100 people being laid off at Kenworth in Chillicothe

[orange-n-brown 365]

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/ ... 4100304100 to be laid off
Slipping sales force Kenworth action

By LOREN GENSON
Gazette Staff Writer

High gas prices that have plagued independent truckers have hit home for Chillicothe's portion of the trucking industry in the form of another job layoff.

Kenworth Trucking Co.'s Chillicothe plant is laying off about 100 workers as part of a build-rate reduction beginning Monday. Sales in a struggling economy have slipped and the Chillicothe plant will cut back on production, said Ken Gangl, treasurer of Paccar Inc., Kenworth's parent company.


"With high interest rates and gas prices, there's been a slowdown in sales," Gangl said.
Gangl said he could not comment on a specific number of employee cuts, but Ross County Job and Family Services (RCJFS) said they had been told 100 of the roughly 1,250 workers at Kenworth would be out of a job.

"We will provide resources to them through Jobs One Stop," said Gene Ford, family assistance administrator for RCJFS. "We'll do everything in our power to help."

Ross County isn't the only region suffering from job cuts in a struggling economy. The effects are widespread throughout the country, said Chris Manegold, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio.

"Capital-intensive sectors like this, you see a direct result when the economy struggles," Manegold said. "But we're no worse off than anyone else."

In fact, Manegold said Ross County's diverse sampling of large employers, including health care, industry and corrections, is a boost to the local economy.

At the same time, however, word came down Wednesday that 26 positions at Ross Correctional Institution and 19 positions at Chillicothe Correctional Institution would be eliminated as part of statewide cuts in the prison system aimed at saving money.

"We're more diverse than some other communities," Manegold said. "But circumstances like this, with layoffs at the prison, too, make you realize you can never be diverse enough."

Although the labor cuts mean more unemployed workers in Chillicothe, Manegold said he is confident Kenworth will rebound and points to the expansion of its facility as proof.

"Kenworth is expanding now and looking to position itself for growth in the future," Manegold said. "They've been investing in their future."

Kenworth layoffs in 2007 and earlier this year have been attributed to changes in vehicle emissions standards. Tougher standards went into effect in 2007, and led to record employment in 2006 reaching 1,800 workers as clients hoped to purchase more cost-effective trucks before the new standards went into effect. Even stricter emissions laws go into effect in 2010, and Gangl said he hopes to see employment peak again in 2009.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

This I.M.O. is the begining of the end for many, drivers.

[kantuckyII]

but..you all got your democratic governor now, good move! (sorry, couldn't resist)

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

As I have said before if you, and you seem to be, blind enough to believe that the R'S or the D's are going to put a stop to then then you are, and you are as blind as they want you to be.

[orange-n-brown 365]

but..you all got your democratic governor now, good move! (sorry, couldn't resist)

now play nice
We started pricing new trucks ours is getting tired he wanted to have at least one new truck in his life.. so far Kenworth was the highest of all trucks we've looked at! oh and it took the salesman 6 weeks to get back with the quote.. freightliner I do believe was the cheapest but they have called him every week following up.. volvo was going to let him test drive one for a day!