School bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses (TBB) has announced the start of employing an additional shift at its Saf-T-Liner C2 Plant in High Point, N.C. The company reports a goal of hiring 280 more employees to the area’s manufacturing operations.

“We have robust demand for our entire portfolio of our popular Type C offerings, and we are excited to expand our manufacturing capacity, in part, to support our ramp up of electric school bus production,” said Kevin Bangston, president and CEO of TBB. “We take great pride in North Carolina and our home of the High Point community, where we have been for over 100 years, and are honored to offer additional employment opportunities in the area.”

Thomas Built Buses wants to fill multiple manufacturing positions, including assembly technicians, materials technicians and machine operators. Interested parties should apply via the Thomas Built Buses website, and the careers page contains a current list of specific jobs and qualifications.

“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with the High Point community and its residents,” said Amanda Bilyeu, human resources manager for Thomas Built Buses. “Career opportunities are now live on the Thomas Built site via the Daimler Truck North America job portal and we are reviewing applications as they are completed.”

All new, additional shift employees will work exclusively on both the Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus.

Launched in 2004, the C2 was designed in High Point based on extensive driver and customer input, TBB said in a news release. More than 125,000 C2 buses have been sold to date by the company.

The all-electric Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley TBB launched in 2017. With 226 kWh of total energy capacity, Jouley enables an operating range of up to 138 miles on a single charge, meeting the daily operational demands of almost all school bus routes, the company reports.

TBB has built on its 106-year manufacturing history in hopes of becoming a leader in school bus electrification as the only OEM offering schools a comprehensive, turnkey solution, including custom-designed DC fast chargers from Proterra and electrical infrastructure project management.

Although the company reports increased demand for products as justification for expansion, TBB acknowledged the manufacturing industry remains troubled by economic and supply pressures.

Mario DiFoggio, direct sales and marketing manager for TBB, said, “it is fair to say the entire commercial vehicle market is experiencing ongoing supply chain bottlenecks and inflationary pressures that we continue to work through with our suppliers, valued dealer partners, and customers.”