The Wilson Trailer facility in Moberly is laying off some of its workers at the end of the month. Plant Manager Les Keleher said 42 employees, which is 45% of its workforce, will be laid off on October 26.
Keleher blames the market for the staffing reduction.
“The general economy drives the flatbed industry. Right now, with things being as sluggish as they are, there just aren’t many trailer sales going on,” said Keleher.
Keleher hopes the market will bounce back soon.
“We’d like to get everybody back. We have got a lot of good people,” said Keleher. “I really hate to see this happen but at this point, this is the direction we have to go.”
Keleher added that past fluctuations in the market have resulted in previous layoffs, not only at the Moberly site, but to the trailer industry nationwide.
Dan Patterson of KRES contributed to this story.