84 Lumber Highlights Truss Manufacturing Careers

84 Lumber is marking Careers in Construction Month by highlighting truss manufacturing roles across its 22 plants in 13 states. Its Winchester, Virginia, facility trains associates in production, design, dispatch and customer service through its Production Manager in Training program. Training generally takes nine to 12 months. The relaunched program has graduated more than 30 associates, including six who became plant managers.

Training Across Plant Operations

Associates learn production skills including operating a saw, building trusses and operating a forklift. They also visit job sites and work with teams across the plant, helping them explore different career paths within manufacturing.

“We want to promote from within in anything we do, in the stores, in the install program, in manufacturing. If you work hard, we'll support you, we'll give you training, we'll give you opportunities.”

Paths Into Plant Leadership

The program was relaunched about two years ago. Graduates have moved into production management, design and specialized production roles based on their individual preferences.

“Once they are exposed to all those different things, there may be a shift in what they want to do. They may come in thinking they want to be in production leadership, or they may want to be a general manager, but once they get a taste of some of those other things, they may find that that's their passion.”

Cade Templeton completed the training in about a year before becoming a production manager at Winchester. He later became plant manager at 84 Lumber’s Powhatan, Virginia, location.

Careers Across The Country

84 Lumber plans continued expansion and is developing manufacturing career opportunities across the country. Job seekers can learn more through 84Lumber.com/careers.

“If you're looking for a career, you should interview the company that's interviewing you. What are you really going to provide for me? And it is this pathway that if you work hard, we'll support you, we'll give you training, we'll give you opportunities.”