Daimler Truck North America to Close Portland Manufacturing Facility, Impacting 375 Employees
Daimler Truck North America announced that it will close its manufacturing facility on Swan Island in Portland, Oregon, by the end of October. The closure will affect approximately 375 positions, with production being relocated to factories in the Carolinas. While manufacturing ends, the company will maintain Portland as its North American headquarters and a hub for engineering and product development. Ryan Schulenberg, a longtime supervisor at the plant, expressed the personal impact of the closure, noting that his son also works at the facility. Schulenberg wrote a letter to President Trump to highlight the human element of manufacturing decisions. The company spokesperson, Robert Sterling, stated that the decision followed a broader review of the manufacturing network and was not tied to any single regulation or policy. Union leaders, including Brandon Bryant, are now focusing on securing transition assistance and severance benefits for the affected workers. The union aims to provide a 'softer landing' for employees who are losing high-quality, family-wage jobs that have defined the region's industrial history for over 80 years.