Stark's reported today that a Freightliner executive told Portland union officials last week that, in addition to a $1.20 billion operating loss foreseen this year, nearly 30 per cent of its dealers appear to be at the brink of bankruptcy as a severe downturn in local market demand for its commercial vehicles begins to widen in the wake of deadly terrorist attacks last September 11 in New York City and suburban Washington D.C.
The Freightliner executive also reportedly said the firm remains highly concerned about ongoing unprofitable conditions at three of its commercial truck assembly sites-St. Thomas, Ont. (Sterling Truck Corp.), Kelowna, B.C. (Western Star Trucks), and Portland (Freightliner-branded vehicle-making site), Stark's said.