If you like really big toys, like cranes and heavy equipment and such, with a free, ride in, drive in car show, hustle on down to Custom Truck One Source at the old Sheffield (Armco) Steel plant just west of Indep and 435 for a Hiring Fair running today through 2pm.

According to Frank Ferguson, Director of Production, there was a line out the front gate an hour ahead of when the hiring fair started. By 11 a.m. almost 30 people had been through the shop tour and had applied for open positions with Custom Truck.

“We build dump trucks,  roll off bodies,  trash container,  utility trucks service trucks flatbed, everything.”

When a truck arrives at Custom Truck from the manufacturer, its a bare chassis ready for whatever body is needed.

One if the company founders Chris Ross is focused on the community. “My family grew up in the Northeast area, I’m one of 12 kids so, it is important to us to be focused on our roots.”

Ross indicated that they will be expanding again to the properties on the north side of Independence Avenue, West of the current location.

“South of Independence Avenue, we occupy about 75 acres, and the area in North is 50 acres or so but a lot of that’s covered up by the river and the railroad tracks,” Ross said.
Additionally Ross noted that part of the company’s mission is working with area youth in trades education. “We’re setting up a classroom to start training our own people. We’re also working with the vo-tech schools and Northeast High School. Even some of the outlying areas and Raytown and independence to develop a stronger local workforce.”

Today’s hiring fair runs through 2pm and it is free and open to the public. Look for it to become an annual event.