Wabash, Larsen Settle Trailer-Height Lawsuit
Michigan-based carrier Larsen Trucking Inc. recently reached a settlement with trailer maker Wabash National Corp. and one of its dealers in a legal dispute over 40 custom-ordered trailers that the trucking firm said exceeded legal height limits.
“While we are pleased with the resolution, the terms of the settlement are confidential,” said Michael Dantuma, Larsen’s lawyer.
Wabash declined to comment.
In a lawsuit first filed in June 2013, Larsen said it discovered that the trailers surpassed 13 feet, 6 inches, after one was turned away at the Ohio Turnpike for violating the state’s height restrictions.
The Greenville-based fleet had blamed the problem on incorrect manufacturing, which Wabash denied, according to filings in Kent County Circuit Court in Grand Rapids.
Larsen’s lawsuit named Wabash and L&V Trailer Sales, the dealer that took the orders for the trailers in question. L&V had filed both a counterclaim against Larsen and a cross-claim against Wabash.
Perrin Rynders, a lawyer for L&V, confirmed that the legal matter has been “completely resolved” among the three parties. He also declined to share details.
Larsen originally agreed to purchase the specialized step-deck trailers in 2012 for just over $2 million, including taxes and fees, court documents showed.
