Great Dane Trailers announced Tuesday, Oct. 19, that it has reopened its plant in Jonesboro, Ark., due to a boost in dry freight van demand. About 70 recalled employees began work in late September, and the first trailers, SSL dry freight vans featuring Great Dane’s single-sided laminate interior lining, started rolling off the line last week.
Initially, 20 trailers will be built per week, leading up a rate of 32 units weekly, but production is expected to ramp up over time.
According to the company, bringing the Jonesboro plant back online, after being idle since October 2009, is a continued improvement in business and growth in orders for dry freight vans. According to industry reports, dry freight van net orders have experienced healthy increases after a period of historic decline.
Great Dane opened the Jonesboro plant in September 2002.
