Aug 30, 2010 10:20 AM

Volvo will recall about 270 people to its New River Valley assembly plant beginning the week of September 6 to meet increasing demand for orders. The recall, representing about 23% of the workforce, will increase employment at the plant to just under 1,500, Volvo said.

Volvo has received several big orders this year, including an order for 370 trucks from Knight Transportation in February and an order for 600 trucks from Penske Truck Leasing in May. The Penske order is for Volvo VN670 tractors with EPA 2010-certified Volvo D13 engines.

Volvo has been trying to build its brand and credits some of the increase in orders to its strategy of bringing customers, both current and potential, into its facilities for tours.

The company announced in July it had produced its 300,000th 13-liter engine, a 500-hp D13. That engine was built at the Volvo Powetrain plant in Hagerstown MD and placed in a Volvo VN780 at the New River Valley plant for delivery to Abilene Motor Express of Richmond VA.