Teamsters Applaud Signing Of Military Commercial Drivers' License Act

Teamsters across the country are applauding President Barack Obama's signing into law today of the Military Commercial Drivers' License Act of 2012. The demand for qualified, safe truck drivers has risen over the past few years and the new law will make it easier for veterans and service men and women to obtain Commercial Drivers' Licenses, making them more employable once they leave active-duty.

"With construction projects ramping up there is an increased need for safe, dependable truck drivers with CDLs," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "Through our work with the Teamsters Military Assistance Program and Helmets to Hardhats, we know that our active duty military and veterans are valued for their military training, making them sought-after candidates for freight and construction work."

The law will enable an active duty service man or woman to go through the training and skill acquisition necessary to obtain a CDL while they are performing their duties in service to the United States. The fact that they may be serving in a state other than their home state will no longer be an obstacle.

"We support this legislation," said Marion Davis, Director of the Teamsters Building Materials and Constructions Trades division. "Our goal is to support the transition of military personnel to civilian life. We will continue the necessary training to assist veterans and active duty military personnel in becoming safe and confident drivers."

ABF Freight System, International Brotherhood of Teamsters to Begin Negotiations for Next Collective Bargaining Agreement

ABF Freight System, Inc., one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload freight carriers, and the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) announced on Wednesday that they expect to begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement on December 18, 2012.

TNFINC is the negotiating arm of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation and was founded in 1923. The current collective bargaining agreement, known as the National Master Freight Agreement, expires at midnight on March 31, 2013. It covers approximately 7,800 ABF Teamster employees in various locations across the United States, including road drivers, city drivers, dockworkers, mechanics and clerical personnel.

“We look forward to working together with TNFINC to create an agreement for our future that allows ABF to be more competitive,” said Roy Slagle, ABF president and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to reach an agreement that enables us to better compete in a rapidly changing freight transportation market on behalf of our customers, our employees and our shareholders.”

Herschel Evans Receives 2012 Destination Green Environmental Excellence Award

Holland professional driver Herschel Evans was recently honored with a 2012 Destination Green Environmental Excellence Award for his efforts towards environmental sustainability. The award recognizes employees of YRC Worldwide companies who exhibit environmental leadership in a variety of areas, including efficient use of energy, emissions reductions, customer and vendor environmental partnerships and community outreach on promoting sustainable practices.

Evans was selected for his safe and efficient driving practices, which have resulted in a high miles-per-gallon ratio for his Holland truck and have allowed him to share and promote best practices with fellow truck drivers and motorists. These practices include route planning and smooth starts and stops to optimize fuel usage.

"We would like to thank Herschel Evans for his dedication to the invaluable cause of environmental sustainability," said Scott Ware, Holland president. "Together with leaders like Herschel, we at Holland hope to build a better future for generations to come, while continuing to provide the best services for our customers."

This second annual award program is part of the larger Destination Green initiative--a YRC Worldwide corporate plan that employs numerous processes with the goals of reducing the company's carbon footprint while optimizing corporate resources. Award recipients are nominated by their fellow employees.

Herschel Evans is a city driver operating out of the Atlanta, Ga. service center. In addition to receiving this environmental award, Herschel was recently named 2012 Georgia Driver of the Year and placed first in the 5-axle category in the 2012 Georgia Truck Driving Championships. Evans also won the state 5-axle competition in 2011, 2008 and 2006. He went on to earn two national titles with first-place finishes in the 5-axle class at the National Truck Driving Championships in 2011 and 2008.

YRC Freight Announces 2012 Driver Hall of Fame Winners

YRC Freight, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc., announced nine inductees into the 2012 Driver Hall of Fame as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

YRC Freight honors the following professional drivers who have collectively driven over 25 million accident-free miles:


Donald Cook — Linehaul Driver, Allentown, PA
Jerry Cudmore — Retired City Driver, Sioux Falls, SD
David McDonald — Retired Road Driver, Kansas City, KS
Thomas Nestler — Driver, Montgomery, IL
Donald Robinson — Road Driver, Akron, OH
Bob Seeman — Road Driver, Valdosta, GA
Richard Shreiner — Road Driver, Harrisburg, PA
Ray Simon — Retired City Driver, St. Cloud, MN
Alfred Weddle — Road Driver, Albuquerque, NM

"We salute these outstanding YRC Freight drivers for the tremendous feat they have accomplished and thank them for their continued commitment to providing unparalleled service to our customers," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "These exceptional individuals help YRC Freight to remain one of the safest transportation providers in the industry."

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week honors the 3.1 million professional truck drivers nationwide who log close to 398 billion miles each year and in 2011 delivered 67 percent of the U.S. freight tonnage--or over 9.2 billion tons of freight.

YRC Worldwide Companies Honored with the ATA Mike Russell 'Good Stuff' Trucking Image Award

The American Trucking Associations has awarded YRC Worldwide Inc., YRC Freight, Holland, Reddaway and New Penn with the sixth annual Mike Russell "Good Stuff" Trucking Image Award.  The Award honors companies that creatively generate positive awareness of the trucking industry.  The YRC Worldwide companies were recognized for their driver recognition initiatives, sustainability programs and assistance they have provided to communities including those with military families.

"This recognition highlights our employees' commitment to promote the very best of this industry in safety, sustainability and service," said James Welch, CEO of YRC Worldwide.  "I am proud of the commitment our team makes each and every day to be champions of safety, practice sustainability in their jobs and serve the communities in which we do business."

The "Good Stuff" Trucking Image Awards are named in honor of the late Mike Russell, a trucking industry supporter and former ATA vice president of public affairs. TMW Systems sponsored the Awards at the American Trucking Associations' Annual Management Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas.

ABF to deal direct with Teamsters on new contract

ABF Freight System has notified the Teamsters that it will not negotiate a new labor contract under a National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) that has been the template for many unionized trucking sector employees since April 2008.

ABF, a subsidiary of Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp., employs around 10,000, with roughly 7,600 of those falling under a collective bargaining unit represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The labor contract between ABF and the union ends March 31, 2013, and the decision by ABF could add another element of tension to more than two years of conflict between ABF, the Teamsters and YRC — the largest competitor to ABF.  Full Story..........

NC Governor takes on misclassification

Good news from North Carolina! Gov. Bev Perdue ordered a task force yesterday to investigate the misclassification of workers (can you say FedEx Ground?).

According to a press release from the governor's office, the task force will "identify effective mechanisms to combat unlawful practices like employee misclassification that harm workers". It will:

...strive to: (a) protect the health, safety and benefits of workers; (b) eliminate any competitive advantage currently enjoyed by businesses who violate the law; and (c) educate employers and employees regarding applicable legal requirements relevant to the practice of employee misclassification.

Full Story.......

ABF Drivers Sutton and Camarda Earn Recognition at National Driving Championships

ABF drivers Robert Sutton and Rick Camarda earned recognition at the 75th National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., August 7-11, 2012. Sutton won National Rookie of the Year, while Camarda placed second in the five-axle class.

Professional drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships by winning state driving championships and by maintaining accident-free driving records for the preceding year. Sutton competed as the Idaho State Champion in the 3-Axle Class, while Camarda competed as California’s Five-Axle Champion. The two were part of an ABF team of 24 drivers, including two-time National Champion Tony Spero (2006, 2009). The team also included Grand Champions from their respective states: Spero, Connecticut; Chuck Smetzer, Maryland; and Kent Jones, Oklahoma.

Domiciled in Ontario, Ore., Sutton has recorded nearly 350,000 accident-free miles.  Camarda, a three-time competitor in the national event, is domiciled in Sacramento. His record includes driving more than 18,000 hours accident free.

“Earning the right to compete in the National Truck Driving Championship is an honor in itself, and we are proud of entire team of ABF drivers that competed in Minneapolis,” said ABF President and CEO Roy Slagle. “Everyone at ABF greatly appreciates the dedication and hard work of these driving professionals. It is due to their commitment and leadership that ABF has a well-earned reputation as a trusted supply-chain partner.”

Known informally as the Super Bowl of Safety, the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations. The goal is to promote driving safety among the nation’s three million professional truck drivers. The comprehensive competitions include written examinations, pre-trip inspections and demonstrations of braking, parking, backing and maneuvering skills.

CSA Doesn’t Accurately Reflect Safety, Fleets Tell FMCSA in New Comments

Several trucking fleets said that the government’s safety scoring methodology does not accurately assess safety performance.

In comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, YRC Worldwide Inc. said that its concerns about the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program are amplified by the fact shippers are increasingly relying on the system.

“The impact of the [CSA] safety measurement system cannot be underestimated,” Terry Budimlija, YRC Freight’s safety director, wrote in July 30 comments. “Shippers are increasingly scrutinizing the records of their carriers.”

Shippers fear that plaintiffs’ attorneys will use the CSA safety ratings to pursue multi-million-dollar vicarious liability lawsuits, YRC said.  Full Story.........

YRC Freight Professional Driver Scott Stroup Named 4-axle Champion At The 2012 National Truck Driving Championships

Kevin Miskiewicz Places Third In Same Class

YRC Freight, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc. is proud to announce that professional driver Scott Stroup of Omaha, NE has been named 4-axle champion at the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC).

Kevin Miskiewicz of Landsdale, PA placed third in the same class. Stroup and Miskiewicz competed with 425 other professional drivers from across the United States at the event which took place August 7 – 11 in Minneapolis, MN.

Mr. Stroup, who has been in the trucking industry for 33 years, has been with the company for 22 years accident-free. Recognized by YRC Worldwide as a Million Mile safe driver, he received a Professional Excellence and Vehicle Condition award at his state competition before moving on to the national event. Actively involved in his community, Mr. Stroup helps train the cadets at the Nebraska State Highway Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division Academy.

Mr. Miskiewicz, named Grand Champion at his state competition, has been a driver with YRC Freight for 18 years. A Pennsylvania Road Team member, he has competed in every Pennsylvania Truck Driving Championship since 1997 and has been accident-free his entire career. A military veteran, Mr. Miskiewicz is a member of the Royersford VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and is also a member of the American Truck Historical Society.

"We salute Scott and Kevin for their achievements and thank them for their continued commitment to safety," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "We would like to extend our congratulations to all of our employees who participated in this year's event. Their remarkable skill and dedication to keeping our highways safe enables us to provide our customers with the highest level of service each and every day."

The four day competition tested driver's knowledge of safety, equipment, the industry and driving skills. Now in its 75th year, the NTDC and affiliated state TDCs are considered one of the industry's largest and most effective safety programs. Known to many as the "Super Bowl of Safety," these annual events inspire tens of thousands of drivers to operate accident-free for the right to compete.

To participate, drivers must be accident-free, regardless of fault, for one year and through the national championships.

Holland Sends Three Professional Drivers to National Truck Driving Championships

Three professional drivers will represent Holland at the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Minneapolis, Minn., August 7-11.

To qualify for the national competition, drivers must place first in their respective class at state contests and maintain accident-free safety records the preceding year. This year three Holland drivers earned state titles to advance to the national event: Herschel Evans, Georgia, five-axle (Georgia State Driver of the Year); Mike Tobolic, Michigan, five-axle; and David White, Ohio, tanker.

Fans and supporters of Holland drivers are invited to follow their progress at the NTDC this week on Facebook and Twitter.

The NTDC is an annual competition of professional truck drivers hosted by the American Trucking Associations. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event. The NTDC will test more than 400 drivers on many levels including skill behind the wheel, knowledge of safety rules and regulations, and the ability to spot safety hazards during a pre-trip inspection. The NTDC is a competitive event, but it's also a fun-filled, family activity celebrating the achievements of professional drivers and safety.

"Herschel, Mike and David have proven themselves to be among the nation's most professional and safest drivers. This is a special time for us to celebrate the professionalism of Holland drivers. Local, state and national driving contests are more than a test of how well a driver can operate a vehicle — they are a safety program that challenges drivers to sharpen their driving skills. We congratulate all Holland drivers who participated in driving competitions," said Scott Ware, Holland president.

Congratulations to all of the safety-conscious Holland drivers who competed in local state driving championships this year:

William Argeroplos, Dayton, Ohio
Gary Barfield, Columbia, S.C.
Sean Bates, Atlanta, Ga.
Charles Bauman, Chicago, Ill.
Marty Blandford, Louisville, Ky. 
James Bowman, Atlanta, Ga.
Michel Boyce, Kansas City, Kans.
John Bumgardner, Minneapolis, Minn.
Brett Buzard, Dayton, Ohio
Billy Carnes, Atlanta, Ga.
Thomas Carlson, Minneapolis, Minn.
Dennis Cole, Kansas City, Kans.
Roger Couch, Atlanta, Ga.
Raymond Donaldson, Atlanta, Ga.
Ronald Doty, Buffalo, N.Y.
Steve Dowden, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Dave Durham, Indianapolis, Ind.
Albert Epperson, Atlanta, Ga.
Charles Essex, Atlanta, Ga.
Frederick Eitenmiller, Lincoln, Ill.
Dwayne Flemming, Charlotte, N.C. 
John Fiorentini, Cleveland, Ohio
Joseph Gandy, Knoxville, Tenn.
Michael Gaskins, Atlanta, Ga.
Jon Good, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Danny Graham, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Jessie Harren, Minneapolis, Minn.
Harry Helgeson, Gaylord, Mich.
William (Don) Hill, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Tim Hines, Louisville, Ky.
Brian (Mitch) Jordan, Spartanburg, S.C.
Charles King, Lincoln, Ill.
Shawn Lashmet, Joplin, Mo.
James Lawless, Charlotte, N.C.
Noel Leach, Detroit, Mich.
James Looks, Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Rickey Lukehart, Lincoln, Ill.
Gregory Maki, Akron, Ohio
Stephen McConley, Atlanta, Ga.
Shawn McCutcheon, Akron, Ohio
Daniel McKee, Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Timothy McWhorter, Lincoln, Ill.
Brian Mertz, Detroit, Mich.
Shane Olds, Joplin, Mo.
Jerry Porchia, Kansas City, Kans.
Cecil Purkes, Lincoln, Ill.
Donald Putnam, Rockford, Ill.
James Rolow, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jack Rudeen, Minneapolis, Minn.
Eric Schoener, Buffalo, N.Y.
Russell Simpson, Columbus, Ohio
Todd Singleton, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Michael Snyder, Columbus, Ohio
James Steele, Minneapolis, Minn.
Arthur Suzuki, St. Louis, Mo.
David Weatherford, Knoxville, Tenn.
Donny Wethington, Louisville, Ky.
Jeffrey Whitaker, Charlotte, N.C.
Rayfus Williams, Charlotte, N.C.
Mike Wingerter, Kansas City, Kans.
Robert Wolford, Detroit, Mich.
James Yates, Atlanta, Ga.
Vladimir Yarulin, Charlotte, N.C.

New Penn Sends Two Professional Drivers to National Truck Driving Championships

Two professional drivers will represent New Penn at the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Minneapolis, Minn., August 7-11.

To qualify for the national competition, drivers must place first in their respective class at state contests and maintain accident-free safety records the preceding year. This year two New Penn drivers earned state titles to advance to the national event: Marc Ditomasso, Rhode Island, 3-axle; and Rich Walton, Pennsylvania, 4-axle.

Fans and supporters of New Penn drivers are invited to follow their progress at the NTDC this week on Facebook and Twitter.

The NTDC is an annual competition of professional truck drivers hosted by the American Trucking Associations. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event. The NTDC will test more than 400 drivers on many levels including skills behind the wheel, knowledge of safety rules and regulations, and the ability to spot safety hazards during a pre-trip inspection. The NTDC is a competitive event, but it's also a fun-filled, family activity celebrating the achievements of professional drivers and safety.

"The industry's safest and most-skilled drivers strive to qualify for this challenging national competition. The entire New Penn team congratulates Marc and Rich. Their motivation to compete is a reflection of their outstanding driving skills, professionalism and commitment to safety. We are proud of all New Penn drivers who participated in local and state competitions. Competing makes them safer professionals. All New Penn employees understand that safety enables us to meet our service commitments to our customers and return home safely to our families after every shift," said Steve Gast, New Penn president.

New Penn safety-conscious drivers who competed in local state driving championships this year are:

Chris Buckless, Milton, Pa.
Eric Consaul, Rochester, N.Y.
Frank Thompson, Providence, R.I.
Matthew Ketcham, Burlington, Vt.
Peter Glogowski, Rochester, N.Y. 
Richard Gagnon, Providence, R.I.
Roger Bertrand, Albany, N.Y.
Steven Soscia, Providence, R.I.
William Asaro, Providence, R.I. 

YRC reports positive income from operations

Trucking company YRC Worldwide Inc. reported it lost $22.6 million, or $3.21 a share, for its second quarter ending June 30, while its top executive said the firm was performing slightly better than predicted.

The loss reported Friday is an improvement from a year ago, when the Overland Park, Kan.-based company with operations in Summit County lost $43 million, or $267.33 a share, for the same period a year earlier.

The per-share difference totals reflect a financial restructuring that has taken place over the last year. A 1-to-300 reverse stock split took effect Dec. 1, 2011. YRC is the parent of the former Akron-based Roadway.

The soft economy caused revenue to drop slightly from a year ago, the company said. YRC said it took in $1.251 billion, down 0.5 percent from $1.257 billion from the second quarter of 2011.  Full Story........

YRC Worldwide Reports Positive Operating Income for Second Quarter

Continued Year-over-Year Operating Improvement and Margin Expansion


Best Second Quarter Liquidity since 2008


YRC Worldwide Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2012.

Consolidated operating revenue for the second quarter of 2012 was $1.251 billion, just 0.5% under 2011, and consolidated operating income was $15.5 million, which included a $6.5 million gain on asset disposals. This is the first time since third quarter of 2008 that the company has reported income from operations, excluding second quarter of 2010, which included an $83 million non-cash reduction to its equity-based compensation expense. As a comparison, the company reported consolidated operating revenue of $1.257 billion for the second quarter of 2011 and a consolidated operating loss of $5.6 million, which included a $7.3 million gain on asset disposals.

The company reported, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2012 of $70.1 million, a $5.6 million improvement over the $64.5 million adjusted EBITDA during the comparable period in 2011 (as detailed in the reconciliation below).  Additionally, given the resumption of multi-employer pension plan contributions in June 2011, the company recorded an incremental $14 million of multi-employer pension plan expense in the second quarter of 2012 that was not incurred during the second quarter of 2011.

"Our focused approach to pricing discipline, customer mix management and cost initiatives has driven year-over-year improvement in our business, which is reflected in our operating income," stated James Welch, chief executive officer of YRC Worldwide. "We are producing results slightly ahead of our forecast, despite the recently softening economy, and remain focused on executing our operations and sales strategies at all operating companies.  We continue to be committed to delivering consistent, high-quality and cost-effective service for our customers and value for our stakeholders," he added.  "I also want to especially recognize the resiliency and dedication of the 33,000 employees who are working diligently to help move YRCW forward in a positive and progressive way.  We are fortunate to have employees who have the passion and the drive to return the company to its leadership position, and they prove it every day by working to satisfy our customers while at the same time embracing our culture of working safely," said Welch.

Full Report..........

YRC Worldwide Agrees with Dismissal of ABF Freight System Lawsuit

YRC Worldwide Inc. agrees with the ruling on Wednesday, August 1, by Judge Susan Webber Wright of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas to dismiss a lawsuit brought by ABF Freight System, Inc. against several parties, including YRC Inc., New Penn Motor Express, Inc., USF Holland, Inc. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, claiming that certain amendments to the YRCW companies' collective bargaining agreement should be nullified.

The lawsuit was originally filed in November 2010 and was dismissed by Judge Wright in December of the same year.  On appeal, the case was remanded to the district court for further consideration, resulting in yesterday's ruling.

YRCW is satisfied with the court's decision and believes the court ruled correctly and in accordance with the language of the collective bargaining agreement.

The resolution of this lawsuit is in keeping with YRCW's committed effort to vigorously defend itself against these alleged claims by the plaintiff. YRC Worldwide has and will continue to protect and defend its reputation, as well as its services and brands.

ABF Freight System, Inc. Disagrees With Federal District Court's Ruling

ABF Freight System, Inc., one of the nation's largest less-than-truckload carriers, on Wednesday said it disagrees with, and is disappointed by, today's District Court ruling dismissing its lawsuit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and other parties for violations of the National Master Freight Agreement.

On August 1, 2012, Judge Susan Webber Wright of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas entered an order dismissing the case brought by Arkansas Best Corporation's (Nasdaq: ABFS) largest subsidiary, ABF, without prejudice.  This case was originally filed on November 1, 2010, against the IBT and other parties including several YRC Worldwide subsidiaries for violations of the collective bargaining agreement covering most unionized trucking employees in the country.  Previous to today's ruling, Judge Wright had dismissed the case but that dismissal was later reversed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  ABF is studying the ruling and evaluating its options which include, among other avenues, taking a second appeal to the Eighth Circuit or refiling the case in the District Court.

National Truck Driving Championship Competition To Include 24 ABF Drivers

Championship drivers from 18 states will represent ABF at the 75th National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., August 7-11, 2012. Professional drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships by winning state driving championships and by maintaining accident-free driving records for the preceding year.

Among the competitors representing ABF is two-time National Champion Tony Spero (2006, 2009). Competing as 2012 Grand Champions from their respective states will be ABF drivers Spero (Connecticut), Chuck Smetzer (Maryland), and Kent Jones (Oklahoma).

"ABF is extremely proud of our drivers who have earned the privilege to compete in this year's National Truck Driving Championships," said Sam Cates, ABF safety and security director. "These drivers are just a sampling of the many ABF professional drivers who safely deliver and protect the goods entrusted to us on a daily basis--providing unmatched value-added logistics solutions for our customers. The reputation ABF enjoys as a trusted supply-chain partner and a safety leader will be well represented with this group."

Known informally as the Super Bowl of Safety, the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations. The goal is to promote driving safety among the nation's three million professional truck drivers. Competitive divisions include straight truck, three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, tank truck, flatbed, five-axle sleeper, twins and step van. The comprehensive competitions include written examinations, pre-trip inspection and a demonstration of braking, parking, backing and maneuvering skills.

The ABF slate of state champions for the 2012 national competition includes: Jesse Ballard, Ore., sleeper; Ed Beins, Neb., 3-axle; Gerald Benavidez, N.M., sleeper; Rick Camarda, Calif., 5-axle; Michael Contreras, N.M., 5-axle; John Davis, Va., straight truck; Kent Durant, Kan., tank truck; Charlie Estrada, N.M., flatbed; Ralph Garcia, N.M., 4-axle; John Gibson, W.Va., tank truck; Garry Holliman. Ark., 3-axle, grand champion runner-up; Kent Jones, Okla., twins, grand champion; Jeff Keller, Penn., tank truck; A.J. Kelly, Wyo., twins, team trophy; Tom Martin, Wyo., 3-axle, highest score, personal interview; Nate McCarty, Colo., straight truck; Tim McElwaney, Ga., 4-axle, highest overall score; Peter Root, Vt., twins; Steve Smalley, Ariz., twins; Chuck Smetzer, Md., twins, grand champion; Tony Spero, Conn., flatbed, grand champion; Robert Sutton, Idaho, 3-axle; Andrew Walston, Wyo., straight truck; and Roger Phillips, Wyo., flatbed. The ABF driving teams in New Mexico and Wyoming also won the Team Trophies.

YRC Worldwide on the Upswing as Trucking Industry Posts Best Month of the Year

Amidst a global economic slowdown the Trucking Industry has experienced a slow, but steady recovery in 2012. Recent numbers releases by the American Trucking Associations showed that the industry saw their best month of the year in June.


The ATA's advance seasonally adjusted index of for-hire truck tonnage jumped 1.2 percent in June, the largest increase it has seen all year. The jump was unexpected following two consecutive months of declines in April and May, which saw the index fall a combined 2.1 percent. When compared to June 2011 the index showed a 3.2 percent increase, the smallest year-over-year gain since March 2012.

"June's increase was a pleasant surprise, but the lower year-over-year gain fits with an economy that has slowed," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a release. "Manufacturing output was strong in June, which helped tonnage levels."

YRC Worldwide has one of the largest, most comprehensive less-than-truckload networks in North America with local, regional, national and international capabilities. The company recently announced that S&P's Ratings Services have initiated coverage on YRC Worldwide $400 million ABL Facility. The ABL Facility received a recovery rating of '1', the second highest recovery rating available, and a facility rating of B-.

ABF Announces Second Quarter 2012 Results

Arkansas Best Corporation today announced second quarter 2012 net income of $11.8 million, or $0.44 per share, on revenue of $511 million, compared with net income of $5.3 million, or $0.20 per share, and revenue of $499 million in the second quarter of 2011.

The second quarter 2012 results included a tax benefit of $8.0 million, or $0.31 per share, related to the reversal of previously established deferred tax asset valuation allowances, and transaction costs of $2.1 million ($1.3 million, after tax), or $0.05 per share, associated with the June 15, 2012 acquisition of Panther Expedited Services, Inc. ("Panther"). Excluding both of these items, Arkansas Best had second quarter 2012 net income of $5.2 million, or $0.18 per share.

"A number of significant developments occurred during the second quarter, including closing the acquisition of Panther, our premium logistics provider," said Arkansas Best President and CEO Judy R. McReynolds. "This transaction represents a major step in our long-term strategy to grow our non-asset-based businesses. If Panther had been included, total 2011 revenues for Arkansas Best’s non-asset businesses would have exceeded $400 million. The addition of Panther and the services provided by our other non-asset-based subsidiaries complement our offerings at ABF and allow us to strengthen customer relationships."

ABF implemented a 6.9% increase in its general rates and charges on June 25, 2012 that was in effect during the last week of the second quarter. Second quarter price increases on ABF accounts under contract and deferred pricing agreements remained at favorable levels. In the second quarter of 2011, ABF began an aggressive initiative to address inadequate pricing and improve the profitability of many accounts across its network. This effort continues in 2012. As a result, the incremental profitability of ABF’s account base has improved.

"While we are encouraged by ABF’s yield initiatives, we continue to focus on various paths to reduce ABF’s overall cost structure," said Ms. McReynolds. "On-going efforts that offer opportunities to reduce ABF’s cost structure include ABF’s labor contract lawsuit, collaborative work to develop a permanent solution to correct our payment of non-ABF multiemployer pension benefits and preparations for negotiation of a new April 2013 labor contract."

ABF’s second quarter 2012 daily tonnage levels continued to be below those of the same period last year as the U.S. economy remained inconsistent. However, in each month of this year’s second quarter, the level of tonnage decrease improved versus 2011. During the second half of 2012, monthly tonnage levels will be compared back to the second half of 2011, when ABF experienced declining tonnage versus 2010.  Full Report..........

Holland Professional Driver Mike Tobolic Wins Michigan Truck Driving Championship

Professional driver Mike Tobolic placed first in the 5-axle class at the Michigan Truck Driving Championship. He will go on to compete in the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis, August 7-11.

Tobolic has competed at state driving competitions since 2003, always in the 5-axle class. He also placed first in the Michigan competitions and qualified for nationals in 2004. A professional driver for 38 years, Tobolic has been a city driver out of the Holland Grand Rapids, MI terminal for over 34 years. He is an active member on the Grand Rapids terminal Safety Committee, and also serves as a driver trainer at the terminal. In 2004, Tobolic was named Michigan State Driver of the Month by the Michigan Trucking Association, and was also presented with the Chairman's Award. In 2006, he was nominated for the prestigious America's Road Team.

"Safe driving requires not just skill, but a good attitude," said Tobolic. "You have to remain calm and courteous behind the wheel. Every day brings a challenge, but you have to always keep your cool and stay focused."

Holland drivers are encouraged to use driving competitions as a way to hone their driving skills, and improve safety. "Drivers like Mike are what make Holland the industry leader that it is today. Safety in and of itself is always a top priority; but the unmatched levels of safety that drivers like Mike provide also translate into unmatched service and reliability," said Scott Ware, president of Holland.

To qualify for the national championships, drivers must place first in their respective class at state competition. Both the state and national competitions include challenging driving skills and maneuvering tests, a pre-trip inspection, and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations. To participate in the state competitions, drivers must be accident-free for one year.

YRC Freight winners to vie at national truck driving championships

YRC Freight, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc., announced that drivers Philip Garcia and Ron Vanbibber of Salt lake City won division titles at the recent Utah Truck Driving Championships.

Vanbibber was first in the tank truck class and won the title of Grand Champion.

Garcia placed first in the straight truck class.

They will go on to compete at the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships August 7-11 in Minneapolis.

Garcia has been in the trucking industry for 27 years and has been with YRC Freight for 15 years.

Vanbibber has been with the company for his entire 27-year career.

Holland salutes their state champions

To qualify for the National Truck Driving Championships, drivers must place first in their respective classes at the state competition.

The state and national competitions include driving skills and maneuvering tests, a pre-trip inspection, and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations.

To participate in the state competitions, drivers must be accident-free for one year.

This year, three Holland drivers earned division titles to advance to the national competition. Our state champions are: Herschel Evans/GA 5-axle (city driver in Atlanta); Mike Tobolic/MI 5-axle (city driver in Grand Rapids); and David White/OH tanker (linehaul driver in Akron).

This is a special time for us to celebrate the professionalism of Holland drivers. Local, state and national driving contests are more than a test of how well a driver can operate a vehicle--they are a safety program that challenges drivers to sharpen their driving skills. Congratulations to all our drivers who participated in this year's competitions.

YRC Worldwide Mobile Handheld Devices to Optimize Delivery Efficiency and Service

YRC Worldwide Inc. today announced that it will be deploying the Intermec CN70e handheld mobile devices to more than 10,000 professional city drivers for YRC Freight, Reddaway and Holland beginning in October. 


Drivers will now be able to maximize productivity, enhance customer service, and optimize pickup and delivery operations. They will be able to more expediently enter shipment information and communicate it to the dispatch centers. The color and touch-screen device has image capture, scanning and GPS capability.

"With this technology, we are investing in a platform for the future to increase our business capabilities and provide our customers with the highest level of service," said James Welch, chief executive officer of YRC Worldwide. "By equipping our drivers with these state-of-the-art devices, we expect more on-time arrivals and more reliable service for our customers."

"After successfully optimizing the network at YRC Freight, we are now focused on optimizing our technology infrastructure," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "These new driver productivity devices will offer significant efficiency and service improvements."

"These devices will also enable our regional companies to continue to excel in best-in-class service delivery and execution," added Welch.

ABF racing ready for the inaugural Indy 250

The No. 30 ABF Chevrolet Impala team will bring chassis TMS-331 to the inaugural Indy 250 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


Long time Turner Motorsports partner ABF will again adorn the sides of the No. 30 Chevrolet Impala this weekend in Indianapolis. Established in 1923, ABF is best-in-class for safety, security, technology and freight-handling. InformationWeek, CIO, InfoWorld, and B to B magazines have cited ABF's strategic use of information technology as exemplary. ABF is the only six-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President's Trophy for Safety, the only five-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award, and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award. ABF also is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year, which ABF accomplished twice. 

What a Comeback... James Buescher and his No. 31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team captured their third victory of the season last Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway in dramatic fashion.  The 22-year-old rebounded from being two laps down because of a carburetor change to take the win.  With the victory, Buescher sits 35 points behind point leader Timothy Peters with 12 events left to run on the schedule.

Come and See Me... James Buescher will participate in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series autograph session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).  He, along with his Turner Motorsports teammates, will sign autographs for fans on Saturday, July 28th from 10:30 am-11:30 EST right outside the infield pagoda.  The 22-year-old will also make a visit to the Team Chevy display, located in the infield of IMS, on Saturday, July 28th at 2:30 pm EST.

Follow Me... Visit www.twitter.com/jamesbuescher or www.facebook.com/jamesbuescherracing  for the latest news and updates on James Buescher and the No. 30 ABF Chevrolet team.

Watch and Listen... The Indy 250 can be seen live on Saturday, July 28th on ESPN.  Race coverage will begin at 4 pm EST. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 90.

James Buescher on racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

"This is going to be a monumental weekend for the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an iconic venue, and to be able to say that I raced in the first Nationwide Series race there is very special.  There is so much rich racing history in Indianapolis.  We have had quite a bit of success at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, and I hope that we can carry over that success at the big track.  To be able to kiss the bricks at the end of the day would mean so much to everyone at Turner Motorsports.  We know it is going to be a tough race, but feel like we have as good a shot as any to get our ABF Chevrolet into victory lane."

UPS 2Q Earnings Per Share Up 7.5%

U.S. Domestic Profit Climbs 12%
Economic Uncertainty Dampens Expectations



UPS announced second quarter 2012 diluted earnings per share of $1.15, a 7.5% improvement over the 2011 adjusted results. U.S. Domestic operating profit expanded $122 million or 12% over the prior-year period. On a reported basis, diluted earnings per share increased 5.5% and U.S. Domestic operating profit rose 14%.

"Increasing uncertainty in the United States, continuing weakness in Asia exports and the debt crisis in Europe are impacting projections of economic expansion," said Scott Davis, UPS chairman and CEO. "Throughout its history, UPS has maintained its strength in all economic cycles and we are making the adjustments necessary to respond to today's challenging conditions."  Full Report..........

S&P Initiates Coverage On YRC Worldwide $400 Million ABL Facility With A ’1′ Recovery Rating

YRC Worldwide Inc. today announced that Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has initiated coverage on the company’s asset-backed loan facility (the ABL Facility). The ABL Facility received a recovery rating of ’1′, the second highest recovery rating available, and a facility rating of B-. The ABL Facility rating is two notches above the YRC Worldwide corporate credit rating, the highest facility rating possible relative to the company’s corporate rating under S&P’s scoring methodology. S&P reaffirmed the company’s corporate credit rating of CCC with a stable outlook.

“The ABL Facility provides us the liquidity to grow and invest in our business as seasonal requirements necessitate.  We believe the ’1′ rating of the receivables based facility is an indication of the credit worthiness of our customer base, the industry diversity of those customers, the structure of the facility and the overall high quality nature of the supporting collateral,” said Jamie Pierson, chief financial officer of YRC Worldwide. “Our liquidity position as of March 31, 2012 is the best it has been on a comparable quarter basis in three years, allowing us to continue executing on our strategy.”

“We continue to make great strides at YRCW as our newly optimized network at YRC Freight and corresponding decrease in standard transit times across much of the network is building on our commitment to improve service to our customers,” added Pierson. “And as usual, the regional companies continue to provide best-in-class service for their customers in the next-day and two-day industry segments.”

YRC Freight moving to smaller Toledo terminal

Transportation firm YRC Freight Inc. is moving from the former Roadway Express truck terminal at 6180 Hagman Rd. in Toledo to the former Yellow Transportation terminal at 4431 South Ave., the company said Monday. It has been trying to sell the Hagman Road terminal for about a year, although a price has not been disclosed.

YRC Freight, formed in 2003 through a merger of Yellow Transit and Roadway Express, said the move will not affect its Toledo-area operations and is being done to cut costs. Suzanne Dawson, a YRC Freight spokesman, said she could not say when the move will be completed.

The Hagman Road terminal, built in 1975, has 106,000 square feet and 204 docking bays. The South Avenue terminal, built in 1964, has 13,000 square feet and 41 bays.

ABF Driver Chuck Smetzer Repeats As Maryland Grand Champion

For the second consecutive year, ABF driver Chuck Smetzer has earned the title of Grand Champion in the Maryland Safe Truck Driving Championships, thus becoming Maryland's first repeat Grand Champion.

"Never in the 65-year history of Maryland's Safe Truck Driving Championships has a driver repeated as the Grand Champion, until now," said Craig Talbott, vice president of safety for the Maryland Motor Truck Association. "Making the accomplishment even more remarkable, Smetzer competed in an entirely different driving class this year.  In 2012, Smetzer won the Grand Championship while competing in the twin trailers classification.  In 2011, Smetzer won first place in the 3 axle van class."

Smetzer has been driving accident free for over 29 years, with 21 years dedicated to ABF. Domiciled at Hagerstown, Md., Smetzer has received numerous safe-driving awards, including the Gold Safe Driving Award, the 20-Year Safety Performance Plaque and 20-Year Safe Driving Patches.

The Maryland Safe Truck Driving Championships are sponsored each year by the Maryland Motor Truck Association Safety Management Council.  The contest is open to all drivers who work in Maryland, have accident-free records for at least 12 months prior to participation, and who meet the eligibility requirements of the Maryland Motor Truck Association and the American Trucking Associations. This year's competition included 110 drivers.

New Penn Professional Drivers Win State Driving Competitions in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania

Two New Penn professional drivers have won top honors for safe-driving skills in the states of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. Marc Ditomasso placed first in the 4-axle class at the Rhode Island Truck Driving Championships. Rich Walton placed first in the 3-axle class at the Pennsylvania Truck Driving Championships.

Ditomasso and Walton will go on to compete in the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis on August 7-11.

Ditomasso, who is based at the New Penn facility in Providence, is a city driver who currently has more than half a million consecutive safe-driving miles. He has worked in the transportation industry for 15 years, the last 12 years with New Penn. This will be his second time to compete at the national championships. He won a state title in the 4-axle class to qualify for nationals in 2009.

Ditomasso's inspiration is his father, Steve, a driver who retired after 27 years with Yellow Transportation and YRC Freight. The senior Ditomasso often participated in state contests and competed at the national championships five times. "I compete to follow in the footsteps of my father. He's the reason I drive safely every day. I know it makes him proud," said Ditomasso.

Walton has worked in the transportation industry for 31 years, the last 10 years with New Penn. He has been accident-free his entire New Penn career. Walton is a road driver and is based at the New Penn facility in Camp Hill. This will be Walton's third time at the national championships. He won state titles in the twin trailers class to qualify for the nationals in 2009 and 2010.

Walton has been participating in truck driving competitions since 1985. "I compete to improve my driving skills, keep up with the industry, and make friendships with drivers from other companies. The competitions make me a better driver. I think of my family, and I want everybody to be safer," Walton said.
"Working and driving safely every day takes practice, determination and focus. Competing at driving championships requires that same level of concentration. Professionals like Marc and Rich who lead through safety demonstrate the high quality service we provide to our customers each and every day," said Steve Gast, New Penn president.

New Penn drivers also competed at state driving championships in New York and Vermont in June. Top finishers in the New York contest were Pete Glogowski, who placed first in the pre-trip inspection contest and second in the 4-axle class, and Eric Consaul, who scored highest in the course driving portion of the competition. Both Glogowski and Consaul are based at the New Penn terminal in Rochester. In Vermont, Matt Ketcham placed third in the 4-axle class. He is based at the New Penn facility in Burlington.

YRC Freight Announces 24 Professional Drivers Qualify For The National Truck Driving Championships

YRC Freight, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc, announced today that 24 of its professional drivers have qualified for the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships. The competition will be held August 7 – 11 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN.

To qualify for the national championships, each driver placed first in his respective class -- one of nine categories -- at their state competition. Both the state and national competitions include challenging driving skills and maneuvering tests, a pre-trip inspection, and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations. To participate, drivers must be accident-free, regardless of fault, for one year and through the national championships.

"We are extremely proud of all of our drivers -- their commitment to safety reflects on our dedication to providing the highest level of service to our customers with each and every delivery we make," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "We congratulate this remarkable team and look forward to this premier competition."

The NTDC and affiliated state TDCs are considered one of the industry's largest and most effective safety programs. Known to many as the "Super Bowl of Safety," these annual competitions inspire tens of thousands of drivers to operate accident-free for the right to compete.

The YRC Freight team of qualifiers for the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships:

Driver	State	Class
Tim Brochue	Michigan	Tank Truck
Jim Bryant	Nevada	3-Axle
Mike Coakley	New Hampshire	5-Axle Sleeper
Clint Colson	Oklahoma	5-Axle Sleeper
Casey Dubbs*	Montana	3-Axle
Larry Dumont	New Hampshire	5-Axle
Randy Ebinger	Virginia	4-Axle
Mike Erick	Rhode Island	Twins
Philip Garcia*	Utah	Straight Truck
Robbie Granstrom	Oklahoma	3-Axle
Jerry Kraetsch	Minnesota	4-Axle
Duane Maroney	Minnesota	Twins
Tim McNamee	Minnesota	5-Axle
Wilson Meier	New York	5-Axle
Kevin Miskiewicz*	Pennsylvania	4-Axle
Tom Nestler*	Illinois	5-Axle
William Rabya	Maryland	4-Axle
Dale Reed	Ohio	Flatbed
Scott Stroup*	Nebraska	4-Axle
Ron Vanbibber*	Utah	Tank Truck
Wade Wageman	South Dakota	Twins
Marty Warfield	Illinois	5-Axle Sleeper
Mike Weir	Delaware	Tank Truck
Jimmy Wisley	Kansas	Twins

*Casey Dubbs, Kevin Miskiewicz, Tom Nestler and Ron Vanbibber were Grand Champion winners in their state competitions. Phillip Garcia won the Rookie of the Year award and Scott Stroup received the Professional Excellence and Vehicle Condition Award in their states.