Charlotte has been selected to receive the Freightliner Trucks Hardest Working Cities award, which Freightliner states honors cities fueling economic growth and job creation.
The recognition program by Freightliner came after an economic data review revealed the Queen City is one of the top cities in North America for investments in infrastructure, building projects, and job creation.
As part of the Charlotte recognition, a formal award presentation will be held in September at zMAX Dragway. The award will be accepted by City Council member and chair of Economic Development committee, James Mitchell, Jr., on behalf of the city of Charlotte.
“The Hardest Working Cities program has been a great way to shine light on positive growth in cities across North America, and the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes,” says Mike McHorse, director of channel marketing at Freightliner and Detroit. “It’s clear cities count on work trucks, and the drivers who operate them, for essential jobs such as building mass transit solutions, hauling refuse, delivering essential goods, and paving roadways, so we’re honored to recognize these successful economies.”
In addition to the award presentation, Freightliner states it will coordinate recognition events, including gift and food deliveries, at work sites around the city to thank workers for their contributions. Previous work site visits have included major road construction projects, public works garages, landfills, and more. Freightliner has recognized 11 cities to date, visiting more than 25 work sites and thanking more than 1,000 workers across North America.
To select the Freightliner Trucks Hardest Working Cities, approximately 400 metropolitan census areas in the United States and Canada were reviewed in 11 data categories including impact on overall gross domestic product (GDP), growth in employment, and number of jobs in key industry sectors including construction, manufacturing, and logistics. As a contributor to job creation, Freightliner Trucks currently employs more than 8,000 people across the Carolinas.
Freightliner claims Charlotte is among:
- The top 10 cities for growth in total employment
- The top 15 cities for percentage of contribution to U.S. GDP
- The top 5 percent of cities for heavy/tractor trailer truck drivers and light truck/delivery drivers
- The top 10 percent of cities for construction employment
“Charlotte’s economy has seen significant growth over the years and continues to attract more people and more jobs,” says Terry Keith, vocational sales manager at Excel Truck Group, a Freightliner and Western Star dealer. “It’s an honor for Charlotte to be recognized as one of the hardest working cities in North America. The city is a great place to live and everywhere you look there’s a new building going up or a road construction project in motion, so this award really makes sense.”
Since the launch of the program in 2015, Freightliner states 11 cities across North America have been awarded the title: Dallas, Des Moines, Detroit, Edmonton, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma, and Toronto.
