DTNA to Reduce Workforce by 1,240
Daimler Trucks North America announced plans June 6 to reduce its North American manufacturing workforce by about 1,240 positions.
“DTNA’s workforce adjustments are in response to a sustained reduction in orders and a diminished build rate and are expected to be temporary,” the company said in an e-mailed statement to Transport Topics.
The Portland, Oregon-based truck maker said the reductions include about 600 workers at its facility in Mount Holly, North Carolina; 270 workers in Santiago, Mexico; 200 at its components and logistics facility in Gastonia, North Carolina; and 170 workers at the Western Star plant in Portland.
DTNA also said there no plans currently to reduce the workforce at facilities in Cleveland, North Carolina, or Saltillo, Mexico.
Last month, Daimler said it was lowering its outlook for overall North America Classes 6-8 truck sales this year by 15% compared with 2015, down from an earlier forecast of a 10% decline. Last year, Classes 6-8 sales were about 425,000.
“These workforce adjustments are expected to be temporary and workers will have first rights to be recalled when production is able to sustain a higher build rate,” the company said.
Daimler’s announcement comes one week after Volvo Trucks North America announced plans to scale back its truck production.
ACT Research reported that preliminary North American orders in May for new Class 8 trucks fell 31% from a year ago to 14,300.
