In its recall of 650 staff to its Rowan County plant, DTNA (aka Freightliner) seems to be rather bucking the North American Class 8 market trend.
This report quotes DTNA as suggesting that the partial staff recall - some 1500 workers were laid off earlier this year - is due to stronger than expected demand for the Cascadia, DTNA's mass market Class 8 launched in 2007.
But at the same time, consider the results - and more pertinently, the comments - posted today by Accuride. Its lower estimate for 2008 Class 8 build is now significantly below 200,000 units, and the tone of the press release suggests that things aren't likely to improve any time soon.