YRC May Close 31 Terminals

YRC plans to close 31 terminals in the Midwest, South and East, ratcheting back its total terminal network to about 320 facilities.

The less-than-truckload carrier identified the terminals in a proposed change of operations filed with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Nov. 12.

The terminal closings would eliminate 186 linehaul driving jobs and 261 local cartage jobs, though other terminals would gain road and cartage driving jobs.

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Some sleeper lanes will be eliminated or modified, along with other lanes affected by the terminal closings. Employees at closed terminals will be offered work elsewhere according to seniority, YRC said in its proposal.

The biggest job gains would be in Kansas City, Mo., Valdosta, Ga., and Memphis.

"It is imperative that operations within YRC terminals continue to be consolidated as quickly as possible, thus eliminating inefficiency in the network," YRC said.

In a Nov. 5 conference call, YRC President Michael J. Smid said the national LTL carrier might eventually pare back its network to about 300 terminals.

"There will be some continued consolidation of facilities as we work through this year into the next," Smid told investment analysts.

When asked if the goal might be a 300 terminal network, Smid said, "We will continue to work toward that number. Eventually it will be slightly less than that."

YRC Worldwide sold $36 million in excess property in the third quarter, when it reported a $62 million net loss on $1.13 billion in revenue.

-- Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.