Daimler Trucks Adding Jobs, Second Shift at Oregon Factory

Daimler Trucks North America said it is adding a second shift and 350 new jobs at its manufacturing plant in Portland, Ore., to support a ramp-up in production.

The increase in the plant's workforce will include approximately 330 shop employees and 20 engineering and support positions, the company said. The Portland plant currently employs approximately 700 shop employees and 50 engineers, managers and support staff.

Daimler Trucks said it will add the 350 new positions by the end of 2012.

The Swan Island facility in Portland makes Western Star-brand heavy-duty Class 8 trucks for use in mining, logging, oil fields and construction. The plant also produces on-highway trucks and other specialized vehicles.

Daimler Trucks North America said it will add 350 new positions at its Portland, Ore., truck plant by the end of 2012.
"The increase in production capacity and hiring comes in response to a strong and steady rise in Western Star orders throughout 2011 and company expectations for continued growth in 2012," Daimler Trucks said in a news release.

The company noted that this is the first time since 2006 that Daimler Trucks North America has had open-market hiring for shop positions at this plant.

The company said it will begin hiring in November, with the new production shift slated to be at full capacity by February 2012.

Daimler Trucks North America plans a second wave of hiring at the plant next summer.

The company said it will accept online applications for the machinist, material handler and maintenance positions at the plant beginning today.

Another 150 positions in the fields of mechanical, electrical, electronic and manufacturing engineering are open at the Portland plant and other company locations, according to Daimler Trucks. Interested applicants for plant and engineering positions can apply at dtna.jobs.

Daimler Trucks North America produces Class 4-8 vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011