Truck maker will unload loads of jobs.

• Position: CHARLOTTE

Portland, Ore.-based truck maker Freightliner plans to lay off as many as 1,440 workers at factories in Gastonia and the Rowan County town of Cleveland. As many as 1,180 of the more than 4,000 who work at the Cleveland factory will be idled by April 2. State officials say it would be the largest round of job losses in the state since textile maker Pillowtex let go about 5,000 in 2003. About 260 of the 1,200 workers in Gastonia will lose their jobs by the end of this month. The cuts will...