Volvo today, Oct. 27, announced that its North American powertrain facility in Hagerstown, Md., expects to reduce employment in the first half of 2007 by about 600 positions. The company blamed an expected industry-wide decline in demand for heavy-duty trucks equipped with new technology necessary to meet the stringent U.S. emissions standards going into effect on Jan. 1, 2007.
“While these reductions are necessary for the responsible management of our operations through the downturn, we regret the impact they will have on our employees, their families and the Washington County community,” said Sten-
