5) in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly
upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Loans held by the other Lenders so
that after such purchase each Lender will hold its ratable proportion of Loans.
If any Lender, whether in connection with setoff or amounts which might be
subject to setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for its
Obligation or such amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees,
promptly upon demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share
in the benefits of such collateral ratably in proportion to their Loans. In case
any such payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise, appropriate
further adjustments shall be made.

ARTICLE XII: BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

     12.1 Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan Documents
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lenders
and their respective successors and assigns, except that (i) the Borrower shall
not have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the Loan Documents
and (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance with Section
12.3 hereof. Notwithstanding clause (ii) of this Section 12.1, any Lender may at
any time, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent,
assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and its Notes to a
Federal Reserve Bank; provided, however, that no such assignment shall release
the transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent
may treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof
unless and until such payee complies with Section 12.3 hereof in the case of an
assignment thereof or, in the case of any other transfer, a written notice of
the transfer is filed with the Administrative Agent. Any assignee or transferee
of a Note agrees by acceptance thereof to be bound by all the terms and
provisions of the Loan Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any
Person, who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or
consent is the holder of any Note, shall be conclusive and binding on any
subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such Note or of any Note or Notes
issued in exchange therefor.

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     12.2 Participations.

     (A) Permitted Participants; Effect. Subject to the terms set forth in this
Section 12.2, any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in
accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other
entities ("PARTICIPANTS") participating interests in any Loan owing to such
Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or any other
interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents on a pro rata basis; provided
that the amount of such participation shall not be for less than $5,000,000. In
the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a
Participant, such Lender's obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain
unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto for the performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the
holder of any such Note for all purposes under the Loan Documents, all amounts
payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be determined as if such
Lender had not sold such participating interests, and the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender
in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents
except that, for purposes of Article III hereof, the Participants shall be
entitled to the same rights as if they were Lenders provided however that no
Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Article III
than the Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights
participated.

     (B) Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve,
without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of the Loan Documents, other than any amendment, modification or
waiver with respect to any Loan or Commitment in which such Participant has an
interest which forgives principal, interest or fees or reduces the interest rate
or fees payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement with respect to any such
Loan or Commitment, or postpones any date fixed for any regularly-scheduled
payment of principal of, or interest or fees on, any such Loan or Commitment.

     (C) Benefit of Setoff. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be
deemed to have the right of setoff provided in Section 11.1 hereof in respect to
its participating interest in amounts owing under the Loan Documents to the same
extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it
as a Lender under the Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the
right of setoff provided in Section 11.1 hereof with respect to the amount of
participating interests sold to each Participant except to the extent such
Participant exercises its right of set off. The Lenders agree to share with each
Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the right of setoff provided in
Section 11.1 hereof, agrees to share with each Lender, any amount received
pursuant to the exercise of its right of setoff, such amounts to be shared in
accordance with Section 11.2 as if each Participant were a Lender.

     12.3 Assignments.

     (A) Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its
business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one or
more banks or other entities ("PURCHASERS") all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment
and all Loans owing to it) in accordance with the provisions

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of this Section 12.3. Each assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying,
ratable percentage of all of the rights and obligations of any assigning Lender
under this Agreement. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit C hereto and shall not be permitted hereunder unless such assignment is
either for all of such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents
or involves loans and commitments in an aggregate amount of at least $5,000,000.
Notice to the Administrative Agent and consent of the Administrative Agent and,
so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, notice to and
consent of the Borrower (which consents will not be unreasonably withheld) shall
be required prior to an assignment becoming effective with respect to a
Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof.

     (B) Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Administrative Agent
of a notice of assignment, substantially in the form attached as Appendix I to
Exhibit C hereto (a "NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT"), together with any consent required
by Section 12.3(A) hereof, and (ii) except in the case of an assignment from a
Lender to an Affiliate thereof or to a fund managed by the same investment
manager, payment of a $3,500 fee to the Administrative Agent for processing such
assignment, such assignment shall become effective on the effective date
specified in such Notice of Assignment. The Notice of Assignment shall contain a
representation by the Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration
used to make the purchase of the Commitment and Loans under the applicable
assignment agreement are "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that the
rights and interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not
be "plan assets" under ERISA. On and after the effective date of such
assignment, such Purchaser, if not already a Lender, shall for all purposes be a
Lender party to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents executed by the
Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto, and no
consent or action by any of the Borrower or the Lenders and no further consent
or action by the Administrative Agent shall be required to release the
transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment and
Loans assigned to such Purchaser. Upon the consummation of any assignment to a
Purchaser pursuant to this Section 12.3(B), the transferor Lender, the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so
that replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new Notes or, as
appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser, in each case in
principal amounts reflecting their Commitment, as adjusted pursuant to such
assignment.

     (C) The Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address
referred to in Section 13.1 a copy of each assignment delivered to and accepted
by it pursuant to this Section 12.3 and a register (the "REGISTER") for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of and
principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time and
whether such Lender is an original Lender or the assignee of another Lender
pursuant to an assignment under this Section 12.3. The entries in the Register
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender
hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available
for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from
time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

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     12.4 Confidentiality. Subject to Section 12.5, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders shall hold all nonpublic information obtained pursuant to the
requirements of this Agreement and identified as such by the Borrower in
accordance with such Person's customary procedures for handling confidential
information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking
practices and in any event may make disclosure reasonably required by a
prospective Transferee (as defined in Section 12.5 below) in connection with the
contemplated participation or assignment or as required or requested by any
Governmental Authority or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process
and shall require any such Transferee or prospective Transferee to agree (and
require any of its Transferees to agree) to comply with this Section 12.4. In no
event shall the Administrative Agent or any Lender be obligated or required to
return any materials furnished by the Borrower; provided, however, each
prospective Transferee shall be required to agree that if it does not become a
participant or assignee it shall return all materials furnished to it by or on
behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement.

     12.5 Dissemination of Information. The Borrower authorizes each Lender to
disclose to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "TRANSFEREE") and any
prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender's possession
concerning the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that prior to any such
disclosure, such prospective Transferee shall agree to preserve in accordance
with Section 12.4 the confidentiality of any confidential information described
therein.

ARTICLE XIII: NOTICES

     13.1 Giving Notice. Except as otherwise permitted by Article II with
respect to Borrowing Notices, all notices and other communications provided to
any party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall be in
writing or by telex or by facsimile and addressed or delivered to such party at
its address set forth below its signature hereto or at such other address as may
be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Any notice, if
mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid, shall be deemed given when
received; any notice, if transmitted by telex or facsimile, shall be deemed
given when transmitted (answerback confirmed in the case of telexes); or, if by
courier, one (1) Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight carrier
service; with all charges paid.

     13.2 Change of Address. Any of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
any Lender may each change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice
in writing to the other parties hereto.

ARTICLE XIV: COUNTERPARTS

     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which
taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may
execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This Agreement shall be
effective when it has been executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders and each party as notified the Administrative Agent by telex or
telephone, that it has taken such action.

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                  [Remainder of This Page Intentionally Blank]

                                       62
<PAGE>   69

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                              WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION

                              By:
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                              Address:
                              1000 Sagamore Parkway South
                              Lafayette, IN  47905
                              Attention: Mark R. Holden, Vice President
                                                and Chief Financial Officer
                              Telephone No.: (765) 448-1591
                              Facsimile No.:   (765) 449-5308

                              BANK ONE, INDIANA, N.A.,
                                  as the Administrative Agent and as a Lender

                              By:
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                              Address:
                              Bank One Center Tower, 4th Floor
                              111 Monument Circle, IN1-0040
                              Indianapolis, IN  46277
                              Attention:  John C. Otteson
                              Telephone No.:  (317) 321-8102
                              Facsimile No.:  (317) 266-6042

                                       63

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