DUBLIN, Va. — The New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Va., which assembles vehicles for Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks, announced plans to reduce employment by about 1,000 positions during the first quarter of 2007.

“This is a difficult decision, but one that’s unavoidable,” said Jan Stromberg, vice-president and general manager of the NRV plant. “We regret the impact this action will have on our people and the New River Valley community, and we are committed to working with the affected employees to assist them in this difficult transition.”

According to the manufacturers, the workforce reductions are the result of an expected industry-wide decline in demand for heavy-duty vehicles, driven primarily by many customers’ desire to delay purchasing trucks equipped with the new emissions technologies necessary to meet the US EPA emissions standards that go into effect on January 1, 2007.

The NRV plant currently employs about 3,170 people. The reductions are expected to occur incrementally over the first quarter of 2007, with the first reduction expected in January.