Mack Trucks announced Thursday it will lay off up to 450 workers from its factories in Pennsylvania and Maryland due to the impact of tariffs and economic factors. The company plans to cut between 250 to 350 jobs at its Lehigh Valley Operations in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, over the next 90 days.
The layoffs are attributed to market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the impact of tariffs. Mack Trucks’ spokeswoman Kimberly Pupillo stated that the company needs to align production with reduced demand for its vehicles. The layoffs are considered indefinite, and the company’s future production needs will depend on market conditions.
The Lehigh Valley Operations facility focuses on assembling all Class 8 Mack trucks for North American and export markets, while the Hagerstown plant develops and manufactures all of Mack’s heavy-duty diesel engines, transmissions, and drivelines. The company also has a manufacturing facility in Roanoke, Virginia, employing over 2,000 workers.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have significantly impacted the trucking industry, with North American Class 8 truck orders declining 14% compared to February and 22% year-over-year. The FTR Transportation Intelligence report states that the implementation of and threat of tariffs among North American trading partners have dampened fleet investment in Class 8 trucks.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Josh Siegel criticized the layoffs, stating that workers are being “sacrificed at the altar of political theater.” He argued that the tariffs are crushing core U.S. industries like trucking and manufacturing, leading to supply chain disruptions, soaring costs, and collapsing confidence among employers.
Source: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mack-trucks-plans-layoffs-at-pennsylvania-maryland-factories