If you just ordered a new Chrysler minivan, you could be waiting some time before you get it. No, it’s not due to a production delay, but instead due to a dispute with their trucking company.
Allied Systems Holdings, the carrier company that is responsible for taking vehicles out of the Windsor factory is in dispute with Chrysler over proposed wage cuts, when Allied workers were asking for a wage increase.
General Motors (GM) is in a similar dispute with Allied, but it has other resources to cover up the slack. Chrysler for the moment is placing vehicles in lots around the city of Windsor to keep the flow of vehicles on the production line. Chrysler currently produces 1500 minivans per-day out of the Windsor factory.
While Allied serves other Chrysler facilities also, this Atlanta-based company mainly serves their Windsor facility. “Chrysler can only move so many cars and park so many cars before they have an issue,” said Rick Laporte, president of Canadian Auto Workers Union Local 444. “If it isn’t resolved within in a certain length of time, I would suggest there is a possibility there to shut the Windsor Assembly plant down.”
Chrysler spokeswoman Katie Hepler wrote in an e-mail; “Allied was one of our carriers, not our only carrier, so the work is being done by others. Vehicles continue to be shipped to dealers, and we do not anticipate any disruptions in production as a result of this change.”
GM while also affected, is resorting to its other carriers and is paying dealers $60 per vehicle if they go pick up vehicles from distribution centers.
Perhaps Chrysler should now also look to explore other options.
[Source: Automotive News]
