Historic Ohio Truck Plant Shuts, Leaving 1,341 Jobless as New Owner Gives No Reopening Date

Roshel plans to build armoured vehicles in Springfield, but city officials say they have no word on its timing

Ohio truck plant, International Motors Springfield, Roshel Springfield — International Motors says the buyer will recognise the United Auto Workers, but a union leader said talks had not begun as of August Greg Gjerdingen / CC BY 2.0, cropped

International Motors ended production at its Springfield, Ohio, truck plant on Wednesday, 30 September, after six decades. The company's layoff notice put the job losses at about 1,341. Roshel, the Canadian armoured vehicle maker taking over the site, has given no date for reopening the plant. Roshel also has not said how many it will hire.

Roshel is buying the plant's operating assets, so International is ending almost every job there. The company told Ohio in the same filing that Roshel intends to start new operations 'at some point in the future following the sale closing date.' Until Roshel sets a date, staff hoping to return have no timetable.

Why Almost Every Job Ended

Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services received the filing on 28 July. US federal WARN law generally requires covered employers to give at least 60 days' written notice of a qualifying mass layoff, so staff and the state can prepare. The notice listed about 1,314 employees at the Springfield Assembly Plant, plus 27 employees at the Truck Specialty Center. Almost every worker left International's payroll when the sale closed on 2 October, as the timeline below shows.

Ohio truck plant, International Motors Springfield — IBTimes UK

Meanwhile, the plant also lost its biggest customer. International said in March that in recent years the line had worked almost entirely for a major carmaker, under a contract ending on 30 September. The company did not name the customer publicly, but a 2015 deal put Chevrolet medium-duty trucks for General Motors (GM) into Springfield from 2018. Roshel is buying a site with over 2 million square feet (185,806 square meters) of factory floor, International says.

What Roshel Has Said

Roshel, from Brampton, Ontario, makes the Senator, an armoured personnel carrier built on a Ford pickup chassis. In January 2023, Canada's government pledged 200 Senators to Ukraine. International's March announcement said Roshel plans to make Springfield its US hub for commercial, special, and armoured vehicles. Roshel also saw room to restore full capacity over time. Chief executive Roman Shimonov said the site would let Roshel 'combine the expertise of the Springfield workforce with our advanced manufacturing capabilities.'

In a March statement, Mayor Rob Rue said the city hoped the change would create 'future opportunities for jobs.' Six months on, the city still has no timetable. Tom Franzen, Springfield's assistant city manager, spoke to Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun reporters on closing day. 'We have not been notified of any changes since the company's original announcement,' he said. International declined to comment, and the papers could not reach Roshel.

Where the Workers Stand

Most laid-off staff were in United Auto Workers (UAW) Locals 402 and 658. A union letter shows Local 402 members approved a closing agreement by 97%, but its terms are not public. International says Roshel will recognise the UAW, but Local 402 president Chris Blizard said in August talks had not begun.

Dave Shinkle, a millwright with 29 years at the company, helped close up on the last day. His shift rota had left him off. He said working there was 'probably the best job I've ever had,' according to the Dayton Daily News. Shinkle now hopes Roshel will call.