Yellow Freight closure thread

We've had to erase some political comments from this thread. If you want to discuss politics you can do it here...... https://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/forums/politics.131/

The password is thickskin.

 

So this is how it went down in Columbia SC (USF Holland terminal).

I came in just like any other day but things were slow. At this point work was on nobodies mind. Both management and teamsters were huddle in small circles discussing what is about to happen. My TM was locked inside his office for several hours. He briefly came out once or twice to grab something but he didn't say much, if anything to anyone. He just went back in and closed the door behind him.

I talked to management and they didn't know anything either. The mood got more anxious as the time started ticking down. At one point we had four hours left until Yellow paid our insurance to fund Central to avoid the strike. Those hours started to dwindle fast. Finally at 2:49 EST my TM came out of the office and told my dispatcher that he just got word from a conference call that the judge ruled in favour of the Teamsters. "Our drivers have been given the green light to strike on Monday. I need you to call every P&D driver that's still out there, make them stop what they are doing and have them come back to the terminal". He then left back to his office.

Reality was sinking in fast. Now what? We still had time for Yellow to fund the H/W and prevent a strike, but that announcement never came. Our outbound got multiple phone calls canceling runs. "We are no longer running Nashville. Outbound clocked in at 3 PM, heard the news and the entire terminal walked off the job."

Then people started calling us. Other carriers that interline their freight with us trying to track it down. Obviously they also followed our demise. Good luck getting a hold of your stuff our outbound supervisor told them.

For whatever stupid reason they still ran a skeleton crew of linehaul. I protested the idea since the stuff that came in was consolidated at the terminal and should be sent back to the shipper. Not sure why I cared. This was my last shift.

A lot of hugs, handshakes, and fist bumps. Both my dispatcher and I got a bit teary eyed when we realized this was our final shift together.

....so, since you are no longer my supervisor, we should do a BBQ together (he lives five miles from me)

"Hell yeah brother! Bring your own meat though. I wouldn't trust anything that I'm cooking if I don't get a new paycheck going. It might be my neighbors dog and y'all don't want any of that."

He, along with the managers are still tasked with protecting the building in 8 hour shifts 24 hours a day. My dispatcher still insists on grilling some burgers and hotdogs by the picket line and selling the food and cold bottles of water for $5. He since added bringing in those plastic kiddie pools and letting my former coworkers splash for 10 minutes for $5 as they bake in the heat.

I ended my shift the way I wrote about it earlier a few days ago. We moved some trailers around and closed up the gate. For the first time the five of us that were left gave each other hugs ...not the kind you would do to a buddy you run into at a mall, but an embrace like someone you haven't seen in a long time. Numbers got exchanged like I predicted. We were a tight crew and we got really close.

The last thing I did was I walked to my old P&D truck. My old 2006 International 6400i. I've inherited the truck from someone that retired two years ago. I placed it out of service dozens of times. They gradually fixed her up to where enough parts were replaced to where it was running really well. I climbed in one last time and reflected on all the time I spent with #26016; all the places we went, the people we met, all the crappy situations we got ourself into, and how I was in tears when a stupid tree took out the driver side portion of the airdam. I literally sat there for a good 10 minutes like I was getting ready to start a shift. We've been through a lot. It might seem silly. But as I got out one final time I placed my hand on the door and said "goodbye old friend. I hope someone else will take good care of you. I want to take you with me, but I doubt my HOA will allow it and I would look terrible in an orange jumpsuit. You might be a piece of crap, but you are my piece of crap."

Not sure how to conclude this. I guess I could take some swipes at YRC and the union for getting us this far, but I don't have the energy anymore.

I snapped a few pictures of my dock, truck, and some random stuff that I wanted to share as this all collapses.

Thanks for all the love and support and reading this.

 

I'm facing a similar situation in three weeks. Union or not, whatever the circumstances, it's heartbreaking. May the Good Lord bless and keep you and yours, brother.

 

I got pretty crushed today. Breaks my heart for all of us that lost our jobs. I don't want a single person to go through what I am going through. And for you to have to throw your hat in the ring is beyond comprehension at this point.

You are a great dude ànd I hate the idea of being in a similar predicament as me. DM me if you ever need anything. I have zero reservations about sharing social media or even a phone # with you.

I am in a tough and scary place right now. Let me know if you need anything my friend.

 

I don't post that often but want to wish all the workers affected by this the best of luck.

When I got forced into an early retirement from driving due to an unforeseen medical condition I had the same feelings cleaning my truck out and leaving the terminal. It sucks when it isn't on your terms.

 

@road_runner When you fell into a routine you felt comfortable and at home..it got shook up. Now you’re going to have change. The good things are, even though you may think otherwise or have angst, we are adaptable and can handle the change. If you’re pursuing your next adventure to be a driving job, you are an experienced driver with a pick up and delivery skills. Even though we are in a downturn, another adventure awaits you. You are not a new driver with a whole bunch of tickets times are tough for those, not for you. You will now be able to freely move to your next adventure, without being held back by anxieties of yellow.

I know this is a stressful time and you will miss the relationships you have built at yellow and the teamsters. It’s like your under a storm cloud.-But those always eventually move along and sunshine will takes its place.

 

I would like to echo the sentiments given above in post #426 -- well worded there, I might add.

Speaking from a hazmat tanker and fuel hauler viewpoint -- there is actually still other good opportunity out there -- for someone like you that is an experienced driver, with all those CDL endorsements. Your potential going forward is limited only by your imagination, and also the type(s) of freight that you are willing to pull.

Change -- on the front end -- is indeed hard; but later on, you'll look back on all this...and be glad you did.

Been there, done that....

-- L

 

Who funded the pension the union or yellow itself as a private entity?
What are the teamsters or union doing to get people union jobs and retain their pensions or fight for the unfortunate tenured fired teamsters?

 

What would you do if there wasn't a union?

 

I worked for Reddaway for 16 months between February 2018 to July 2019. In that time, I worked at 3 different terminals across 3 different states. I saw it as a step down in my career. A choice I made simply for the ease of moving to new places. A temporary paycheck source. I couldn't have known how much more my time under the Yellow umbrella would bring me.

During my time at Reddaway, I moved out of my home state for the first time. It allowed me to grow a relationship with the woman I now call my wife, and the mother of my daughter, with baby #2 on the way. I made more money than I had expected to, enough to buy my first home, and transfer a second time to the third state I would call my home. If not for that first home purchase, I wouldn't have had the tools necessary to purchase the home I live in now. I wouldn't be standing where I do right now without this company.

When I resigned, it was strangely bittersweet. The tractors I drove were old and rickety, yet somehow still running. The trailers were often patched up with little more than duct tape, but I'd celebrate when my set of triples had all its lights functioning. I learned how to chain up, learned how to drive (or rather slide) on black ice, and gave me the skills and confidence I now use to thrive at another LTL company. I joined Reddaway as an entitled kid with a CDL, but I left with a serious helping of humility and wisdom. I'm grateful for that. And as much as I could see Yellow's demise from miles away, it still hurts to see them fall, and to see the pain it's brought to the scores of employees.

road_runner, you and the rest of my former Yellow family have my deepest condolences. I hope soon, you can peer out from the dark to see that brighter days are on the horizon.