After a difficult 2008 and start to 2009, Truck-Lite has hired more than 100 new full-time and 100 temporary employees at its New York and Pennsylvania facilities this year.
If adding 200 new jobs weren't enough of an improvement already, the company is also expecting to fill another 70 to 100 positions within the next few months.
''Achieving this type of milestone is attributed to not only being on the forefront with advanced technology, allowing us to launch new innovative products, but by also possessing dedicated employees who were determined to see us through a few tough years,'' said John Cecco, Truck-Lite's vice president of operations.
After laying off around 120 employees between December 2008 and March 2009, Cecco said the economic turnaround is breathing new life into the heavy duty industry, which means Truck-Lite is seeing stronger customer demand and increased build rates.
He said much of the increased activity stems from a growth in consumer expenditure as reports show that the Gross Domestic Product is up 3.5 percent, coupled with the government's job report indicating an increase of a half a million new jobs this year.
With increased spending comes the need for transporting product. Cecco said freight has shown a 4.9 percent growth in 2010 as compared to a 7.8 percent decrease in 2009. Truck, trailer and body builds are expected to show more than a 20 percent increase in 2010.
''We are seeing the affects of a recovering supply and demand process within the industry and our quality standards have also allowed us to maintain a long-term partnership with the military,'' Cecco said. ''Truck-Lite was recently awarded a $40 million military contract to supply 11,000 LED route clearance vehicle kits."
Cecco said Truck-Lite views 2010 as a transitional year within the heavy duty industry, with a slow recovery. Pushing forward, the company looks for continual technological breakthroughs to arm their sales team with quality products and knowledge in support of customer demand.
''Truck-Lite has a reputation for offering some of the highest quality lighting products in the world,'' said Greg Certo, Truck-Lite director of human resources. ''But without our people, global facilities and dedication to the customers, we would be just another lighting company.''
The company's current recruitment needs range from entry level assemblers and experienced supervisors for placement at manufacturing plant locations, to highly experienced optics, electronics and product design engineers who will be based at the company's corporate headquarters in Falconer.
''Truck-Lite has been fortunate so far filling open positions with high quality, efficient and effective candidates who understand the unique challenges facing US manufacturing operations,'' Certo said.
For information on how to join Truck-Lite, visit www.truck-lite.com to view employment opportunities.
Truck-Lite is a market-driven manufacturing company providing lighting products and accessories to the transportation industry. Truck-Lite is a producer of signal lighting, forward lighting, wiring harnesses, mirrors, turn signal switches and safety accessories to the heavy duty truck, trailer, and commercial vehicle industries. The company provides original equipment and aftermarket replacement parts. Truck-Lite supplies parts for the automotive, heavy-duty trucking, off-road, construction, international trucking, agricultural, marine, buses and recreational vehicle markets.
Truck-Lite's corporate headquarters is in Falconer. The company's three locations in Pennsylvania include Wellsboro, Coudersport and McElhattan, as well as other facilities in Birmingham and Harlow, England, Germany, Poland, Mexico and Belarus.