Freightliner LLC announced that it is adding a third shift and 593 new full-time jobs at the company's Cleveland, N.C., Truck Manufacturing Plant.
The additional shift and new employees are required to meet increased production demands at the plant, which builds Freightliner-brand heavy-duty trucks. The Cleveland plant has been increasing its output throughout the year in response to the improving North American heavy-duty truck market.
"The North American heavy-duty truck market continues its vigorous recovery and we have a positive outlook for further improvement," said Rainer Schmueckle, President and CEO of Freightliner LLC. "We are experiencing strong demand across our Class 8 product line and especially in the over-the-road segment."
The Cleveland, N.C., Truck Manufacturing Plant is Freightliner's largest manufacturing facility. The plant currently employs 3,000 people in the production of Class 8 vehicles including the Freightliner Century Class S/T, Columbia, Argosy and Condor. With the addition of the new jobs, employment will rise to approximately 3,600 people. The new positions mean Cleveland employment levels are at their highest in five years.
The new, third shift is scheduled to begin in mid-July. The company has already been hiring for the new production positions and will soon reach full employment conditions.
Freightliner also announced that its Gastonia, N.C., Parts Manufacturing Plant has added 100 full-time employees. The Gastonia Parts Manufacturing Plant produces cab and chassis parts for Freightliner's truck manufacturing operations and parts distribution centers. The plant now employs 875 people. The plant also is increasing output in response to the growing North American Class 8 truck market.
"We are very pleased to increase our employment at the Cleveland and Gastonia plants and continue our investment in our North Carolina operations," Schmueckle said.