William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 16, 2012 1:28PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
LTL
Higher freight demand spurs recruiting drive for over-the-road jobs
Trucking giant YRC Freight is hiring 200 truck drivers in more than 10 cities across the U.S. as less-than-truckload freight demand increases at the struggling carrier.
“YRC Freight is growing and our volumes are building,” said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. Tons per day were up 3.5 percent in the first quarter at YRC Freight.
Parent company YRC Worldwide attributed the volume gains at the nationwide long-haul LTL carrier to a “moderately improving economic environment.”
The new jobs will be Teamster union jobs. YRC Freight, the largest unionized LTL carrier, saw salary, wage and benefit costs rise 5.1 percent in the first quarter.
The carrier said it recruits from more than 100 driver training schools across the U.S. and offers training for new employees in city driving and other skills.
The carrier reported a $56.1 million operating loss for the quarter, which saw YRC Freight restructure its terminal network to reduce handling and speed shipments.
The restructuring, approved by the Teamsters union, eliminated road domiciles, shifting drivers from end-of-the-line terminals to hubs, the company said.
Rogers and James Welch, CEO of $4.9 billion YRC Worldwide, are working to rebuild YRC Freight after deep losses and the merger of Yellow and Roadway in 2009.
YRC Freight lost $88.5 million in 2011, compared with $170.3 million in 2010. The nationwide carrier increased operating revenue 11 percent to $3.2 billion.
The company is hiring drivers in Albuquerque, N.M.; Akron, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Buffalo and Maybrook, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Jackson, Miss.; Kansas City, Mo.; North Indianapolis, Ind.; St. Paul, Minn; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc
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