Daimler to Boost North American Truck Production, Hire 1,400 Workers
Daimler Trucks North America said Thursday it plans to sharply increase production and hire about 1,400 new workers at three truck plants, to meet higher demand.
Daimler, which makes Freightliner and Western Star brand trucks in North America, said it will increase production at its Mt. Holly, N.C. and Portland, Ore., truck manufacturing plants in the last half of 2011.
Production and hiring also will increase significantly at Daimler’s Saltillo plant in Mexico, which was dedicated two years ago and makes Freightliner trucks, DTNA said.
Daimler said it plans to add more than 1,230 employees to its manufacturing and administrative payroll at the three locations to accommodate rising customer demand, and will add about 120 shop and staff employees at its Gastonia, N.C., parts plant.
Company officials said the plans were in addition to the more than 1,300 positions filled in the at its truck and parts facilities in the first half of this year.
“Our manufacturing network is highly scalable and together with our component suppliers, we are fully prepared to handle current and projected order levels,” Roger Nielsen, DTNA’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Company officials said employment at its Cleveland, N.C., truck plant expanded significantly last year and jumped again in May, as part of the 1,300 position expansion DTNA announced earlier this year.
