William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jun 21, 2012 1:31PM EDT
YRC Worldwide regional carrier Holland plans to hire 450 truck drivers to meet rising shipper demand for next-day less-than-truckload service.
The Holland, Mich.-based trucking operator said it will hire over-the-road and local city drivers at locations throughout its Midwestern territory in coming months.
Holland’s hiring drive follows one launched by long-haul sister carrier YRC Freight in May. The Overland Park, Kan.-based company is hiring 200 truck drivers.
Holland is the largest carrier in YRC Worldwide’s regional group, which also includes New Penn Motor Express in the Northeast and Reddaway in the West.
The LTL carrier is benefiting from resurgent automotive business and a related recovery in manufacturing in the Midwest that is helping to fill trailers.
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index rose 12 percent year-over-year in April, while national manufacturing output increased 5.8 percent.
Last year, Holland hired 750 drivers. The carrier has hired almost 300 drivers so far this year, while adding more than 100 tractors and 450 trailers to its fleet.
The YRC regional carrier group had an $11.4 million operating profit in the first quarter and increased revenue 9.8 percent from a year ago to $402 million.
The regional group increased its revenue per hundredweight or yield 4.5 percent in the quarter as total tonnage rose 5.2 percent and shipments 3.5 percent.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc.
