More layoffs are expected at Kenworth Truck Company's Chillicothe plant.
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Local employees are telling iHeart Media News they have been told by local plant management that the plant will cut their daily truck "build rate" from 135 down to 127, which will lead to the layoff of another 83 workers. The local plant laid-off 188 employees one month ago and 240 last fall.
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The long-term picture for Kenworth still looks good, however the push to manufacture their current T680 model trucks is slowing down due to changing emission standards for the trucking industry. The Chillicothe factory manufactures T680, T880, and W990 models.
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Previous efforts to contact Kenworth's company spokesperson in Kirkland, Washington have gone unanswered.
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Industry speculation is that Kenworth is getting ready to invest more efforts on a truck model redesign to accommodate new government emission standards.