Freightliner announces up to 1,180 layoffs at N.C. plant
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C.
Truck manufacturer Freightliner LLC said Friday it would lay off up to 1,180 workers at its assembly plant north of Charlotte due to falling orders.
Freightliner, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, said the job eliminations were necessary because buyers have been hesitant to purchase trucks equipped with new and expensive technology to curb diesel exhaust emissions. New standards governing diesel emissions in the U.S. and Canada took effect Jan. 1.
The layoffs will take place April 1 at the plant in Cleveland, about an hour north of Charlotte. The plant currently has more than 4,000 workers and is the largest manufacturing employer in Rowan County. The company said the plant will scale back from three shifts to two, and the potential to rehire the laid off workers will depend in part on whether customer demand improves.
Portland, Ore.-based Freightliner, North America's leading medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer, said in December there would be a series of production rate adjustments at its plants during the first quarter of 2007. It said those moves could affect more than 4,000 workers.
Randy Harrell, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, said the plant's employment is cyclical, depending on truck supplies and demand.
"I was a little surprised by how large the layoff was," Harrell said. "I'm really sorry this happened, but it's that type of business that goes through these cycles."
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C.
Truck manufacturer Freightliner LLC said Friday it would lay off up to 1,180 workers at its assembly plant north of Charlotte due to falling orders.
Freightliner, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, said the job eliminations were necessary because buyers have been hesitant to purchase trucks equipped with new and expensive technology to curb diesel exhaust emissions. New standards governing diesel emissions in the U.S. and Canada took effect Jan. 1.
The layoffs will take place April 1 at the plant in Cleveland, about an hour north of Charlotte. The plant currently has more than 4,000 workers and is the largest manufacturing employer in Rowan County. The company said the plant will scale back from three shifts to two, and the potential to rehire the laid off workers will depend in part on whether customer demand improves.
Portland, Ore.-based Freightliner, North America's leading medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer, said in December there would be a series of production rate adjustments at its plants during the first quarter of 2007. It said those moves could affect more than 4,000 workers.
Randy Harrell, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, said the plant's employment is cyclical, depending on truck supplies and demand.
"I was a little surprised by how large the layoff was," Harrell said. "I'm really sorry this happened, but it's that type of business that goes through these cycles."
