The recent bankruptcy filing of Yellow, a major US freight trucking company, highlights the ongoing challenges in the shipping sector. Yellow, which received a $700 million government loan through the pandemic-relief CARES Act, filed for bankruptcy just a few years after obtaining the loan. The company was engaged in heated contract negotiations with the Teamsters union representing its workforce. The bankruptcy has led to a blame game, with some politicians criticizing government bailouts that only delay the inevitable for struggling companies, while Yellow and others point to organized labor as a contributing factor.
The bankruptcy of Yellow raises concerns for its 30,000 employees, taxpayers, and consumers. It will take time to sort out Yellow's assets and deal with the remaining freight, leading to further disruptions in the supply chain. Some supply chain clients had already switched to more expensive competitors, which could result in higher consumer prices. While the closure of Yellow does not mean immediate shortages for the average consumer, it indicates that the shipping industry's challenges will persist. The trucking industry faces high operational costs, such as expensive fuel and driver pay, while also grappling with a driver shortage.
Yellow, formerly known as YRC Freight, was one of the largest less-than-load (LTL) transport companies in the US. It accounted for about 9 percent of the LTL market and was the third-largest LTL company nationally, serving various sectors, including defense, aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and healthcare.
Yellow's bankruptcy filing may not have come as a surprise to those familiar with the logistics industry. The company made expensive acquisitions in the early 2000s and suffered significant losses during the 2008 financial crisis. It almost filed for bankruptcy in subsequent years but managed to avoid it through employee pay cuts. Signs of Yellow's impending collapse emerged recently during union contract negotiations, and it struggled to make payments into the employee pension fund, leading to a decrease in delivery volume. Ultimately, the company notified the Teamsters of its decision to shut down.
The public discussion surrounding Yellow's bankruptcy has mainly focused on the $700 million government loan it received. The loan has faced scrutiny as it was intended for companies vital to US national security interests. However, a Congressional Oversight Commission report found that Yellow did not qualify for the loan based on this criterion. The report determined that other freight trucking companies could have provided the necessary delivery services to military bases. Additionally, Yellow was already in poor financial condition before the pandemic, making it ineligible for the loan. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Yellow had only repaid a small portion of the loan's principal but stated its intention to repay it in full.
In summary, Yellow's bankruptcy filing reflects the ongoing challenges in the shipping sector, including high operational costs and a driver shortage. The closure of Yellow may lead to disruptions in the supply chain and potentially higher consumer prices. The company's history and financial struggles, along with the scrutiny surrounding the government loan it received, contribute to the complexities of its bankruptcy.
Yellow's labor disputes escalated as the company faced mounting debt and financial difficulties. With about 22,000 of its 30,000 employees being union members, tensions grew during labor negotiations for the next contract. The current contract was set to expire in March 2024, but the two sides had significant differences on key issues. These included a proposed $11-per-hour pay increase over the next five years, pension fund payments, and operational changes at the company.
In June, Yellow filed a lawsuit against the union, accusing it of obstructing the company's restructuring efforts and causing a loss of $137 million. The Teamsters, however, denied the claim. The union retaliated by suing Yellow, alleging that the company had failed to provide proper notice for mass layoffs.
During the bankruptcy announcement, Yellow's CEO, Darren Hawkins, placed blame on the Teamsters, highlighting the company's struggles and criticizing the union's leadership. Hawkins suggested that the experience with the Teamsters should serve as a warning to all workers and employers.
Labor has traditionally played a significant role in the logistics industry, with a large number of UPS workers being unionized. However, the trucking industry's deregulation in the 1980s has led to a decline in unionized drivers and dock workers. Competition has increased, often favoring cheaper non-union labor. Like many others in the sector, Yellow failed to adapt to this changing landscape, which eventually caught up with the company financially.
Overall, the labor disputes, coupled with Yellow's financial challenges, contributed to the company's bankruptcy filing. The differing demands and conflicts between Yellow and the Teamsters underscore the complexities of labor relations in the logistics industry.