Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) plans to “sharply increase” production and employment levels at its Mt. Holly, NC and Portland, OR truck manufacturing plants during the last half of 2011. Production and hiring will also “increase significantly” at the company's Saltillo, Mexico plant. Over 1,230 new employees will be added to the company's manufacturing and administrative payroll in these three locations.
The more than 1,230 new employees to be added to the OEM’s manufacturing and administrative payroll in these three locations will “accommodate rising customer demand for the company's Freightliner and Western Star trucks.” In addition, over 120 shop and staff employees will be added at the DTNA’s Gastonia, NC parts plant.
The OEM stated that the hiring plans announced this week come in addition to the more than 1,300 positions filled in the company's truck and parts facilities during the first half of 2011.
“Our manufacturing network is highly scalable and together with our component suppliers, we are fully prepared to handle current and projected order levels,” said Roger Nielsen, COO of DTNA. “We have the capacity and the leverage to meet customer delivery schedules despite the industry supply challenges associated with economic recovery and recent global events. We take great pride in our manufacturing workforce and in the proven performance, quality, and popularity of our vehicles.”
A second shift will be added at the Mt. Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant in Mt. Holly, NC. This shift will require 535 manufacturing and 37 administration positions by September. DTNA manufactures the Freightliner M2 Business Class medium-duty, hybrid, and natural gas trucks there, as well as Freightliner’s new line of 108SD and 114SD vocational trucks.
At the Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant in Portland, OR, DTNA will add 155 manufacturing positions between September and the end of the year. Western Star’s 4800, 4900, and 6900 a models built at this plant. The facility also produces Freightliner-branded military vehicles.
In Mexico, 479 manufacturing positions and 32 staff positions will be added at the Saltillo Truck Manufacturing Plant.. That plant produces the Freightliner Cascadia for North America.
In Gastonia, NC, the company’s Gastonia Parts Manufacturing Plant will add 121 manufacturing and three administrative positions by the fourth quarter to assist in the production of specialized parts and components. Gastonia supplies all DTNA facilities in the U.S. and Mexico as well as parts distribution centers that support the Freightliner and Western Star dealer networks.
And ten positions will be added at the Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant in Cleveland, NC.
DTNA added that it is expecting to fill the majority of the new manufacturing positions at its U.S. plants with “workers currently in layoff status who will be recalled in order of seniority.”
