ABF Appeals Dismissal of YRC-Teamsters Lawsuit

ABF Legal Action Update

ABF filed an appeal today in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (St. Louis) from the December 20, 2010, decision dismissing the lawsuit filed by ABF in November, 2010, against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and various other parties.

ABF respectfully disagrees with the court’s decision last month, dismissing the suit which seeks to declare modifications to the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) on behalf of YRC Worldwide subsidiaries null and void. Therefore, we have chosen to exercise our right to file an appeal.

A TIME FOR PEACE

Hoffa Urges Teamsters To Follow King’s Legacy

In light of the violent shooting in Arizona, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa is calling on Teamsters everywhere to remember Martin Luther King Jr. and follow his legacy of peace.

“Even in death, Martin Luther King Jr. continues to inspire and guide us,” said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “His legacy lives on in every union member, every labor activist, and every American who has stood up in the name of justice, equality, peace and compassion.

“Now more than ever, we as union members and American citizens need to find strength in King’s words and let ourselves be inspired by his nonviolent, peace-driven actions.”

Known primarily for his work in achieving equal rights for black Americans, King was also an outspoken leader in the labor community. He was a friend of past Teamsters President James R. Hoffa.

Under the leadership of James R. Hoffa, the Teamsters donated more than $25,000 to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1961, and sent supplies to marchers and other civil rights workers camped out in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and other locations along the freedom ride routes.

King was supporting black public sanitary workers in Memphis the day he was assassinated, April 4, 1968.

“King gave the ultimate sacrifice for our cause and it’s important that we not only remember him, but carry on his legacy in our actions, thoughts and words,” said Antonio Christian, Director of the Teamsters Human Rights Commission. “Like King, the HRC is devoted to eliminating discrimination in the workplace and promoting the value of diversity in all facets of society.”

ABF Drivers Boyer, McCarty and McElwaney Named America's Road Team Captains

Three ABF drivers were named Captains of the 2011-2012 America's Road Team by the American Trucking Associations, more than any other carrier. David Boyer of Wytheville, Virginia, Nate McCarty of Denver and Tim McElwaney of Atlanta join an elite group of 18 Captains chosen to represent the industry and promote highway safety. The Road Team has included an ABF driver every year since 1995, with two ABF drivers on five of the past six teams.

"Continuous pursuit of safety and education, as seen in the accomplishments of these drivers, is part of ABF's corporate culture," said ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kemp. "David, Nate and Tim are not only great assets to ABF, they're equally valuable to the trucking industry at large. They serve as role models and help ABF earn its reputation as one of the safest carriers in the country year after year."

The Captains were selected from a group 34 finalists who competed last week before a panel of judges from the trucking industry and related fields. The competition included a review of trucking industry expertise and a demonstration of their communication skills, combined with their community service and lifetime safety records.

America's Road Team represents America's 3.4 million professional drivers and serves as an example of the professional dedication and teamwork needed to deliver America's freight safely and on time. "The America's Road Team puts an impressive face behind the wheel," said Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. "These ambassadors to the industry have remarkable safe driving records and an unmatched enthusiasm for their job and for the industry. Their desire to share their knowledge and passion for safety benefits the motoring public and helps keep our highways safe."

While maintaining their jobs as full-time professional drivers, the new America's Road Team Captains will now travel the country speaking on behalf of the trucking industry to the community, news media and public officials. The Captains will address transportation and safety issues, speaking at community events and anywhere they can reach the motoring public to share safe driving tips and offer advice on how to safely share the road with tractor-trailers. The America's Road Team Captains also advocate safety to those within the industry at terminals and truck stops. They speak with fellow drivers, driver training students and corporate safety officers. They also have the opportunity to present trucking and safety issues before our public officials, at the national, state and local levels.

Two YRC drivers named to America's Road Team

YRC Worldwide announced today that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) selected professional drivers Alphonso Lewis and Randy Briggs to serve as America's Road Team Captains.

For the next two years, Lewis and Briggs will serve alongside colleagues from other transportation providers as members of America's Road Team, a select group of 18 professional drivers with superior safety records.

America's Road Team members participate in speaking engagements, media events and drivers' education classes on behalf of the industry. These professional drivers will address transportation issues and answer questions about the trucking industry and its commitment to highway safety. America's Road Team was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America.

"We are extremely proud of Alphonso and Randy," said Mike Smid, YRC president and YRC Worldwide chief operations officer. "They are outstanding leaders and professionals, committed to safety and dedicated to serving our customers. We are honored to have them represent our company and our industry as captains on America's Road Team."

Alphonso Lewis, a YRC driver based in Montgomery, Ala., took his place among the driving elite in 2007, placing first in the National Truck Driving Championships and being named Grand Champion. Lewis also placed first in the Alabama Truck Driving Championships five times, and earned the title of State Grand Champion in 2005. As a participant in the Professional Freight Handlers Championships, he earned the District Championship four times and was National Champion in 2001. Lewis is a member of his local service center's Injury Prevention Council.

Randy Briggs, a YRC driver based in Salt Lake City, was the 2009 Utah State Champion in the Straight Truck class of the National Truck Driving Championships. He was the first-place winner of the regional Professional Freight Handlers Competition in 2007. Briggs is active in his community, working with the Primary Children's Medical Center's Festival of Trees and Scouting for Food.

This new America's Road Team will serve through December 2012. Also participating in the selection process for the 2011–2012 America's Road Team were YRC drivers Julian Alexander of Chicago Heights, Ill., and J.C. Miller of Kernersville, N.C.

Road Team Captains will share safe driving tips and offer motorists advice on how to safely share the road with commercial vehicles. They also will have the opportunity to speak on trucking and safety concerns at the state and federal government levels.