Chillicothe, OH – Kenworth, a prominent manufacturer of semi-trucks, has announced significant layoffs impacting hundreds of employees at its Chillicothe facility. The layoffs were disclosed during plant-wide meetings held last Thursday.
Initially, the layoffs were expected to affect employees hired after May 2023, but this was later revised to include those hired after March 2023. The layoffs are set to commence on August 2nd, with an estimated impact of 300 to 400 individuals, sources familiar with the matter revealed.
Employees expressed surprise and concern following the announcement, particularly in light of reports from in-house Paccar company news indicating a substantial backlog of scheduled truck production. “It seems counterproductive if we have all this work but are reducing our workforce,” remarked one employee.
Kenworth, a key employer in Chillicothe, currently employs approximately 2,500 people, making it Kenworth’s largest manufacturing facility. The parent company, PACCAR Incorporated, has not issued an official statement regarding the layoffs.
This development comes shortly after PACCAR’s announcement of a significant recall affecting several truck models due to potential steering gear assembly issues. The recall affects certain 2024-2025 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, where incorrectly assembled steering gear assemblies could lead to a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of accidents.
The impact of these layoffs on the local community and economy is expected to be substantial, as affected employees and their families navigate this period of uncertainty.
