Freightliner parent company closing plants

Freightliner employees got another reminder Tuesday that the company is headed south.

Feeling the pinch of slowing demand, Daimler Trucks North America announced it was closing plants in Ontario, Canada and Portland, Ore., and moving its Western Star commercial production to its new plant in Santiago, Mexico.

The company's military vehicles will be produced at one of the company's facilities in the Carolinas by mid-year 2010.

Freightliner management informed workers at the Gaffney plant of the changes during a noon meeting Tuesday.

At the meeting, sources said it was announced the company was offering salaried and non-exempt employees severance packages to move up their retirement plans.

It was reported Daimler Trucks North America plans to reduce its salaried workforce by approximately 1,200 positions.

Freightliner laid off about 325 workers here during a series of layoffs this summer.

The plant, located on Hyatt Street, had employed nearly 800 people prior to the first round of layoffs.

Requests for comment from Freightliner officials weren't immediately returned Tuesday. A press release was e-mailed to the newspaper on Tuesday.