Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
A new line at Volvo Trucks could enable a recall of some workers laid off last year.
Volvo recently announced production for its new VNR, a truck designed to meet the demands of urban and regional delivery operations.
Volvo currently employs about 3,400 people making heavy-duty trucks at the Dublin location, and last April, approximately 350 workers were displaced.
In a statement this past week, the company said it didn’t have a particular number of jobs they’re trying to fill right now, but it’s not uncommon for opportunities to open up due to natural attrition. In addition, the statement said its UAW agreement outlines a process to recall laid off employees, and they are doing so in accordance with the current UAW Contract, as needed to fulfill natural attrition needs and are not actively hiring outside of that process.
In addition in July, Volvo was awarded a $208 million federal grant to upgrade its Dublin plant and two other facilities making electric trucks and batteries.
The Volvo VNR was first unveiled in March 2025 with order books opening six months later. The first units have now rolled off the assembly line.
Built on a completely new platform – 90 percent new compared with the legacy model – the Volvo VNR is purpose-built for navigating congested city streets, distribution centers, and urban routes where visibility, precision, and agility are critical.
“Driving a truck in a busy city environment can be really challenging. The new VNR is engineered to address real-world operating challenges and improve safety both for the truck driver and other road users. We are excited to begin production and get these trucks into the hands of our customers,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.
The all-new Volvo VNR is assembled at Volvo Trucks’ New River Valley Plant, where all Volvo trucks for the North American market are built. The Virginia facility is the company’s largest manufacturing site globally and plays a central role in its U.S. operations. Volvo has recently invested $400 million in major upgrades at the plant including the addition of a new 350,000-square-foot facility for cab welding along with upgraded paint and material flow systems.
“Volvo has built trucks for the U.S. and Canadian markets in Virginia for more than 40 years. The expansion supports the company’s growth plans in North America and its long-standing commitment to U.S. manufacturing and a skilled workforce,” said Voorhoeve.
The new VNR truck incorporates a comprehensive Volvo safety package, with advanced onboard technologies designed to support operation in dense urban traffic and pedestrian-heavy environments. The truck offers better forward visibility than the previous model, enabled by a sloped hood design and a larger panoramic windshield. It also incorporates industry-first safety innovations including integrated side curtain airbags, making it the safest regional truck ever produced by Volvo Trucks North America.
