James Welch Named CEO of YRC Worldwide

YRC Worldwide said it has named transportation industry veteran James Welch its new CEO, effective immediately, following the company’s restructuring.

Welch was CEO of YRC’s Yellow Transportation unit from 2000-2007. He was named CEO of YRC Worldwide following completion of its restructuring plan, the less-than-truckload carrier said in a statement after close of business Friday.

YRC said earlier Friday afternoon it had completed the restructuring plan, after which former CEO Bill Zollars stepped down from the position.

Welch was most recently CEO of Dynamex Inc.; his recent resignation from that company was effective Friday. Dynamex, with logistics operations in the U.S. and Canada, was acquired by Canadian carrier TransForce earlier this year.

“This is an exciting and challenging time for YRC Worldwide, and I am pleased to have been chosen to move the company forward,” Welch said in a statement.

“This restructuring gives YRC Worldwide the liquidity and flexibility to refocus on its historical strengths — unparalleled customer service and transportation excellence,” he said. “Those are the attributes that made YRC Worldwide the market leader and they will be the focus of this company again under my leadership.”

YRC is ranked No. 4 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.