Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) announced the production of its 850,000th truck at its Cleveland, North Carolina manufacturing plant. The milestone vehicle—a Western Star 47X—was delivered to Alamo Group, a long-standing DTNA customer. The truck will be provided to Alamo Group’s Snow & Ice Team, a North American manufacturer of heavy-duty snow and ice removal equipment, which delivers a full suite of solutions designed for municipal, highway and airport winter maintenance operations. 

The company manufactures plow trucks, snow removal systems and airport de-icing equipment used in winter maintenance for roads and runways. Alamo Group, based in Seguin, Texas, manufactures industrial and vegetation management equipment. The company has more than 40 brands, employs about 3,750 people and reports $1.69 billion in annual revenue.

“The Western Star 47X is purpose-built for demanding applications like snow and ice management, and it’s always exciting to see these trucks out in the field - doing the tough jobs they were truly made for,” said David Carson, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at DTNA. 

Western Star, a brand of DTNA, produces vocational trucks used in construction and municipal operations. The 47X, powered by a Detroit DD13 engine, is used in snow and ice removal due to its features designed for heavy-duty and cold-weather applications.

Over the past decade, DTNA and Alamo Group have expanded their relationship from division-level purchases to a consolidated national account. In recent years, Alamo Group has purchased a range of Western Star vocational trucks for its operations.

“We’re honored to receive this milestone truck and continue our strong relationship with DTNA,” said Jean Philippe Bourque, group vice president of Alamo Group’s Snow and Ice Division. “The Western Star 47X is a critical part of our portfolio, and our customers value the reliability, performance, and support that comes with it.”

Cleveland Manufacturing Plant At A Glance

Established in 1989, DTNA’s Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant is the company’s largest heavy-duty truck plant in the U.S., spanning 1.2 million square feet on 178 acres. The facility employs approximately 2,000 people and right now assembles the Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 47X and 49X.

The Cleveland plant is one of nine DTNA manufacturing facilities in North America. It uses robotics and lean manufacturing techniques in its operations while retaining manual processes for parts of truck assembly.

“This plant is not only a cornerstone of our production network - it’s a vital part of the Rowan County community here in the Carolinas,” said Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles at DTNA.

The Cleveland plant operates as a zero-waste-to-landfill facility and is part of DTNA’s goal to reduce emissions, water use, waste and energy consumption by 2030. The plant, one of the largest manufacturing employers in Rowan County, participates in local efforts such as disaster relief, the Ride of Pride veteran support program and school and holiday donation drives.