1,341 Springfield Truck Plant Workers Laid Off as Buyer Roshel Says It Is Working to More Than Double the Workforce Over the Coming Years

International Motors is laying off 1,341 employees at two manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Ohio, as it sells the operations to the Canadian defense and commercial vehicle maker Roshel. The final day for International operations in Springfield was Wednesday, September 30. This guide looks at the layoff from the side of the millwrights, materials staff and forklift drivers who worked at the two Urbana Road sites. Roshel is working with everyone involved not only to protect the current workforce, but to more than double it over the coming years through a phased process, the company said in a statement, yet when operations ended on Wednesday, September 30, Roshel had still not indicated whether it plans to retain any former International employees or when it will begin operations.

For Metaintro readers, the useful detail sits in the state layoff notice, the sale terms and the public help that Ohio offers, so here it is in plain terms.

What Happened When International Ended Operations in Springfield?

The Springfield complex was long the home of International's truck assembly plant, but in recent years it was almost exclusively dedicated to contract manufacturing for a major automotive company. That contract was set to expire on September 30, 2026, and it expired Wednesday, September 30.

The sale of the Springfield plants to Roshel was made public in March. The sale covers the Springfield Assembly Plant at 6125 Urbana Road and the Truck Specialty Center at 5975 Urbana Road, and it was expected to close on October 2, 2026.

The sale is set to end over 100 years of the company's operations in Clark County. Workers at the plant were laid off from their jobs at what had been the Navistar truck factory, and the company was earlier known as International Harvester and Navistar.

How Many Workers Lose Their Jobs, and What Does the WARN Notice Say?

In July, International warned the state of Ohio of its intention to lay off 1,341 Springfield workers across two plants. By site, the layoff breaks down as follows.

• Springfield Assembly Plant. As of the notice date, there were approximately 1,314 employees at the plant, approximately 1,137 of whom are represented by the union.
• Truck Specialty Center. As of the notice date, there were approximately 27 employees at the center, approximately 21 of whom are represented by the union.
• Union locals. Represented workers belong to the United Auto Workers through Locals 402 and 658.

International expected that virtually all employees at those locations will be terminated from employment with the Company effective the sale closing date, except for employees who are on certain types of leave of absence. Those on such leave remain employed by the company until their leave ends, and their employment is then terminated.

Members who have questions can go to the union officials directly involved in the layoff. The UAW International representative for the Springfield operations is Ed Zirkle, the chief elected official of UAW Local 402 for both sites is Chris Blizard, and the chief elected official of UAW Local 658 for both sites is Loren Miller. Questions about bumping rights, severance terms or a new contract with Roshel belong with them.

For anyone hoping to go back, the Springfield work locations are not being closed, since Roshel has advised the company that it intends to start new operations there at some point after the sale closes. Even so, all employees will be permanently terminated from employment with the Company as of the Sale Closing Date if they remain employed with the Company at that time, except for employees who are on certain types of leave of absence.

What Severance and Benefits Do Laid-Off Workers Get?

Payments and benefits for union-represented employees at the time of termination were separately negotiated with the union at both sites, so UAW members should check the terms their local agreed.

• Non-union staff. Severance pay and benefits will be offered to eligible employees subject to certain terms and conditions that International communicates to them separately.
• Bumping rights. Union members may have bumping rights under the collective bargaining agreements during the period up until their termination date, depending on the circumstances. Workers outside the union do not have bumping rights.
• Unemployment benefits. Affected employees were advised that once their employment ends they may qualify for unemployment benefits.

No severance formula appears in the public filing, so any amount is set in the union agreement or, for eligible non-union staff, in terms communicated separately.

As part of the asset purchase agreement, Roshel has agreed to recognize the union and negotiate with the local union to establish a new bargaining agreement for plant employees, International said in a statement, according to the WYSO layoff report.

Who Is Roshel, and What Does It Plan for the Plant?

Roshel is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, and describes itself as one of the largest manufacturers of smart armored vehicles for commercial and government organizations in the world. Its customers include the US Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, NASA, GardaWorld and Brink's, among others.

In March, International said Roshel plans to use the Springfield facility as the hub for U.S. based, vertically integrated production of commercial, special and armored vehicles, though by September 30, Roshel had not publicly confirmed that since an initial announcement. The site has more than 2 million square feet of manufacturing space on 500 acres including a full assembly line and paint booth. Roshel's vehicles are built on chassis from several major OEMs and customized to the needs of emergency response, defense and security operations.

For line workers, the useful detail is which trades Roshel runs itself. It keeps all manufacturing capabilities in-house (design and development, metal fabrication, welding, painting, mechanical and electrical assembly), and its armored vehicles are tested and certified in accordance with FMVSS/CMVSS requirements as well as international ballistic standards. Roshel is also developing its own electric line of vehicles for secured transportation and last-mile delivery services.

In March, International also said Roshel sees opportunity to restore the Springfield facilities to full capacity over time with the expansion of production with its major OEM partner. That is an opportunity, not a schedule, and closing of the agreement was subject to customary closing conditions.

Will Roshel Rehire the Laid-Off Workers?

When operations ended on Wednesday, September 30, Roshel had still not indicated whether it plans to retain any former International employees or when it will begin operations, and in August it had not publicly discussed if International employees will be given hiring preferences. By the plant's last day, the city's development director and assistant manager had still not been contacted by the new owner of the plants about future plans for the properties.

In August, the president of UAW Local 402 did not know how many workers Roshel will employ or when Roshel would take up local operations, though he did expect Roshel to retain some workers. At that point the union was not negotiating with Roshel yet.

Some laid-off workers expect to be rehired in six to 12 months by Roshel. That is their expectation, and when operations ended on Wednesday, September 30, Roshel had still not indicated when it will begin operations. A senior journeyman millwright who worked at the company for 29 years and is still a union member hopes to be called upon to work at Roshel.

working with everyone involved not only to protect the current workforce, but to more than double it over the coming years through a phased process, Roshel said in a statement, according to the Associated Press report.

Is Roshel Hiring Anyone Right Now?

Every listing on the current Roshel careers page is in Brampton, Ontario, and none is in Ohio. The newest are a Marketing Manager and an Executive Assistant, posted on June 23, 2026.

The shop floor roles on the page, a General Laborer, a Mechanical Assembler and a Welder, were posted on July 7, 2023, and they are also in Brampton. Roshel encourages people to visit its career page regularly as new opportunities may arise, so it is worth checking it regularly for Springfield postings.

What Help Can Laid-Off Workers Get in Ohio?

Ohio's Rapid Response system is built to help workers before and during layoffs and plant closures. The program is administered by the state, with services delivered locally by Rapid Response teams, and the state's contact address is RAPDRESP@jfs.ohio.gov.

Rapid Response help, as described by the U.S. Department of Labor guide for laid-off workers, includes the following.

• Income and health cover. The team provides information on the means to maintain an income (unemployment insurance), information on health insurance options, access to skills upgrading and training resources, and much more.
• Local services. Orientation meetings cover local services that may be available to you, including use of computers, telephones, and fax machines for your job search, financial planning and stress management workshops, financial support for training, income support if your job was lost due to foreign trade, and special services for veterans and adults with disabilities.
• Attend the sessions. Services and resources vary by state and by specific layoff situation, so go to any Rapid Response session that is offered.

Timing matters. Use these services while unemployment insurance benefits, severance payments or other financial resources are still available to you, since the sooner this process starts, the more quickly the stress of a traumatic event such as a layoff can be managed.

In Clark County, the local door is OhioMeansJobs Clark County, one of ninety One-Stop centers in Ohio. Its lobby hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday, and it offers priority of services to U.S. Military Veterans and eligible spouses. Every state also has an American Job Center network that is open to all residents, including those who have been laid off.

What Does the WARN Act Require of an Employer?

The federal WARN Act helps ensure advance notice in cases of qualified plant closings and mass layoffs, and certain mass layoffs and plant closings will meet its criteria. The criteria are complex, but some basic levels are layoffs of 50 or more workers at a single site, where 50 is at least one-third of the total full-time workforce at that site, or any layoffs of 500 or more workers at a single site, and in some cases employers are required to provide 60-days notice before a layoff.

International gave its notice under both the federal WARN Act and the Ohio state WARN statute, and the notice also went to the union with a list of affected bargaining unit employees, while non-represented employees were each sent an individual notice. The filing reached the state in July, with an expected sale closing date of October 2, 2026. The U.S. Federal Court solely enforces the Act, the same law at issue in Paramount Sued Over Alleged WARN Act Violations During Layoffs.

What Does the Layoff Mean for Dayton-Area Jobs?

The layoffs were large enough to basically erase an entire year of job growth in the greater Dayton, Ohio area, according to the Associated Press. Dayton shed about half of its 90,000 factory jobs since 1990 after the North American Free Trade Agreement and trade with China made it cheaper to buy auto parts from abroad.

In recent years, the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base steadily added government workers, and the base has drawn new aerospace companies such as Joby Aviation, Electra and the Sierra Nevada Corporation.

What This Means for Laid-Off Workers, and What Should You Do Next?

Our take is that a return to the Springfield plant is possible but not something to plan your budget around. Roshel's aim to more than double the workforce over the coming years through a phased process gives no start date, and when operations ended on Wednesday, September 30, Roshel had still not indicated when it will begin operations, and in July the company had no public figure for how many workers it plans to hire. Treat it as an option you keep open while you look elsewhere.

Here is what we would do:

• Read your exit terms. Union members should get the separately negotiated payments and benefits in writing from their local, and non-union staff should check whether they are eligible under the terms communicated to them separately.
• File for unemployment. Workers may qualify for unemployment benefits once their employment ends, so apply as soon as your last day is confirmed.
• Go to Rapid Response and OhioMeansJobs. Training support may be available, and job search help runs through the Rapid Response program and OhioMeansJobs Clark County, so use both early.
• Stay close to your local. International said in July that Roshel has agreed to recognize the union and negotiate a new agreement, and in August the union was not negotiating with Roshel yet, so keep your contact details current with your local.
• Watch the Roshel careers page. All current listings on the Roshel careers page are in Brampton, so a Springfield posting would be a real signal.
• Search wider in the meantime. Rebuild your resume around outcomes and set a weekly search routine, using How to Job Search With AI After a Layoff if AI tools help.

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People Also Asked

Q: How many workers were laid off at the Springfield International plant?

A: International told Ohio it would lay off 1,341 Springfield workers across two plants, covering the Springfield Assembly Plant and the Truck Specialty Center.

Q: Will Roshel hire the former International workers?

A: Roshel is working not only to protect the current workforce, but to more than double it over the coming years through a phased process, it said in a statement, but when operations ended on Wednesday, September 30, Roshel had still not indicated whether it plans to retain any former International employees or when it will begin operations.

Q: Where can laid-off Springfield workers get help?

A: Ohio's Rapid Response teams deliver layoff services locally, and OhioMeansJobs Clark County is the county's central hub for employment and resources.

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