How a US Truck Components Maker Is Handling Tariffs
Manufacturers continue to struggle with tariff uncertainty, despite the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn President Trump's International Economic Emergency Powers Act tariffs.
Other tariffs remain in place, including Section 232 tariffs on medium- and heavy-duty truck components. Richard Demirjian, president of heavy-truck compressor manufacturer TCCI in Decatur, Illinois, talks with IndustryWeek Senior Editor Laura Putre on supplier uncertainty awaiting UMSCA trade decisions in May and how tariff rebates have actually encouraged him to move some U.S. production overseas.
In 2025, TCCI broke ground on its $45 million Clean Energy Innovation Hub, which includes a production line for the latest electric compressors, as well as testing and workforce-training elements. Demirjian talks about how those plans continue to take shape, though with changes in U.S. policy, market strategy has shifted for the time being to hybrid trucks in the U.S. and EV compressors for TCCI's European customers.
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About the Author
Laura Putre
Senior Editor, IndustryWeek
As senior editor, Laura Putre works with IndustryWeek's editorial contributors and reports on leadership and the automotive industry as they relate to manufacturing. She joined IndustryWeek in 2015 as a staff writer covering workforce issues.
Prior to IndustryWeek, Laura reported on the healthcare industry and covered local news. She was the editor of the Chicago Journal and a staff writer for Cleveland Scene. Her national bylines include The Guardian, Slate, Pacific-Standard and The Root.
Laura was a National Press Foundation fellow in 2022.
Got a story idea? Reach out to Laura at [email protected]