<PAGE>                  1<PAGE>

             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                   Washington, D.C.  20549


                       ______________


                          FORM 8-K


                       CURRENT REPORT



           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

              Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 7, 1996 
                                                  --------------- 


                Fruehauf Trailer Corporation
  ----------------------------------------------------   
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



    Delaware            1-10772             38-2863240
----------------      -----------         --------------   
(State or other       (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
 jurisdiction of      File Number)        Identification No.)
 incorporation)


111 Monument Circle, Suite 3200, Indianapolis, Indiana  46204
-------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(317)630-3000
                                                   -------------

                              N/A
  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
 (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



             Exhibit Index Appears on Page 4
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 2

       INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

     The Registrant Fruehauf Trailer Corporation is
referred to herein as the "Company"

Item 3.   Bankruptcy or Receivership.
          --------------------------

          On October 7, 1996 the Company and certain
          of its subsidiaries filed voluntary
          petitions in the United States Bankruptcy
          Court for the District of Delaware, requesting
          relief under chapter 11 of the United
          States Bankruptcy Code.

          The Company and its subsidiaries' chapter 11 
          cases are being jointly administered under
          Case Number 96-1563 (PJW), which is
          pending before Judge Peter J. Walsh.  Subject
          to supervision and orders of the Court, the
          Company will remain in possession of its
          assets and operate them in the ordinary
          course.


Item 5.   Other Events.
          -------------

          The Company issued a press release on 
          October 7, 1996, a copy of which is filed 
          as Exhibit 99.


Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
          Information and Exhibits.           
          -----------------------------------------
     (a)  Not applicable.

     (b)  Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.

          99   Press Release dated October 7, 1996,
               from the Company.


<PAGE>
<PAGE> 3
                      SIGNATURE
                      ---------


          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                        FRUEHAUF TRAILER CORPORATION



Date: October 21, 1996    By:/s/Gregory G. Fehr        
                             ------------------  
                             Gregory G. Fehr
                             Vice President -
                             Corporate Controller
                             (Principal Accounting
                              Officer) 

<PAGE>
<PAGE>   4
                             EXHIBIT INDEX
                             -------------



                                           Pagination by
                                             Sequential
                                             Numbering
Exhibit   Description of Exhibit              System 
-------   ----------------------              -------  


  99      Press Release dated                    5
          October 7, 1996, regarding
          Fruehauf's voluntary petitions
          for relief under Chapter 11 of
          the United States Bankruptcy
          Code.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FRUEHAUF TRAILER FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4107}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FRUEHAUF TRAILER CORP", "cik": "0000874268", "assigned-sic": "3715", "irs-number": "382863240", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10772", "film-number": "96645766"}, "business-address": {"street1": "111 MONUMENT CIRCLE", "street2": "SUITE 3200", "city": "INDIANAPOLIS", "state": "IN", "zip": "46244-0913", "phone": "3176303000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "111 MONUMENT CIRCLE", "street2": "SUITE 3200", "city": "INDIANAPOLIS", "state": "IN", "zip": "46244-0913"}}
1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                   Washington, D.C.  20549

                       ______________

                          FORM 8-K

                       CURRENT REPORT

           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

              Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 7, 1996 
                                                  --------------- 

                Fruehauf Trailer Corporation
  ----------------------------------------------------   
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware            1-10772             38-2863240
----------------      -----------         --------------   
(State or other       (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
 jurisdiction of      File Number)        Identification No.)
 incorporation)

111 Monument Circle, Suite 3200, Indianapolis, Indiana  46204
-------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(317)630-3000
                                                   -------------

                              N/A
  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
 (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

             Exhibit Index Appears on Page 4
2

       INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

     The Registrant Fruehauf Trailer Corporation is
referred to herein as the "Company"

Item 3.   Bankruptcy or Receivership.
          --------------------------

          On October 7, 1996 the Company and certain
          of its subsidiaries filed voluntary
          petitions in the United States Bankruptcy
          Court for the District of Delaware, requesting
          relief under chapter 11 of the United
          States Bankruptcy Code.

          The Company and its subsidiaries' chapter 11 
          cases are being jointly administered under
          Case Number 96-1563 (PJW), which is
          pending before Judge Peter J. Walsh.  Subject
          to supervision and orders of the Court, the
          Company will remain in possession of its
          assets and operate them in the ordinary
          course.

Item 5.   Other Events.
          -------------

          The Company issued a press release on 
          October 7, 1996, a copy of which is filed 
          as Exhibit 99.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
          Information and Exhibits.           
          -----------------------------------------
     (a)  Not applicable.

     (b)  Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.

          99   Press Release dated October 7, 1996,
               from the Company.
3
                      SIGNATURE
                      ---------

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                        FRUEHAUF TRAILER CORPORATION

Date: October 21, 1996    By:/s/Gregory G. Fehr        
                             ------------------  
                             Gregory G. Fehr
                             Vice President -
                             Corporate Controller
                             (Principal Accounting
                              Officer)
4
                             EXHIBIT INDEX
                             -------------

                                           Pagination by
                                             Sequential
                                             Numbering
Exhibit   Description of Exhibit              System 
-------   ----------------------              -------  

  99      Press Release dated                    5
          October 7, 1996, regarding
          Fruehauf's voluntary petitions
          for relief under Chapter 11 of
          the United States Bankruptcy
          Code.