Organic Expansion Gives ABF Dual-System Network Coast-to-Coast Reach

ABF is expanding its RPM service to the western one-third of the U.S., providing increased shipment velocity to 95% of the lanes between major markets in the West. “ABF’s latest service improvements are monumental because they give coast-to-coast reach of ABF’s innovative Dual-Systemsm Network, which provides regional service in tandem with our best-in-class long-haul service,” said ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kemp. “It’s a proven model that ABF has grown entirely organically over the last several years.”

Called the Regional Performance Model, or RPM, parallel regional and national service was first offered by ABF in 2006 along the eastern seaboard. The carrier expanded coverage to the eastern two-thirds of the nation in 2007. The latest expansion gives the network coast-to-coast coverage. “Customers benefit from rapid, dependable regional service in addition to the flexibility, supply chain visibility, careful cargo handling and attentive customer service they’ve come to expect from ABF,” said ABF Senior Vice President Roy Slagle.

Sophisticated operational procedures enable ABF to deliver national long-haul and regional short-haul services simultaneously. “ABF customers benefit from common pickup, delivery, sales and customer service capabilities along with the convenience of one carrier seamlessly providing regional and long-haul logistics solutions,” said Kemp. “And customers do not have to make any special notations on bills of lading to select which network they wish to use.”

“These enhancements blend seamlessly with ABF’s expanding portfolio of strategic logistics solutions,” said Slagle. “For example, as ABF has invested in both global and domestic supply chain services, business volumes flowing through consolidation warehouses serving ports have increased substantially. This growing stream of business now benefits from ABF’s enhanced network and the flexibility it provides.”

Citizens United decision at root of war on public union workers

JAMES P. HOFFA

The spark that has fired protests in communities across our great country was actually struck more than a year ago. It wasn't in Wisconsin on Feb. 11, when Gov. Scott Walker filed a bill to strip government workers of their collective bargaining rights, setting off weeks of massive protests in Madison.

Shameful ruling

The real spark was struck in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 2010, when the Supreme Court decided the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case. The high court voted to overturn campaign finance law in a decision as shameful as Dred Scott or Plessy v. Ferguson. Citizens United allowed corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, and to do it in secret.

Since then, CEOs and billionaires have funneled enormous amounts of cash to the campaigns of pliable stooges who would help them tighten corporate control of government. We don't know exactly how much the CEOs and billionaires spent to win on Nov. 2, but some estimates range from $600 million to $1 billion. Anyone who thinks unions spent anywhere near that much is just crazy.

The corporations are getting a handsome return on their investment. They took control of the U.S. House of Representatives, gained 21 legislative chambers, 700 legislative seats and five governors' offices for a total of 29. And in statehouse after statehouse, governors are proposing more corporate subsidies, more sweetheart deals and more tax cuts for the already wealthy. The middle-class worker shoulders the blame and the sacrifice.

The playbook is the same everywhere, from Wisconsin to Florida. First, announce huge budget problems.

Second, blame government workers. Don't even whisper the truth that Wall Street's recklessness caused the recession and the resulting drop in tax receipts. Or that politicians plundered government workers' pension funds for decades, creating funding liabilities.

Third, rush through anti-worker bills, using dirty tricks if necessary. In Ohio, corporate-backed politicians quickly and quietly swapped out a committee member to move an anti-worker bill to the Senate floor. That was only slightly more outrageous than the decision to lock statehouse doors so Ohio citizens couldn't express their opinions to lawmakers. Only after a judge issued an order were doors opened.

Subtle attack

In Michigan, anti-worker politicians are a little more artful than Scott Walker. They're going after workers, not with a union-made Louisville Slugger but with a paring knife.

Michigan politicians want to eliminate collective bargaining rights when two government departments merge. They want emergency financial managers to be able to override collective bargaining agreements.

They want to privatize noninstructional work in public school districts. They want to freeze wages for employees covered by contracts that have expired.

The lesson from Madison is that these corporate-backed politicians have finally pushed the American worker too far. Their divide-and-conquer tactic of pitting government workers against private-sector workers is backfiring.

Instead, they are uniting American workers — and retirees and moms and students — in ways I've not seen in decades. Polls show that a strong majority of Americans support collective bargaining rights. Americans understand, in a profound way, that corporations long ago declared war on workers, and it's time for workers to fight back.

Harry Wilson Tapped By Teamsters To Rescue Ailing Trucking Company And Union Jobs

Harry Wilson, last year’s Republican candidate for state comptroller, made a name for himself by helping rescue General Motors from bankruptcy. Now, months after an election he narrowly lost, he has turned his attention from the vehicles to the drivers.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently invited Wilson to help restructure the ailing trucking and freight company, YRC Worldwide, in what they billed as an effort to help save thousands of unionized jobs and prevent the company from going under.

One of the largest trucking companies in the country, YRC had racked up a sizeable debt in recent years, endangering over 20,000 union jobs, the Teamsters said. According to a source with knowledge of the agreement, the union reached out to Wilson the first week in January to devise a rescue. Full Story........

YRC Worldwide Transitions CFO Responsibilities

YRC Worldwide Inc. today announced that Sheila Taylor, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has decided to leave the company effective March 31 to pursue opportunities outside of the less-than-truckload industry. Ms. Taylor has been CFO since October 2009 and prior to that was Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer.

"Sheila has been instrumental in the company's financial restructuring over the last few years, including the significant turnaround in operating results and the generation and preservation of liquidity," stated Bill Zollars, Chairman, President and CEO of YRC Worldwide. "I personally appreciate what we have accomplished under her leadership and wish her well as she takes her career in a different direction."

William Trubeck, a member of the Board of Directors since 1994, will take over as interim Executive VP & CFO while the company completes its restructuring efforts.

Trubeck has over 30 years experience in executive leadership positions for Fortune 500 companies including specific experience as the CFO at H&R Block, Waste Management, and International Multi-Foods. In addition, he has led a variety of restructuring efforts during his career.

"We are extremely fortunate to have a person of Bill's executive experience and capability, as well as a long-term member of our Board, step into this interim role as CFO. We fully expect him to play an important role in completing the final steps in the restructuring efforts of YRCW," stated John Lamar, Chief Restructuring Officer.

Trubeck has served in various corporate director positions including WellCare Health Plans, Dynegy, Ceridian Corporation and The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and is currently vice chairman of the board of trustees of Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill. Trubeck received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Monmouth College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.