Great Dane laying off 54 more employees

TERRE HAUTE - More layoffs have been announced at the Terre Haute Great Dane Trailers plant, the third round in less than two months this year.

Plant officials told workers Thursday that 54 more employees would be laid off from the Terre Haute plant, less than two weeks after 75 were cut from the same plant, and four weeks after 130 reductions at the Brazil plant.

Brandie Fuller, vice president of marketing for the company, reiterated her comments from earlier this year blaming the slowing economy and its subsequent impact on the demand for freight equipment.

The company, which manufactures truck trailers, employed around 1,000 people in Brazil and 500 in Terre Haute as of last year.

A layoff of 54 individuals represents more than a 10 percent reduction in work force at the Terre Haute plant, just weeks after a 15 percent layoff.

This announcement comes a month after Great Dane put workers on notice at its Greenville, Miss., plant that the facility could close if business does not improve.

The possible closure notice followed two rounds of layoffs at the Greenville plant in September and December.

Great Dane employed around 4,000 people nationwide last year.