Truck Makers Set Production Cuts
Truck manufacturers are reducing production and cutting their payrolls, even before final sales figures are in for 1999, the biggest year in history for the sale of Class 8 trucks.
Faced with predictions of a significant reduction in sales from 1999 to 2000 — due at least in part to expectations of a slowing U.S. economy and a growing number of late-model used trucks on the market — a second U.S. truck maker last week announced plans to decrease production.
For the full story, see the Jan. 10 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
The manufacturers’ cuts are coming as orders for new trucks have declined precipitously and as cancellation rates have skyrocketed in recent months.
 |  |
On Jan. 3, Navistar International said it would slow production at its Chatham, Ontario, assembly plant — its only facility for making Class 8 vehicles — and lay off up to 500 employees in March.
