July 28, 2006 1:50 PM, EDT

YRC Eyes Early Start for Teamsters Talks

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ess-than-truckload company YRC Worldwide Inc. said it is prepared to begin contract talks with the Teamsters Union early, Bloomberg reported Friday.

According to Bloomberg, William Zollars, chief executive officer of YRC, indicated that the company was interested in following an approach with the Teamsters union similar to the one taken by UPS Inc.

After losing business in 2002 as Teamsters negotiations approached a strike deadline, parcel giant UPS decided last month to begin talks for its current Teamster’s contract early. (Click here for previous coverage.)

Zollars said early talks would reassure customers.

YRC’s Teamsters contract expires in 2008. The carrier did not set a date for beginning negotiations, Bloomberg said.

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