Freightliner plant to add shift, 700 workers

Aug. 1, 2004
Freightliner LLC's Portland OR truck manufacturing plant will begin a second shift and add about 700 full-time employees. In making the announcement,

Freightliner LLC's Portland OR truck manufacturing plant will begin a second shift and add about 700 full-time employees. In making the announcement, the company cited increased demand for Western Star- and Freightliner-brand heavy-duty trucks produced at the facility. The new second shift will start in August. Freightliner LLC will immediately begin recalling and hiring employees to staff new positions.

The Portland plant produces a variety of heavy-duty trucks for long haul and vocational applications. Western Star models produced at the plant include the 4900 EX, 4900 FA, 4900 SA and the 6900 XD. Freightliner truck models built at the facility include the Coronado, Century Class S/T, and the Columbia. The Portland plant also builds heavy-duty vehicles for the United States military.

Employees will be added over the next few months as the plant ramps up to full production capacity on two shifts. The Portland plant currently employs 1,100 people on one full production shift. With the addition of the new personnel, plant employment will rise to about 1,800.