Truck maker announces layoffs at 3 NC plants

GASTONIA — A truck manufacturer says it will lay off more than 2,100 employees at three North Carolina plants because of sagging sales.

Freightliner’s parent company, Daimler Trucks North America, said Thursday the layoffs will affect plants in Gastonia and Mount Holly in Gaston County and Cleveland in Rowan County.

The company said the layoffs will happen March 13.

United Auto Worker local president George Drexel said plant employees learned of the layoffs Thursday. Drexel said workers knew cuts were coming but didn’t expect them to be as deep as they were.

Daimler Trucks North America Chief Executive Chris Patterson said the layoffs were forced by “extremely difficult and challenging times for our industry.” Patterson says the company looks forward to production resuming.

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