Freightliner

Freightliner Chassis Corp., one of the top 10 employers in Cherokee County, announced an additional 225 layoffs effective soon. The cutbacks are the second round in recent weeks, and both are in addition to a curtailing of work hours for many employees that came earlier in the year. Two weeks ago, Freightliner officials said 100 employees would be laid off. The result is that a former work force of 790 full-time employees at the Gaffney plant will be reduced by 48 percent. Freightliner's reason for each round of layoffs and curtailment in work hours was a softening customer demand for the chassis produced at the Gaffney site, which are used in delivery vans, recreational vehicles and school and shuttle buses.