The Boeing Co. has decided against hiring an outside trucking firm to move jet parts. The decision to keep its trucking unit, Licensed Transportation and Traffic, afloat saved the jobs of about 500 truckers, freight managers and staff members.
The unit is responsible for shuttling jet engines, wings and other parts around western Washington, Kansas and other locales.
"At this time, we've decided not to use an outside company to help us implement needed changes. We have decided instead to explore other options and approaches," Dan Zust, director of the Licensed Transportation and Traffic unit, said in a message to employees.
The move comes at a critical time for Boeing's Teamsters, since talks over a new contract opened yesterday, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The current contract expires April 1.
