Mack Trucks has called for a two-week shutdown at its assembly plant in Allentown, Pa., idling about 800 workers.
The production cutback began last week, due to the slumping demand for refuse, utility and construction trucks, according to the Morning Call newspaper in Allentown.
In the past year, four unscheduled shutdowns have occurred at the Lower Macungie Township plant, totaling 10 weeks. Mack employs about 2,000 workers in the Lehigh Valley at its headquarters, test facilities and Lower Macungie plant.
Mack has been losing market share to Peterbilt and Kenworth, whose shares were 12.03% and 10.22%, respectively, through June, said James Winsor, executive editor of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. Paccar of Bellevue, Wash., builds the two truck brands.
To meet emission standards set for Oct. 2 last year, Mack and other truck engine makers developed exhaust gas recirculation -- EGR -- which reduces emissions by allowing a portion of the exhaust gas to be reused.
"The marketplace hasn't accepted the EGR engines and price increases of $5,000 or more," Winsor said.
The production cutback began last week, due to the slumping demand for refuse, utility and construction trucks, according to the Morning Call newspaper in Allentown.
In the past year, four unscheduled shutdowns have occurred at the Lower Macungie Township plant, totaling 10 weeks. Mack employs about 2,000 workers in the Lehigh Valley at its headquarters, test facilities and Lower Macungie plant.
Mack has been losing market share to Peterbilt and Kenworth, whose shares were 12.03% and 10.22%, respectively, through June, said James Winsor, executive editor of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. Paccar of Bellevue, Wash., builds the two truck brands.
To meet emission standards set for Oct. 2 last year, Mack and other truck engine makers developed exhaust gas recirculation -- EGR -- which reduces emissions by allowing a portion of the exhaust gas to be reused.
"The marketplace hasn't accepted the EGR engines and price increases of $5,000 or more," Winsor said.
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