(McKinley Wiley/The Dark Room Co.)
AVON, Ohio — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is offering voluntary layoffs, citing a sharp slowdown in the trucking industry and economic pressures from tariffs.
A spokesperson for the company, which specializes in safety and braking systems for commercial vehicles, said the layoffs, announced April 17, are available to all full-time salaried employees across the company’s U.S. operations, including its manufacturing sites, research and development centers, sales force and North American headquarters in Avon.
The company moved to its Avon headquarters, where approximately 650 employees work, in 2022 after being in business in Elyria for decades.
Success in the trucking industry typically follows the prevailing global and regional economy, the company said in a statement.
“In North America, currently they continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the tariff and trade turbulence,” the statement said.
The company cited broader industry challenges that followed a spike in demand at the close of 2024.
“Trucking is cyclical — the industry experiences industry peaks and troughs on a regular basis. Following a spike at the end of 2024, truck build has continued to soften significantly at an accelerated pace, with no end in sight. This weakening has now trickled to the industry’s primary suppliers, including Bendix,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Bendix said the decision was made carefully and reflects its broader approach to planning and operations.
“Bendix enjoys a strong balance sheet and the confidence of our customers, and assessing the internal and external environment and influencers is a constant component of our strategic planning,” the company added. “This effort is grounded in programs, projects, fiscal responsibility, and people management.”
The company did not specify how many employees it hopes will participate in the voluntary program or whether future job reductions are being considered.
