Caterpillar is discontinuing efforts to produce on-highway vocational trucks. The company worked with Navistar and launched its first vocation truck in North America in 2011. Last year Cat announced it planned to begin independent design and manufacture of the trucks at its plant in Victoria, Texas. Production hasn’t started, but today’s announcement means the loss of 70 jobs at the Texas plant starting next month.
A statement from the company says the decision is based on the current business climate in the truck industry. It’s also in-line with the company's ongoing restructuring efforts.
Caterpillar will cease taking new orders for the vocational trucks but plans to remain committed to it existing truck customers.