Wabash National Corp. announced production of its first carbon steel vacuum tanker, designed to transport bulk non-hazardous liquids primarily for the oil and gas industry. The new product offering will add up to 60 additional jobs for Wabash National in Lafayette, Ind.

Weighing in at 16,750 lbs., which is lighter yet more durable than other offerings on the market, vacuum tankers built by Wabash National are primarily used by customers in the oil and gas industry for fracking operations. "Fracing," or "Fracking" is short for hydraulic fracturing, in which rock formations such as shale are split to capture energy sources like oil and gas from below the surface.

A carbon steel vacuum tanker plays an integral role in this process by hauling essential water to a fracking operation. For example, one operation could require over 1 million gallons of water. A frac tank from Wabash National has the capacity to transport 5,460 gallons or 130 barrels.

Carbon steel vacuum tankers are currently marketed and sold through the Wabash Energy & Environmental Solutions business unit under the Wabash National brand, as part of a growing focus on specialty trailers.