Word is spreading about the hundreds of jobs available at the Freightliner plant in Cleveland.
Applications are up “significantly” at the Daimler Trucks plant since the Post published a story last week about the company trying to fill 350 jobs, according to David Giroux, director of public relations and corporate communications for Daimler Trucks North America.
The company has hired 750 people since the spring, but has had trouble finding enough qualified applicants, according to Roger Nielsen, the company’s chief operating officer. He said the company is trying to hire more than 1,000 workers this year.
But, Nielsen said, a majority of job candidates haven’t qualified for a job for a variety of reasons — failed a drug test, unable to pass a background check, or simply not showing up to the interview.
Response to the original story was high. Two questions readers asked are: Can people who fail a drug test re-apply? And how extensive is the background check?
Giroux said in an email that applicants who fail a drug test — or any other part of the interview process — can be reconsidered after 365 days.
“With regards to the criminal background check, we look at the totality of the criminal convictions and types of crimes. The only automatic disqualification would be a felony within the last seven years,” he said.
The plant wants to fill a number of positions, including assembly-line workers.
Debbie Davis, manager of Rowan County’s NCWorks branch, said her office has been working to match people looking for work with Freightliner. She said there are signs up in the office’s lobby promoting the jobs at the plant and that a job fair was held in Mooresville earlier this year just for positions with Freightliner.
She said another job fair, with several employers on hand, is scheduled for Nov. 13 at the West End Plaza.
People interested in applying with Freightliner should visit www.ncworks.gov and enter keywords “Freightliner” and “Cleveland” in the search bars at the bottom of the page. As of Monday, several job posting were up on the site.