Mack Trucks Inc.
Less than three months ago, Mack Trucks reported its weakest year of truck deliveries in six years. Now, it appears, the heavy-duty truck manufacturer with a massive assembly plant in Lower Macungie Township, Pa., is turning the corner.
In fact, Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner told The Morning Call on April 26, the manufacturer recently called about 100 employees back to its 1-million-square-foot facility to begin a second shift on the assembly line that produces the company’s cab-over models — trucks typically used in the refuse and construction industries. Right now, the plant runs two shifts and employs about 1,500 people.
That number could grow soon: Mack is also hiring for about 50 additional production positions, with pay starting at $18.75 per hour.
The news of Mack hiring comes after its parent company, Sweden-based Volvo Group, on April 25 released its numbers for the first quarter — a three-month period defined by low delivery totals but a surge in orders. For example, Mack delivered just 3,925 trucks worldwide during the first quarter, a 24% decrease from the year-earlier period as the industry continued to grapple with weak freight demand and plentiful used-truck inventories. But, Mack received 5,703 orders in North America during the first quarter, a surge of 39% from a year earlier.
“Mack’s order intake improved in the first quarter for several reasons, including strong customer response to our recent product announcements, as well as continued positive demand in the construction segment,” Heffner said in an e-mail. “We’re also beginning to see improving freight conditions as the economy works through excess inventories.”
| By Jon Harris The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) |
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