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Nov 2, 2011 10:10 AM

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced the  addition of a second shift and plans to ramp up production at its Portland  Truck Manufacturing Plant in Portland OR, creating approximately 350 new jobs  at the facility by the end of 2012.

  The additional workers represent a nearly 50% increase in  personnel at the plant and will include approximately 330 shop employees, and  an additional 20 engineering and support positions to facilitate increased  production.

  The Swan Island facility exclusively produces heavy-duty  Western Star brand Class 8 trucks for use in mining, logging, oilfield, and  construction, as well as on-highway trucks and other specialized vehicles,  representing about 2% of North American truck sales this year. DTNA’s Western  Star launched its newest vehicle, the 4700, earlier in 2011.

  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. Western Star trucks are sold  internationally with key sales in the United States, Canada, Australia, South  America, South Africa, and Indonesia. The Portland plant currently employs  about 700 shop employees and 50 engineers, managers, and support staff.

  The current hiring activity is the first time since 2006  that DTNA has had open-market hiring for shop positions at this plant. Hiring  of new employees will begin in November, and the new production shift is slated  to be at full capacity by February 2012. A second wave of hiring is planned for  next summer to support the projected increase in demand.

  DTNA is now accepting online applications for the  machinist, material handler, and maintenance positions at the Portland plant.  In addition, more than 150 positions in the fields of mechanical, electrical,  electronic, and manufacturing engineering are open at DTNA in Portland and  other company locations. Interested applicants for plant and engineering  positions are asked to apply at www.dtna.jobs.