Little Falls truck manufacturer will close, lay off 56 workers

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ST. CLOUD – Wabash National, an Indiana-based company that makes lightweight semitrailers, plans to close its manufacturing facility in Little Falls, resulting in 56 layoffs by spring.

The layoffs, made public Jan. 5 when the company sent mandated notices to the state, include jobs such as machine operators, welders and managers.

“It’s kind of devastating that they are leaving us because they have a good workforce,” Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka said Jan. 6, noting one of his brothers is among the affected employees.

Zylka said the company has not told him why it is closing the plant, but he thinks it has to do with the economy.

“I drive by there frequently, and they have so many trailers parked that I would guess are unsold,” he said.

The layoffs will take place in two phases beginning March 6 and ending April 17. Scott Rozzi, vice president of human resources, said in the letter “all manufacturing operations at this facility will cease” and the “employment action is expected to be permanent.”

The spokeswoman said the facility will be “maintained for future evaluation.”

She said the company is providing traditional support for affected employees.

In 2017, Wabash National opened its manufacturing facility in Little Falls after acquiring the just-shuttered Larson Boat plant, which was a century-old business.

At the time, the company said it would invest $11 million to renovate and equip the plant on the 53-acre site on the Mississippi River, and it pledged to employ 70 by 2019 and 100 or more within five years. The state provided nearly $1 million in loans and grants to Wabash National, tied partly to hiring goals.

Zylka said he recently heard rumors of layoffs and reduced hours at the facility but was shocked to hear it is closing.