Volvo Trucks to Lay Off 734 Employees at Virginia Plant
Volvo Trucks has announced to its employees that the company will be laying off 734 people in February at its New River Valley assembly plant in Virginia.
by Staff
December 2, 2015
Volvo VNLs on the assembly line at the New River Valley plant:Photo: Volvo Trucks.
2 min to read
Volvo VNLs on the assembly line at the New River Valley plant: Photo: Volvo Trucks.
On Dec. 1, Volvo Trucks announced to its employees that it will be laying off 734 people in February at the company’s New River Valley assembly plant in Virginia.
The layoffs will take place over a three-week period in February as the company reduces production at the facility. The New River Valley facility currently employs 2,800 workers.
Ad Loading...
North American deliveries have been up 20% through October and demand for Volvo’s proprietary engines and I-Shift transmissions is still high, according to the company. But after last winter’s record truck orders, peaking in early 2015, the second half of this year has been slow by comparison and the layoffs are a reflection of an industry-wide correction, said Volvo.
“Highway customers, who drove much of the recent market growth, have largely accomplished the expansion and renewal of their fleets, so demand from that segment in particular is softening,” said John Mies, a spokesperson for Volvo Trucks. “The U.S. economy also is navigating through a soft interval caused by high inventory levels, which has decreased manufacturing and freight levels.”
Earlier this year, Volvo announced plans to expand the New River Valley plant with a $38 million investment to fund a Customer Experience Center and to improve safety, quality and efficiency at the facility.
Ad Loading...
The 1.6-million-square-foot truck assembly plant is one of Volvo Group’s largest manufacturing facilities. The New River Valley plant assembles Volvo VNM, VNL, VNX, VHD and VAH trucks.
When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.
As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.