YRC chief to ask for fresh union sacrifice as company, Teamsters set to meet tomorrow

No capital left to reinvest after costs are met, debt is serviced, Welch says

The forbearance of YRC Worldwide Inc.'s unionized workforce is about to be tested again.

Tomorrow in Dallas, YRC executives will brief leaders of the Teamsters Union representing about 25,000 YRC employees. The meeting will cover the Overland Park, Kan.-based company's recent performance, its future prospects, and the need to prepare for the first of a round of debt obligations set to come due in 2014, the company said in a brief statement last week.

James L. Welch, the less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier's CEO, essentially outlined the meeting's agenda in a letter sent to employees Oct. 30. Servicing YRC's $1.4 billion debt load leaves the company with no money to reinvest in the business once wages, benefits, and regular operating expenses are paid, Welch said in the letter. YRC's lenders have told the company they will not agree to refinance its debt without, among other things, a new labor agreement that extends beyond the current compact's March 2015 expiration date. YRC's operational performance also needs to improve for its lenders to consent to a debt restructuring, Welch said.  Full Story.........

ABF NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE ACCEPTS FINAL OFFER FOR CENTRAL REGION LOCAL CARTAGE SUPPLEMENT

ABF-NMFA Now Fully Ratified

In a conference call today, the ABF Master Negotiating Committee voted that in light of the overwhelming vote against authorizing a strike, the company’s last proposal for the Central Region Local Cartage Agreement would be accepted. As a result, the ABF-NMFA is now fully ratified.

Earlier this year, the National Master portion of the ABF-NMFA and 27 out of 28 area supplements were approved by the affected membership during balloting conducted over the summer and through mid-October. The lone supplement that had not been ratified by the membership was the Central Region Local Cartage Supplement covering nearly 1,900 drivers, dock workers and other local cartage employees throughout the Midwest.

After proceeding through the process outlined in the IBT Constitution, a strike authorization vote was conducted among the members covered by the unapproved supplement. The ballots were counted yesterday and there was a 77 percent turnout by the affected membership regarding the strike authorization vote. About 70 percent of those voting declined to authorize a strike at ABF. In such situations, the IBT Constitution provides that the Master Negotiating Committee has the authority to accept the company’s final offer.

The Master Negotiating Committee did not come to this decision lightly. As national negotiating committee co-chairman Gordon Sweeton stated, “We have now arrived at a point where, simply put, there is nothing left to negotiate with this employer and no desire for a strike in the Central Region based on the vote we received yesterday from the affected membership. The responsible course of action is to finalize the agreement.”

The agreement will be implemented in the next few days. It contains a 7 percent wage reduction that will become effective on Sunday, Nov. 3. The reduction, however, will be recouped over the life of the agreement with incremental annual wage increases. The agreement also contains provisions to provide for bonuses in the event the company reaches certain national operating performance standards. The agreement does require the company to continue to participate in the same health, welfare and pension programs and provides for contribution increases in order to maintain benefit levels retroactive to Aug. 1.

“We believe that this agreement helps protect our members’ health, welfare and pension benefits and will also give the company the ability to compete in a very tough trucking environment, which is good for ABF and the long-term job security of our members. I would like to thank our ABF members for their patience and support during this difficult process,” Sweeton said.

The new ABF Master Agreement expires on March 31, 2018.

Will YRC seek extension on labor union concessions?

Members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are preparing to meet with company leadership from YRC Worldwide Inc. in Dallas, and the topic on everyone's mind is concessions.

Late on Monday, the Overland Park-based less-than-truckload carrier sent out a statement calling Teamster leadership to meet in Dallas on Nov. 5. The statement said company leadership will be on hand to discuss the company's "recent performance, future prospects, corporate refinancing opportunities and the need to pro-actively align multiple stakeholders in advance of 2014 debt obligation deadlines."

The statement also pointed out the upcoming deadline for the current agreement between the company and the labor union that represents 25,000 of the company's 32,000 employees. That agreement, based on a series of concessions that cut Teamster wages and stopped pension payments, runs through March 2015. It saves YRC more than $350 million in labor costs annually.  Full Story.......

CENTRAL REGION LOCAL CARTAGE TEAMSTERS OVERWHELMINGLY DECLINE TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE AT ABF

ABF Freight System, Inc. has been notified by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that union employees covered by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement to the ABF National Master Freight Agreement have voted overwhelmingly to reject a strike authorization.

Based upon this outcome, there will be no strike by employees in the affected region or anywhere else in the ABF nationwide system.

Consequently, in accordance with the IBT Constitution, TNFINC is going to poll the ABF Master Negotiating Committee within the next 24 hours to determine whether to accept ABF’s final offer on the last remaining open supplement.

The five-year ABF NMFA is the first such agreement that the company has negotiated on its own behalf. A majority of Teamster employees ratified the national agreement in June, and 26 of 27 supplements were ratified by mid-October.

After receiving the company’s last, best and final offer on their supplement, Central Region Local Cartage employees received strike authorization ballots in early October. Turnout was strong, with 77 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot.

UPS Delivers 9.4 Percent EPS Growth In 3Q

U.S. Domestic Leads with Operating Profit Up 16%
E-commerce Drives U.S. Domestic Results
International Export Daily Volume Grows 6.7%; Deferred products up 11%
SC&F Operating Profit Increased 6.9%,Operating Margin Expands to 8.9%
YTD: $4.6 Billion in Shareowner Distributions and $3.6 Billion in Free Cash Flow
Maintains Full-Year 2013 Adjusted EPS Guidance of $4.65 to $4.85

UPS announced diluted earnings per share of $1.16 for the third quarter of 2013, a 9.4% improvement over adjusted results for the same period last year. Total revenue was $13.5 billion, up 3.4% driven primarily by U.S. e-commerce shipments and strong European export growth.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, 2013, UPS delivered more than one billion packages worldwide, an increase of 4.6% over the prior-year period.

Daily package volume growth was led by International export and U.S. Domestic Ground, up 6.7% and 3.0%, respectively. Customers around the globe continue to seek lower cost solutions as demonstrated by the 11% jump in International deferred export products per day.

Last year, on a reported basis, third quarter diluted earnings per share was $0.48 as a result of an after-tax, non-cash charge of $559 million to restructure pension liabilities for certain employees.

"UPS is continuing to build global capabilities that position the company to meet the evolving supply chain needs of customers," said Scott Davis, UPS chairman and CEO. "We are making investments in emerging markets, healthcare distribution and our worldwide retail delivery models, ensuring that UPS delivers both the solutions customers require and the returns our shareowners expect."

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

International Brotherhood of Teamsters and YRC Worldwide to Meet for Company Update

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has agreed to meet with YRC Worldwide for a company update in Dallas, Texas on November 5, 2013.

This update is being held at the request of YRC Worldwide. Company leadership will be briefing local and national Teamster leadership on recent performance, future prospects, corporate refinancing opportunities and the need to proactively align multiple stakeholders in advance of 2014 debt obligation deadlines.

The current agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters expires March 31, 2015.

YRC Worldwide Schedules Third Quarter 2013 Conference Call

YRC Worldwide Inc. announced that on Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. CT, company executives will host a conference call with the investment community to discuss financial results for the third quarter.

Third quarter earnings will be released the same day, Thursday, November 7, 2013, after market close.

The call will be webcast and can be accessed live or as a replay via the YRC Worldwide website yrcw.com.

TEAMSTERS STOP FMCSA ATTACK ON TRUCK DRIVERS

The Teamsters Union helped score a victory for truck drivers this week when H.R. 3095 was signed into law compelling the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to follow the formal rulemaking process to set strict guidelines for when they can require screening, testing and treatment for sleep apnea.

FMCSA was prepared to circumvent the rulemaking process by offering “guidance” on the testing and treatment of sleep apnea in the trucking industry. Unlike the formal rulemaking process, agency-issued guidance does not permit input from stakeholders. This could have led to drivers being required to take expensive and unnecessary tests that they would have to pay for. In response to this threat, the Teamsters joined with truck and bus industry stakeholders to mobilize and pressure Congress to introduce and pass the legislation.

“This law, which passed the House with a unanimous vote, protects millions of working men and women who turn a key for a living from being forced to spend money on a test they may not need at the whim of a federal agency,” said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. “The FMCSA will now have to address this through the formal regulatory process and allow the public to have a voice in the process.”

The agency will now be required to listen to drivers, doctors and carriers and analyze how much sleep apnea testing will cost. The medical studies that the agency is basing its rulemaking on will also be subject to public scrutiny. Sleep apnea tests can cost thousands of dollars, depending on how many nights a driver’s sleep habits are monitored.

“Times are tight for many working families,” Hoffa said. “We cannot allow federal regulators to make uninformed decisions that will cost millions of people a lot of money that they can’t afford to spend right now.”

ABF Says Western Office Agreement Ratified

ABF was notified that one of our two final remaining supplements to the ABF National Master Freight Agreement – Western Office Part 5 – was ratified by a majority of covered employees following minor, non-economic modifications to the supplement. We thank our Western Office employees for recognizing ABF’s need to lower our costs and become more competitive in the marketplace while still preserving the best-paying jobs and benefits in the industry.

At this stage, 26 of 27 regional supplements have now been ratified since the national agreement was passed by a majority of our Teamster employees in June.

Employees in our Central Region Local Cartage are the only remaining group without a ratified supplement. According to the terms of the Teamster constitution, that group alone has now received ballots to authorize a strike despite many months of difficult negotiations between ABF and the Teamsters, along with passage of the national agreement and every other supplement across the country.

As previously stated, ABF has presented its last, best and final offer on the Central Region Local Cartage supplement and will not re-open the national agreement under any circumstances.

Following the passage of the Western Office supplement, we continue to encourage all Central Region Local Cartage employees to vote “NO” to a strike and to ensure their voices are heard by casting a ballot. Our goal is for ABF to regain market share and return to sustained profitability on behalf of all of the families and people who depend upon ABF.

YRC Worldwide Companies Receive U.S. EPA SmartWay Excellence Award

Recognition Highlights Supply Chain Efficiency and Environmental Performance

YRC Worldwide Inc. announced that YRC Worldwide companies YRC Freight, Holland, Reddaway and New Penn were honored with a 2013 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Excellence Award at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals annual meeting in Denver. Excellence Awardees are selected from the top 1% of SmartWay participants. YRC Worldwide is a Charter Partner of the SmartWay program.

"YRC Worldwide is honored to be recognized as one of the best environmental performers of the 3000-plus SmartWay Partners. The SmartWay program has been an invaluable resource for us and we have the utmost respect and appreciation for their staff's leadership in drastically reducing the industry's emissions output," said James Welch, CEO of YRC Worldwide. "Reducing our carbon footprint by handling freight more efficiently for our customers continues to be a top priority for all of our YRC Worldwide companies."

"EPA is pleased to recognize the 2013 SmartWay Excellence Award recipients. I commend YRC Worldwide for its superior environmental performance and leadership in advancing freight sector efficiency," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "Their commitment is helping lead the freight industry to a more sustainable future."

ABF TEAMSTERS APPROVE WESTERN OFFICE SUPPLEMENT

Teamsters at ABF, who work under the Western Office Supplement, have approved the supplement. Ballots were counted on Monday, October 14.  About 67 workers are covered by the supplement.

The National Master portion of the ABF-NMFA (which contains the economic terms) has previously been approved by the membership. However, the overall tentative agreement cannot be implemented until all supplements have been resolved.

Now that the Western Office Supplement has been approved, the only outstanding supplement is the Central Region Local Cartage Supplement. Balloting on a strike authorization for members covered by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement is now taking place.

Those ballots will be counted on October 29.

Marc Lasry's Avenue Capital is now YRC's largest investor

As YRC Worldwide Inc. Investor Cyrus Capital Partners reduces it share in the Overland Park-based company, a new group has taken over as the company's top investor.

On Oct. 16, New York City investment firm Cyrus Capital Partners LLC sold 527,068 shares of its stock in YRC, reducing its ownership from 17.2 percent to 11 percent.

The less-than-truckload carrier's stock fell to $12.14 per share, its lowest level in months on Monday.  Full Story...........

ABF Drivers Earn Top Spots in National Championships

ABF Freight System, Inc. is proud to recognize its winning team of 20 drivers at the National Truck Driving Championships, with two drivers taking first place in the industry's most prestigious event of the year.
                   
Drivers Ralph Garcia representing New Mexico (Four-Axle) and Tim Melody representing Idaho (Twins) took first place at the championships that were held from August 20 to 24, 2013, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tony Spero, representing Connecticut (Tank), placed second. Garcia also won the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award.

"This is a huge honor for ABF and for our winning drivers," said ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Slagle. "Just earning the right to compete at this event is an incredible achievement and our team performed extremely well.  We are very proud of Ralph, Tim, and Tony and the entire ABF team of drivers who earned the right to compete by winning state championships and maintaining accident-free driving records."
                                                                                 
As one of the largest U.S. less-than-truckload providers, ABF is recognized as having some the safest drivers in the industry. ABF has won numerous awards for safety including the President's Trophy for Safety from the American Trucking Associations.

Also representing ABF at the national competition was a father/son team, Travis Gibson and John R. Gibson of West Virginia. They were joined by Steve Smalley, Arizona; Loren Hatfield, Arkansas; Scott Scheuffele, Idaho; Don Nichols, Maryland; Chuck Colin, Minnesota; Ed Beins, Nebraska; Gerald Benavidez, Michael Contreras, Charlie Estrada and Ricky Lucas, New Mexico; Allen McNeely, North Carolina; John M. Davis, Virginia; and Tom Martin, John Dill and Andrew Walston, Wyoming.

The National Truck Driving Championships is hosted each year by the American Trucking Associations. Dating to 1937 when it was known as the National Truck Roadeo, the competition is known informally as the "Super Bowl of Safety."

Central Region ABF Employees Take Strike Vote

ABF has been notified by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that ballots to authorize a strike will be mailed on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, only to employees covered by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement. Votes will be counted on October 29. The Central Region Local Cartage supplement is one of 27 supplements to the ABF National Master Freight Agreement.

Following many months of discussion and complex negotiations between the two parties, a five-year contract agreement was reached and ratified in June by the majority of ABF Teamster employees who recognized the need for the company to lower its costs and become more competitive in a demanding marketplace.  Since then, 25 of the 27 supplemental agreements have also been ratified. The two that remain are Western Office Part 5 and Central Region Local Cartage.

Concerns in the Western Office area have been addressed and ABF is hopeful that ratification will occur in the short term following minor, non-economic modifications to that supplement.

For Central Region Local Cartage employees, ABF has provided its last, best and final offer. In such situations, the Teamsters constitution provides for a process in which its national negotiating committee conducts a strike authorization vote in the affected supplemental area only in order to establish whether the committee has the authority to conduct a strike.

ABF is encouraging employees covered by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement to vote “No” to the strike authorization and to let their voices be heard by making sure they exercise their right to cast a ballot. ABF is aware that the Teamsters have also encouraged its Central Region Local Cartage members to vote “No” to a strike in a letter they mailed to employees.

In the event that a strike is nonetheless authorized by employees in Central Region Local Cartage and directed by the committee, there can be no strike before October 29 which is the end of the expiration of the current contract extension.  ABF is preparing for this outcome and will work to ensure that all customer requirements are met. In the interim, it remains business as usual at ABF.

Holland Recognizes Professional Truck Drivers During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Holland, along with the American Trucking Associations and the entire trucking industry, is taking this week to honor the 3.1 million professional truck drivers who deliver America’s freight safely and securely every day following stringent safety regulations.

"Holland drivers are among the nation's most professional and safest drivers. We honor our professional drivers as well as all of our hardworking employees who demonstrate teamwork at every level to make sure each shipment gets where it’s going safely, on-time, and undamaged,” said Scott Ware, Holland president. “We thank everyone at Holland for their focus on safety and for giving their best each and every day.”

During this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 15-21, one of the ways Holland will mark the celebration will be by making daily postings to its Facebook, LinkedIn, GooglePlus and Twitter feed. These posts will consist of interesting facts and figures that help illustrate to readers the massive importance the transportation industry has on daily life.

Across all industries, 6.9 million people are employed in trucking-related jobs (or one in every 16 people working in the United States) including over 3.1 million professional truck drivers nationwide. These professional men and women behind the wheel log close to 398 billion miles each year. In 2012 they delivered 68.5 percent of the U.S. freight tonnage--or over 9.4 billion tons of freight. Professional truck drivers keep this country moving.

America’s truck drivers are true professionals dedicated to keeping our highways safe. Americans around the country depend on the trucking industry to deliver life’s fundamentals. Take a moment and recognize the significant contributions of professional truck drivers. The efficiency and safety that these drivers follow allow businesses and American citizens to confidently ship goods across state lines and throughout America.

Holland wants to especially thank its 5,200 plus professional truck drivers spanning the U.S.A. from Minnesota to Alabama and Missouri to North Carolina for their continued hard work, dedication to safety, service and integrity and for all they do to make Holland the leader in next-day delivery.

YRC Worldwide Agrees with Court Decision to Again Reject ABF Freight System Lawsuit

YRC Worldwide Inc. agrees with the federal court ruling announced on August 30th to again reject a lawsuit filed by ABF Freight System against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and YRC Worldwide.  

"We anticipated this outcome and are pleased with the court's decision and supporting opinion," said Michelle Friel, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of YRC Worldwide.

Friday's decision marks the third time the case has been dismissed.  The lawsuit, first filed in November 2010, was dismissed for a second time by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright (Eastern District of Arkansas) on August 1, 2012.

YRCW CEO James Welch to serve as YRC Freight president

YRC Worldwide Inc. announced that, effective immediately, in addition to his responsibilities as chief executive officer of YRC Worldwide, James Welch will assume the responsibilities as president of YRC Freight. He succeeds Jeff Rogers, who is no longer with the company. "On behalf of the entire YRCW board of directors, management team and entire employee base, I want to thank Jeff for his service at Holland and YRC Freight," said Welch.

Welch has been CEO of YRCW since July 2011 and has a history with the company that spans more than 30 years. He began his career at Yellow Transportation, the predecessor company of YRC Freight, where he served 29 years, the last seven as president and CEO. During his leadership, Yellow Transportation grew from $2.5 billion in revenue to $3.5 billion.

"While the regional companies (Holland, Reddaway and New Penn) continue to provide best-in-class service and more than market-competitive margins, we recognize that we have additional work to do at YRC Freight, and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to move our business forward. Our first priority will be working through the recent optimization of the YRC Freight network, which was designed to enhance the consistent, reliable, quality service that our customers expect and deserve," Welch stated.

Under Welch's direction, YRCW has returned to its North American, less-than-truckload roots, nearly doubled its adjusted EBITDA, continued to de-risk the company's balance sheet through letter of credit reductions, and has substantially grown into its capital structure.

"From our drivers to our office personnel, I have gotten to know many of the YRC Freight team members on a personal basis through the years. I am eager to work with the team as we continue to build a company focused on safety, customer service and profitability. Now it is time to strengthen our commitment to our customers and deliver on our promise to further enhance and improve our service," said Welch.

Holland Professional Driver Bruce Renton Named National Rookie of the Year at 2013 National Truck Driving Championships

Holland, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc., is proud to announce that professional driver Bruce Renton of Grand Rapids, Mich. has been named Rookie of the Year at the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) after competing in the Straight Truck division. Renton competed with 422 other state champion professional drivers from across the United States at the event which took place August 20 — 24 in Salt Lake City, UT.

Bruce Renton is a Gulf War veteran, Sgt. E-5, who received the U.S. Army commendation medal. He has been in the trucking industry for 13 years, and has been with Holland for over one year. Renton is a city driver and dockworker at the Holland Grand Rapids service center. This was his first year to ever take part in truck driving competitions. He has driven over 900,000 accident-free miles in his career.

"We congratulate Bruce on this outstanding achievement and for his dedication to safety and quality," says Scott Ware, president of Holland. "These drivers have proven to be the best of the best — true safety champions — and we are proud to have them represent Holland. We thank them for their continued commitment to keeping our highways safe. This constant attention to safety combined with a continuous focus on top-notch customer service helps create the Holland difference that sets us apart from other carriers."

The four-day competition known to many as the "Super Bowl of Safety," tested drivers knowledge of safety, equipment, the industry and driving skills. Now in its 76th year, the NTDC and affiliated state truck driving championships 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.

ABF Members Approve Five of the Remaining Supplements

ABF Teamsters approved five of the seven remaining supplements, while two did not pass.

The seven supplements were initially voted down and re-voted over the past several weeks, with ballots counted today. The five that were approved in the re-vote are Central Region Over-the-Road Freight; Southern Region Area Local Freight Forwarding Garage; Joint Council 40; Carolina Freight Council Over-the-Road; and New Jersey-New York Area LU-701.

The two supplements that were not approved are the Central Region Local Cartage and the Western States Office Employees—Part V.

The national master portion of the ABF National Master Freight Agreement has previously been approved, but will not take effect until the status of the two remaining supplements is resolved.

Nine Colorado Professional Drivers Head to National Truck Driving Championships

Nine Colorado professional truck drivers will arrive in Salt Lake City today to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships at the Salt Palace Convention Center.  These elite drivers earned their way to compete in the "Superbowl of Safety" after winning their title earlier this summer at the state level.

Over 420 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Salt Lake City for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers—they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On August 24, one contestant will drive away as the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Colorado Motor Carriers Association President Greg Fulton.  "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Colorado cheers for our drivers this week."

Colorado participants at National Truck Driving Championships for each category include:

Randy L. Dewitt, Walmart Transportation, LLC  - Sleeper Berth Michael T. Flippin, FedEx Freight – Twins Ted Hunger, FedEx Freight – Flatbed Matthew H. Green, Sysco Food Service - Tank Truck Mark C. Lannerd, Con-way Freight - Three-Axle Stewart Sandoval, McLane Company, Inc. - Five-Axle Brendan L. Sharp, FedEx Freight  - Straight Truck Anthony L. Singh, FedEx Ground - Step Van Robert Williams, YRC Freight - Four-Axle

Eight Arizona Professional Drivers Head to National Truck Driving Championships

Eight Arizona professional truck drivers will arrive in Salt Lake City today to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships at the Salt Palace Convention Center.  These elite drivers earned their way to compete in the "Superbowl of Safety" after winning their title earlier this summer at the state level.

Over 420 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Salt Lake City for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers—they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On August 24, one contestant will drive away as the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Arizona Trucking Association President and CEO Tony Bradley.  "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Arizona cheers for our drivers this week."

Arizona participants at National Truck Driving Championships for each category include:

Robert W. Boykin, Walmart Transportation, LLC - Sleeper Berth Ina L. Daly, Con-way Freight  - Tank Truck David R. Messmer, YRC Freight - Four-Axle Russell A. Norman, FedEx Ground - Step Van Jose A. Orozco, Con-way Freight - Five-Axle Steven D. Smalley, ABF Freight System, Inc. - Three-Axle Galen R. Spangler, Shamrock Foods Company - Straight Truck Phillip J. Wells, Swift Transportation - Flatbed

Nine Arkansas Professional Drivers Head to National Truck Driving Championships

Nine Arkansas professional truck drivers will arrive in Salt Lake City today to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships at the Salt Palace Convention Center.  These elite drivers earned their way to compete in the "Super Bowl of Safety" after winning their title earlier this summer at the state level.

Over 420 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Salt Lake City for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers—they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On August 24, one contestant will drive away as the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the trucking industry's commitment to safety," said Arkansas Trucking Association President Lane Kidd.  "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Arkansas cheers for our truck drivers this week."

Arkansas participants at National Truck Driving Championships for each category include:

Brian K. Dennington, Con-way Freight – Twins Timothy Geary, FedEx Ground - Step Van David H. Hall, YRC Freight - Four-Axle Loren H. Hatfield, ABF Freight System, Inc.     - Tank Truck Gary W. Mars Jr, Walmart Transportation, LLC - Five-Axle Mark Overholt , JB Hunt Transport - Straight Truck Larry Rhein,  FedEx Freight - Flatbed James A. Sanders, Fedex Freight - Three-Axle Clark B. Welch, Walmart Transportation, LLC - Sleeper Berth

Trucking strike ends for Fontana depot

Drivers and dock workers at a Fontana trucking depot returned to work on Monday, Aug. 20 following a three-day strike, and the disputes between the Teamsters and company officials will be decided by an arbitrator later this week.

Some 250 workers at USF Reddaway’s terminal on Etiwanda Avenue went on strike Friday morning, claiming the company had failed to negotiate a first contract with Teamsters leaders. Workers at a second facility, in Compton, went on strike to protest the Fontana situation.

Randy Korgan, business agent for Rialto-based Teamsters Local 63, said a majority of the workers signed cards in February stating that they wanted to join the union. Workers at other sites for the trucking company already are working under union contracts.

Full Story Here........

Fire at YRC Freight in Copley closes roads, causes evacuation

Four 165-pound containers of dimethyl ether, a flammable gas, in the loading dock at the YRC Freight trucking terminal in Copley were on fire the late morning of Aug. 9.
Copley Police Chief Michael Mier said the fire was called in about 9:15 a.m. and caused the closure of portions of South Cleveland-Massillon Road, as well as Copley Road. Children at the nearby Kids Academy of Copley child care center were evacuated to Copley High School, and nearby businesses also were given the option to evacuate as a precaution.

Mier said several fire departments were hosing down the containers and surrounding buildings as a precaution, and they were still there as of noon. The Summit County Hazardous Material Response Team was on scene.

“We are letting it burn itself out,” said Mier.
YRC employee Pete Venturini said one man suffered minor burns, but “he was all right.”

“We heard a noise and then a boom and saw fire coming out of the trailer,” said Venturini. “Everyone was running. It was very scary.”

Venturini said company officials were sending everyone home.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to officials.

Holland, Reddaway and New Penn Receive Quest for Quality Awards for Performance Excellence

The readers of Logistics Management magazine have honored Holland, New Penn and Reddaway as the "best of the best" with 2013 Quest for Quality Awards. All three operating companies of YRC Worldwide were recognized for their exceptional on-time performance, value, information technology, customer service, equipment and operations in 2013.

Holland was presented with the 2013 Midwest/Mid-Atlantic Regional LTL Motor Carriers award and the South/South Central Regional LTL Motor Carriers award, as well as the Expedited Motor Carriers award. Holland has been a Quest for Quality award winner for 28 consecutive years and an Expedited Motor Carriers award category winner for six consecutive years.

"The Quest for Quality awards are very important to Holland," said Scott Ware, president of Holland. "What these awards tell us is that we have been consistently successful in fulfilling all of our service goals. We are very thankful for this recognition and will continue to work hard to maintain the same award-winning performance in the future."

New Penn received its 2013 award in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional LTL Motor Carriers category. This is the 19th year that New Penn has received a Quest for Quality Award.

"There is nothing more important to New Penn than the satisfaction of our customers and industry professionals," said Steve Gast, president of New Penn. "Receiving this award is a sign that New Penn is achieving that primary goal, and the importance of such an affirmation is immense. It is to the exceptional employees at New Penn that we owe our thanks, and it is through their commitment to service and quality that we will continue to excel in the years to come."

Reddaway was the proud recipient of the 2013 Quest for Quality Award in the Western Regional LTL Motor Carriers category. This marks the 20th year that Reddaway has received a Quest for Quality award.

"We are very pleased to be receiving this recognition," said T.J. O'Connor, president of Reddaway. "Quest for Quality awards are based on thorough evaluations by individuals within the industry and are an excellent means of gauging company performance. We would like to thank Logistics Management for this honor, and also our dedicated employees for serving as the foundation for all of our successes."

"What makes the Quest for Quality Awards stand out in the market is the fact that the winners are determined by the readers of Logistics Management--the buyers of logistics and transportation services who put these carriers and service providers to work around the clock and around the globe," said Michael Levans, Group Editorial Director of Peerless Media, LLC., the publisher of Logistics Management.

"And when you consider the challenging operating environment in which our nation's transportation services providers have been operating over the past 12 months, our editorial staff agrees that walking away with a Quest for Quality Award in 2013 is nothing less than a tremendous achievement."

Dallas road driver Jerry Gowdy is YRC Freight's newest 4-million miler

Jerry Gowdy, Dallas linehaul driver, is a person who sees the glass as half full as opposed to half empty.

Jerry, who joined the company in April 1973 and has been in Dallas since 1981, recently reached a milestone achieved by only 13 active YRC Freight drivers—4-million miles without a preventable accident.

The secret to his success is no secret at all: He relies on a tried-and-true formula—driving defensively, being aware of his surroundings, making sure he gets enough rest, remaining patient at all times and never being in a hurry. But just as important as those fundamentals of safe driving, and the thing he mentions again and again, is the need to have a positive attitude at all times.

"You have got to have a positive attitude every day," he said. "You can't take your problems at home to work. I try to be as safe as I can. I watch for things in front of me and make sure I stay out of the way."

Jerry's positive attitude extends to non-driving aspects of the job, such as getting along with co-workers and appreciating the job company leaders are doing to compete in the marketplace.

"I've been driving 40 years and still feel good," says Jerry who will be 74 this month and says that in the late 60s his dispatcher was the father of current YRCW CEO James Welch. "I've got no plans to retire because I enjoy what I do, and things at YRC Freight are improving."

YRC Worldwide Reports Second Quarter Results

Regionals Deliver another Solid Quarter
YRC Freight Completes Network Optimization

 YRC Worldwide Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter 2013.

Consolidated operating revenue for the second quarter ending June 30, 2013 was $1.243 billion, or 0.7% lower than the $1.251 billion reported in the second quarter of 2012 and consolidated operating income decreased slightly from $15.5 million to $14.3 million, or by $1.2 million.  Operating income in 2013 included a $1.3 million loss on asset disposals compared to $6.5 million gain on asset disposals in 2012.

The company reported, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2013 of $74.7 million, a $4.6 million improvement over the $70.1 million adjusted EBITDA reported for the second quarter of 2012 (as detailed in the reconciliation below).  Included in adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2013 is a $6.3 million charge related to the network optimization that was implemented at YRC Freight in May 2013.

"As we move through 2013, we continue to make steady progress on our long-term objective of regaining a leadership position in the LTL industry.  In the second quarter, we paved the way for future success by making investments in newly leased tractors and trailers, completing the rollout of mobile handheld productivity devices for our city drivers, and completing the second largest network optimization in YRC Freight history," said YRC Worldwide CEO James Welch.  "While the Regionals continue to excel in their markets, YRC Freight faced some headwinds during the implementation of the network optimization plan.  We recorded a one-time charge of $6.3 million related to the network optimization, which is a small investment in what we anticipate will be approximately $25 to $30 million in annual savings," added Welch.

"As we have said before, 2012 was a year of progress and 2013 is the year of performance, and we continue to deliver on that performance.  Going forward, we remain focused on delivering incremental productivity improvements, consistent service and equally strong operational results.  We are confident in the position of our company and believe we have opportunity to grow the business, improve profitability and deliver high-quality service for our customers," stated Welch.


"Additionally, we continue to see positive results from the safety initiatives we started in late 2011. The overall frequency of our workers' compensation claims is continuing to decline while we also continue to settle more claims than are filed. The net result is a reduction in the number of open claims and a reduction in our associated liabilities and outstanding letters of credit supporting these programs.  In the second quarter alone, we were able to decrease our outstanding letters of credit by $43 million or 10% from $429 million to $386 million," said Welch.

Full Report Here............

TEAMSTERS STILL QUESTION MEXICAN TRUCK SAFETY DESPITE COURT DECISION

D.C. Circuit Court Of Appeals Refuses Rehearing

The Teamsters today questioned the safety of Mexican trucks after a federal court refused to rehear the union’s challenge to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s cross-border truck pilot program.

The Teamsters in June had asked for a rehearing on the decision in May by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The appeals panel upheld the legality of the program.

The Teamsters argued a rehearing is necessary “because the panel’s dismissal of Petitioners’ claims … conflicts with decisions of this Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.” The court on Friday issued an amended decision that used an alternative basis for its ruling that Mexico-domiciled trucks do not have to comply with certain federal safety certification requirements. . Nothing in the amended decision suggests Mexican trucks are safe.

The Teamsters will consider their legal options and continue to monitor the progress of DOT’s cross-border trucking program. In May, the Teamsters joined highway safety advocates in expressing concern about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) oversight of the Mexican trucks allowed to travel freely on U.S. highways. Those concerns included:

Two Mexican carriers created a new affiliate to disguise an abysmal safety record; that was not disclose to FMCSA, but the agency nevertheless allowed the affiliate to participate in the pilot program.

FMCSA allowed two Mexican carriers to continue in the pilot program even though they received a less-than-satisfactory rating in their safety compliance review.

FMCSA promised two years ago that it would conduct a peer review to evaluate the design of the pilot program. It has yet to do so.

The Teamsters question whether there are enough carriers in the pilot program to reach a reliable conclusion about the likely impact of Mexican trucks on U.S. highway safety. According to DOT’s inspector general in September of last year, FMCSA estimated that it needed at least 46 carriers to be inspected 4,100 times within 3 years to provide a statistically valid analysis.  The inspector general’s report was written when only four carriers had been granted long-haul operating authority and only 52 inspections had been performed beyond the commercial zone.

With a little over a year to go, the three-year pilot program now has only 12 carriers with 44 trucks. More carriers have dropped out or were dismissed from the program – a total of 13 – than are currently participating.

Professional Truck Driver is Named a Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel

At first, the North Little Rock, Arkansas resident saw what he thought was debris fall out of the back of a pickup. The “debris” turned out to be a young boy.

Professional truck drivers see a lot of interesting things on the road. Take, for example, Shelly York of North Little Rock, Arkansas, who drives for ABF Freight System, Inc., of Fort Smith, Arkansas. When he came across an unusual situation involving a young boy, his response was brought to the attention of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). York is now TCA’s latest Highway Angel.

On April 5, 2013, at about 4 p.m., York was driving northbound on Smokey Lane near the ABF terminal in North Little Rock. Ahead, he saw something that looked like debris fall out of the back of a pickup truck. However, as he got closer, he recalls his shock as he “looked over and said to myself, ‘That’s a kid!’”

Apparently, the 8- or 9-year-old boy had run behind the pickup and attempted to hoist himself onto it. He was unable to hold on and fell off, striking his head and back on the asphalt. He now lay on the road, twisted in pain. Because of the way he was positioned, the child looked more like an inanimate object than a human being, so York feared that oncoming traffic might unknowingly hit him.

York immediately put on his flashers and used his truck to protect the boy from oncoming vehicles. He then went to the other lane of traffic and rerouted vehicles away from the area. He remained on the scene until emergency responders arrived and took over.

"In the past, I’ve helped folks who have had car trouble, but I’ve never had anything like this!" says York, who has been driving for about 40 years.

For stopping to help the child, York has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. ABF Freight System, Inc., also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.

YRC Freight Sends 24 Professional Drivers to the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships

YRC Freight, a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc., announced today that 24 of its professional drivers will compete at the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC). The competition will be held August 20 -- 24 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

"We thank our remarkable team of drivers for their continued commitment to safety and congratulate all on their participation in this competition," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "We are dedicated to serving our customers, delivering confidence with every shipment, every day. As demonstrated by the number of drivers competing in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships, we are an organization Powered by Professionals and take pride in everything we do."

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

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 2013 National Truck Driving Championships:

Driver	State	Class
Scott Archer	Illinois	Straight truck
Brian Briske	Montana	5-axle
Don Conklin	Indiana	Tanker
Kevin Dean	Georgia	3-axle
John Estep	Illinois	Tanker
Duane Foreman	Minnesota	Tanker
Robbie Granstrom	Oklahoma	5-axle sleeper
George Hale	Mississippi	Straight truck
Dave Hall	Arkansas	4-axle
Mark Hewitt	Ohio	4-axle
Jude Hurst	Kentucky	Twins
Willie Johnson	Mississippi	3-axle
Jerry Jordan	California	5-axle
Henry Mahler	Florida	Flatbed
Duane Maroney	Minnesota	Twins
Tim McNamee	Minnesota	5-axle
Wilson Meier	New York	5-axle
Larry Menter	Maine	Twins
David Messmer	Arizona	4-axle
Neil Nogues	New Hampshire	Straight truck
Jack Rojas	New Mexico	3-axle
Tim Smith	Utah	Flatbed
Paul Unser	Idaho	Flatbed
Robert Williams	Colorado	4-axle

20 ABF Drivers Set to Compete in National Truck Driving Championships

ABF is sending 20 champion drivers, including five grand champions, to the National Truck Driving Championships, August 20-24, 2013, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The drivers earned the right to compete in the national championships by winning first place in their respective state driving championships and by maintaining accident-free driving records for the preceding year.

“These drivers are part of a team dedicated to safe driving and devoted to upholding the highest standards of professionalism,” said ABF President and CEO Roy Slagle. “The great reputation ABF enjoys as a safe and reliable carrier is a reflection of the drive and dedication of these outstanding employees.”

Representing ABF at the 2013 national competition will be a father/son team, Travis Gibson, who won rookie of the year honors, and John R. Gibson of West Virginia. This is the first time ABF has been represented by father/son champions. They will be joined by Steve Smalley, Arizona; Loren Hatfield (grand champion), Arkansas; Tony Spero, Connecticut; Tim Melody (grand champion) and Scott Scheuffele, Idaho; Don Nichols, Maryland; Chuck Colin (grand champion), Minnesota; Ed Beins (grand champion), Nebraska; Gerald Benavidez, Michael Contreras, Charlie Estrada, Ralph Garcia and Ricky Lucas, New Mexico; Allen McNeely, North Carolina; John M. Davis, Virginia; and Tom Martin, John Dill and Andrew Walston (grand champion), Wyoming.

The National Truck Driving Championships is hosted each year by the American Trucking Associations. Dating to 1937 when it was known as the National Truck Roadeo, the competition is now known informally as the "Super Bowl of Safety."

New Penn Sets One-Year Injury-Free Safety Milestone At Three Terminals

Employees at New Penn terminals located in Rochester, N.Y.; Springfield, Mass. and Buffalo, N.Y. were recently honored for achieving new safety milestones. These facilities have all passed the one year mark injury-free–a record that continues to hold true today. These safety accomplishments were achieved by the attentive focus and determination of dockworkers, drivers, sales personnel and management.

Rochester, N.Y. reached its one-year milestone on June 21. Springfield, Mass. promptly followed on June 25. Then Buffalo, N.Y. hit their mark on June 28. A total of over 145 employees across these three terminals were honored for their commitment to safety and are receiving commemorative jackets citing the safety record, their terminal name and state. These safety successes were earned during a year filled with blizzards, floods and severe weather making a safety record even more impressive.

“We are incredibly proud of these safety commitments,” said Steve Gast, New Penn President. “Safety is second-to-none. To be able to encompass an entire year injury-free is truly an incredible accomplishment. These successes come from having the very best and safest employees in the industry as well as a corporate culture that places safety as Number One. We thank all of the New Penn employees in Rochester, Springfield and Buffalo for giving their best, day in and day out, to make New Penn the leader in safety, quality handling, on-time performance and next-day delivery.”

“This safety milestone is a result of everyone working together,” said Wayne Waldron, Springfield Terminal Manager. “We advocate safety daily. Our drivers and dockworkers bring safety to the forefront so everyone stays safe and healthy. Each day we ask them to consider their own well-being as well as the health of others. Our employees show the same level of care they would want others to show to keep everyone’s families safe. It’s these safe working practices that enable us to meet our industry-leading service commitments for our customers and safely return home to our families after every shift. That’s what it’s all about.”

Four other New Penn facilities have also celebrated their one-year milestones in the past year. New Penn officers credit ongoing safety initiatives, training programs, employee commitment and workplace policies as reasons for ongoing success. Programs consist of training videos, sophisticated weather and roadway monitoring technologies, regular safety meetings and more.

ABF Teamster Employees Ratify Five-Year National Labor Agreement

Majority of contract supplements also ratified
Company expects remaining supplements to be resolved and re-voted in near term

Arkansas Best Corporation reported that its ABF Freight System, Inc., employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, have ratified ABF’s national collective bargaining agreement for the next five years, a critical step in helping return ABF to its historic profitability.

A majority of the supplements to the ABF National Master Freight Agreement also passed. The remaining supplemental agreements that require additional action cover various local work rule and other technical items and do not affect the major economic terms that are covered by the now-ratified ABF NMFA. Voter turnout was strong, with more than 6,100 ballots cast and counted.

“We are very pleased that our Teamster employees have ratified the ABF NMFA, which is a critical step to putting ABF back on the path to profitability while still preserving the best-paying jobs and benefits in the industry,” said ABF Freight System President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Slagle. “We know this was a difficult decision for our union workforce, following many sacrifices made in recent years by our non-union employees, and we look forward to resolving the remaining supplements in the near term.”

Judy R. McReynolds, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer, added that the new contract at ABF, once concluded, is just one of many corporate initiatives underway to deliver superior value to customers and shareholders through an expanding array of logistics and transportation solutions.

“As we near the end of this contract negotiation process, we are looking forward not only to a more efficient, profitable ABF but also to continued strong contributions from our non-asset-based, emerging businesses,” McReynolds said. “With the addition of premium logistics provider Panther Expedited Services a year ago and continued investments in technology and people, our emerging businesses are all poised for additional revenue growth and greater cross-selling opportunities both within our existing ABF customer base and throughout the broader transportation marketplace.”

TEAMSTERS APPROVE NATIONAL ABF AGREEMENT

Union Will Talk To Members In Areas Where Supplements Were Rejected

Teamsters employed at ABF Freight System, Inc. have voted to approve the national master portion of the ABF National Master Freight Agreement as well as 21 of the 27 supplements. Some local/area supplemental agreements, however, were rejected and issues in those areas must be addressed before the national agreement can be implemented.

“We understand the sacrifices our ABF members are making,” said Gordon Sweeton, Co-Chairman of the National ABF Negotiating Committee (TNFINC). “We will work on obtaining approval of those supplements that were not approved.”

The Teamster negotiating committees responsible for the supplements that were not approved by a majority of voting members will be talking with the members in those areas. In the meantime, the Teamsters Union will schedule meetings to engage the company in further negotiations to achieve our members’ objectives.

“Once ratified, the national contract will protect our members’ health, welfare and pension benefits and will also give the company the ability to compete in a very tough trucking environment, which is good for ABF and the long-term job security of our members,” Sweeton said.

The contract calls for a 7 percent wage reduction, but the reduction will be entirely recouped by the fifth year of the five-year contract.