CHATHAM, Ont. -- Production at the Navistar International truck plant in Chatham, Ont. is safe despite the closure of the Sterling assembly facility in nearby St. Thomas.

The Chatham Daily News quotes Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley as saying there will be no domino effect resulting from Daimler Trucks' decision to eliminate the Sterling Truck brand.

He described Sterling as a "fringe player" in the market, which doesn't affect Navistar's products. Wiley acknowledged that the entire truck-making market is suffering due to a weak U.S. economy, but he doesn't expect any layoffs at the Chatham plant.

The OEM will be rolling out the first shipments of its new Class-8 LoneStar truck next month.

The elimination of Sterling and the closure of its St. Thomas and Portland plants was the closest-guarded secret in trucking.

While there will be no direct product carry-over from Sterling, Daimler Trucks North America does "intend to augment continuing product offerings to fill niches that were previously occupied exclusively by Sterling," DTNA president Chris Patterson says.