Daimler Trucks Announces Plans to Ramp Up Production and Hire an Additional 1,400 Employees

PORTLAND, OR--June 9, 2011: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) today announced that it 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 plant in Mexico. Over 1,230 new employees will be added to the company's manufacturing and administrative payroll in these three locations to 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 company's Gastonia, NC parts manufacturing plant. Company officials confirmed that the hiring plans announced today are 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, chief operating officer, 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."

The Mt. Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant is located in Mt. Holly, NC and will add a second shift to its operations and plans to fill an additional 535 manufacturing and 37 related administrative positions by September. The Mt. Holly plant manufactures Freightliner M2 Business Class medium-duty, hybrid, and natural gas trucks, as well as Freightliner's new line of 108SD and 114SD trucks built for the severe-duty vocational truck markets.

The Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant is located in Portland, OR and plans to fill an additional 155 manufacturing positions between September and the end of the year. The Portland plant manufactures Western Star trucks including the 4800, 4900, and 6900 product lines, as well as pre-series versions of the new 4700 line beginning later this year. The Portland plant also manufactures Freightliner-branded military vehicles for use throughout the world.

The Saltillo Truck Manufacturing Plant is located in Saltillo, Mexico in the state of Coahuila and plans to add a third shift and 479 manufacturing workers beginning in June. A total of 32 staff positions will also be filled at the plant. The Saltillo plant manufactures Freightliner Cascadia® model trucks for the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican markets.

The Gastonia Parts Manufacturing Plant is located in Gastonia, NC and will add 121 manufacturing workers and 3 administrative positions by early in the fourth quarter of this year. The Gastonia plant manufactures specialized parts and components for all the company's commercial vehicle products, supplying every DTNA facility in the U.S. and Mexico as well as our parts distribution centers in support of the worldwide Freightliner and Western Star dealer network.

Company officials also noted that employment at its Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant in Cleveland, NC expanded significantly in 2010 and jumped again in May, as part of the 1,300 position expansion in the DTNA manufacturing network announced earlier this year. Today's announcement includes 10 additional shop positions at the Cleveland plant expected to be filled by the end of July.