HR reduction: savings program Daimler Truck – what is planned in Germany?

The commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck wants to become more competitive in Europe and has agreed with the overall works council at key points for the locations in Germany. They range from a socially acceptable personnel reduction, the offsetting of remuneration components to more personnel flexibility with temporary work, as board member Achim Pucert and overall head of the company Michael Brecht of the German press agency in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The agreed measures apply to around 28,000 employees. The bus segment is excluded.

Reduction of personnel costs

Both production and headquarters, administration, sales and development are affected by the “Cost Down Europe” savings program at the recently weakening brand Mercedes-Benz Trucks. In addition to reducing the material costs, the personnel costs are also part of the overall package.

This is also the case of personnel reduction. There are a total of five locations in Germany: Gaggenau, Kassel, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Wörth. The latter location in Rhineland-Palatinate is the largest assembly plant for trucks. Overall, the recurring costs should be reduced by more than one billion euros by 2030 at the latest, as was known weeks ago.

Puchert told the dpa that in production, the natural fluctuation and partial retirement would be largely due to the reduction in personnel costs. “In the other functions, we will not be able to avoid socially acceptable personnel reduction.” The socially acceptable staff reduction means measures that should reduce negative consequences of personnel reductions – such as layoffs – for the employees concerned.

Operating terminations for ten years excluded

The details for the severance payment program will be regulated in the next few weeks. There are no operational terminations and double voluntariness applies. There were no concrete information on how many places should be canceled.

Furthermore, part of the tariff increase for 2026 is charged with existing tariff allowances, as both sides said. In addition, companies and the overall works council have agreed to extend the ongoing employment securing. Total works council chief Brecht said that this was a central concern. “It now runs until the end of 2034. So operational dismissals are excluded from now on for ten years. This provides additional security for colleagues in Germany.”

According to the board, the company also intends to give benefits from Daimler Truck in the area of ​​the administration to other locations or to the outside world in order to reduce the costs. Brecht said: “We have agreed that relocations or external awards can only be carried out after a profitability and risk consideration.” The works council is involved. “If we can do something more economically ourselves, it stays with us. That also applies to services.”

There is a uniform solution for temporary agency work: the quota was increased to 18 percent. The topic of games in production at the moment, said Brecht. There are currently only 700 temporary workers at all German locations.

The workforce must benefit from success

The overall manager continued that it is important that there was a new regulation when it comes to participation in results. “It was a central concern for us. If the workforce makes a contribution to the success of the company, it must also benefit from this success.” The responsible board of directors Puchert said to the cornerstones that they now have a good perspective for the future of the German locations. Overall manager Brecht said: “We create security in uncertain times.”