Last truck rolls off the line at Sterling Truck

More than a quarter-million trucks rolled off the line during the 11-year history of Sterling Truck, St. Thomas.

But this one, bearing a Canadian flag taped to the windshield, is the last.

Wednesday that truck, number 257,330, rolled off the line bringing an end to production at the South Edgeware Road facility.

Workers placed their hands on the vehicle and had pictures taken with a truck that marks the end of 17 years of truck construction here in St. Thomas.

"Now they don't build trucks in Canada anymore. It's brutal," said 16-year employee Gerald McCormick. He described the mood Wednesday as "sombre."

"It is the end of an era. You're never going to see another Sterling Truck start up at the plant," said Dave Elliott, president of CAW Local 1001."It's a sad day, a very sad day for our membership."

He said the truck was built for ABF Freight, a long-time Sterling customer.

Truck production at the South Edgeware Road site began in 1992 under the Freightliner truck brand. Production of Sterling trucks began in 1998 and at its height, the plant employed more than 2,000 workers.

Back in October, 2008, Daimler Trucks North American announced the end of the Sterling Truck brand, stating the last shift at the plant would be March 27 — the plant would close two days later.

Until that time, Elliott said the remaining 700 or so employees will decommission equipment and ship tools and parts to other plants.

As March 27 draws near, it's going to be tough, he predicts.

"When these people you've been working with for 16 years, they go their locker... and give their final goodbye and shake your hand... emotions are going to run very high that day."

The union's job action centre on Mondamin Street — which will relocate to Local 1001's office on Curtis Street shortly — will remain open until the end of 2010 to help unemployed workers find jobs, Elliott said.

"We all keep our fingers crossed that someone might buy the plant and would be interested in having representation from a union. But there's no guarantees there. That's only a hope."