Ford plans rolling layoffs at Kentucky Truck in June

Source: Courier-Journal.com

May 21, 2008

Ford Motor released more details on its plans to trim production at the Kentucky Truck Plant in response to declining demand for F-Series Super Duty Trucks.

Ford spokeswoman Angie Kozleski said the automaker will continue rolling layoffs for the month of June, reducing production to just one shift operating over four, 10-hour days. The night shift will work one week, then be furloughed for the next as the day shift takes over, Kozleski said.

“We continue to align our capacity with demand,” Kozleski said.

The company was already planning a monthlong shutdown in July, twice as long as the normal summer hiatus. Union officials have said it's possible that the temporary layoffs will continue when workers return in August.


Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/BUSINESS/80521062

Now there's a surprise. :eyes:

These are work trucks that KTP largely produces.

In 1/2 ton trucks (and SUVs based on such trucks) were just truck bodies put on a Car's undercarriage with some minor changes (and these changes did NOT include the wheels, most 1/2 ton trucks used large size automobile wheels, even if they were four wheel drive). 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks used a completely different undercarriage capable of using 16 inch wheels. These were true trucks, as opposed to 1/2 ton which can (and have been) viewed as nothing more then a converted automobile.

The reason for this is that the first 1/2 tons trucks were converted cars, mostly Model Ts (and later Model As). Ford then picked up production (as did GM and Chrysler) of 1/2 ton trucks based on their large Car frames.

Everyone remembers the WWII Jeep. It was the second most produced vehicles during WWII. It was the equivalent of the Car, designed more to get one or two people from one point to another for a meeting or other appointment. Occasionally the Jeep was used to haul things, but it was NOT designed for that and over loaded when that occurred. Hauling was the job of the Jeeps bigger cousin, the most produced vehicle of WWII, the GMC 2 and 1/2 ton Medium Duty Truck. It could haul a 12 man infantry Squad or a 105 mm Howitzer, its ammunition and its gun crew. It was the perfect size for most short hauling trips (And could be used in long hauling trips). IT was the ancestor of today's "Medium Duty" trucks, which you see all day long hauling things for people (Or plowing roads in winter).

While the 2 & 1/2 truck was good, on many hauling jobs it was just to big. To fill in this niche the 3/4 and 1 ton truck came about. These were smaller then the Medium Duties trucks and to cut costs given the same bodies as the 1/2 ton trucks, but underneath their were trucks from day one. GM called their Chevrolet venison 2000 or 3000, their GMC versions 2500 0r 3500, Ford 250 or 350. No mater the name and numbers these were intended to be used as trucks, not as cars with truck beds (which is all the 1/2 ton trucks were). The British had the best venison in WWII (the land rover) simply because their smallest infantry was the 8 man section and their main artillery piece was 25 pounder (85mm) gun, both smaller the the US versions of both and capable of fitting into a 1 ton vehicle. The US did like the Land Rover but wanted do keep its vehicles to the Minimum so stayed with the Jeep and 2 1/2 ton Trucks.

I went into the above for these are true work trucks and have been since at least WWII (and probably the 1930s). Ford's 250 and 350 series of Trucks are NOT substitute for cars (As are most SUVs and a good many 1/2 ton trucks) but are REAL TRUCKS used by farmers and other people who need a Real Truck to do their job. These look like 1/2 ton trucks and the larger SUVs but are aimed at people who truly need a truck, not someone who just want the image.

well, a third to a half of them anyway, supposedly.

That way you can be sure your jobs are NEVER coming back.