Donald Wahlin: 2025 Distinguished Achievement Award recipient

BSME ‘60
Founder and CEO (retired), Stoughton Trailers, LLC

A mechanical engineer who has leveraged creativity, resilience and trust to build a manufacturing business that supports transportation of the nation’s goods.

Don Wahlin’s first job after graduating with a mechanical engineering degree in 1960 didn’t exactly turn out as he’d planned. He was hired in June of that year by a small company in Stoughton, Wisconsin, to design truck bodies. “I had them bankrupt by November of that year,” Wahlin jokes, of the failed company (not his efforts).

Out of a job, Wahlin borrowed money from family and friends to purchase the remaining company assets out of bankruptcy and, in 1961, founded Stoughton Trailers. While there was a steep learning curve in figuring out how to run and grow the business, Wahlin says his engineering education proved invaluable.

“The transportation business, and manufacturing semi-truck trailers, is an engineering-intensive industry, and I don’t believe I could have been successful without my engineering education,” he says. “It gave me an understanding of the key skills and attributes that good engineers possess, which allowed me to hire outstanding people to drive the company’s success.”

Over the course of the next four decades, Wahlin’s visionary leadership, business acumen, and patient wisdom built the company into a top-10 international supplier of semi-truck trailers, the fourth-largest semi trailer manufacturer in North America, and the largest durable goods manufacturer in Dane County. With more than 1,000 employees, it makes trailers for over-the-road trucking, as well as agricultural trailers and other specialty equipment.

“I like building things, and I get a satisfaction out of seeing our products out on the road,” he says. “My company has probably built more than a million pieces of equipment, which has certainly impacted our economy and the supply chain.”

Wahlin’s leadership and ability to carry very little debt allowed the family business to thrive when some competitors struggled during the volatile industry’s ups and downs. Following Wahlin’s retirement 20 years ago, the family’s second generation began running the company, with Wahlin’s son, Bob (BSEE ’96), currently at the helm as president and CEO.

Which engineering class made the greatest impact on you?

All the engineering courses I took at UW-Madison were important and gave me a background that allowed me to make better engineering decisions. But one specific class that I really enjoyed was metallurgy—and I was pretty good at it. The course turned out to be very relevant for my career because trailers are made of steel and aluminum, so I was able to apply that knowledge in my business.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love flying. After graduating from the Air Force flight school, I had a commitment to serve as a pilot in the Wisconsin Air National Guard for five years. But I ended up serving for 23 years, from 1962-1985, because I enjoyed it. Flying provided a welcome diversion from running the business. After leaving the National Guard, I’ve done a lot of private flying, and I got into aerobatic flying. I was flying aerobatics up until last year when I had a carpal tunnel surgery. Also, my wife, Carol, and I are fortunate to have raised eight wonderful children. The third generation of the family is now working in the business.

Which do you prefer?

Fun on the Terrace or fun on Lake Mendota?
Lake Mendota. I’ve had a sailboat on the lake for the last 35 years. I grew up in Madison and enjoyed fishing in Lake Mendota in the summers.

Camp Randall, the Kohl Center, or the UW Field House?
Camp Randall.

Sweet Caroline or Jump Around?
Jump Around.

State Street or Lakeshore path?
State Street.

UW Arboretum or Picnic Point?
I spent the most time on Picnic Point, and that was my favorite spot for doing some fishing.