What's new

ABF | 004-Little Rock Is Probably Moving To 009-Memphis

Steward of the Rock

Steward of the Rock

TB Veteran
Credits
720
All three shifts here at 004 had a meeting on Wednesday the 14th, and we were told that ABF had contacted city officials in Memphis to see what kind of tax breaks/incentives they could get if they moved the break bulk at Little Rock to Memphis. Apparently, they have already broken ground at the Memphis location building a new dock and shop. The meetings were held by our Branch Manager (Scott T.) and the regional vice president (Steve W.). Local #878 Business Agent (John G.) was also present for the afternoon meeting. According to Steve W. and Scott T., the final descision will not be announced until late June, but the way it was being told, it sounded like it was pretty much a done deal. They intend to keep just enough people here at 004 to run the city (maybe 20 to 25 people) and the rest will have to dove-tail in at Memphis or go on the hold roster for Little Rock. That means that roughly 80-city/dock employees, 160-road employees, 90-shop employees, and up to 6-clerical employees will have to dove-tail in at Memphis, go on the hold roster, or retire/resign. I know that no one in Little Rock is happy about this news, but the Memphis employees are going to be drastically affected by this as well because the seniority roster at Little Rock has more senior employees than Memphis does (at least on the city/dock classification. This is not good news for any employees in Little Rock or Memphis and hopefully by late June they will change their minds, but it sure sounded like their minds were made up in the meetings.
 
I'm Memphis Holland city driver and was told this by a ABF driver yesterday. He also added that this was just a starting point to the many changes that are coming. Hard to believe they would expand the Memphis term (bad area) when they have that large term in Little Rock. A few of our drivers were thinking about leaving Holland for ABF, but this might make them think twice.
 
Good luck guys. What a way to start the summer.
 
It might just be a starting point, buckle your seatbelts,it's going to be a bumpy ride !!! ( unless you are with panther or a purchase transport contracted company,then you are safe). That is why all my uniform purchases were pants and shorts !!!! No company logos !!!
 
Unless the company has more real estate in Memphis/West Memphis than I am aware of it will have to squeeze a lot into a small space. When the terminal in NLR was being planned a number of cities courted the company to locate in their cities because of the tax base & impact on the economy. Memphis was one of these towns along with Oklahoma City. Memphis makes sense for a break bulk because of it's location. If this takes place 878 will suffer greatly. I hope something can be worked out to save at least part of 004. Maybe the city of NLR will do something to keep the tax base there. If the move is done I think the 45 acres on Springhill Drive will be sold & a small terminal would be built or the company would move into some existing terminal. There are several available in the LR area. The terminal is sitting on prime real estate & it will easily sell because of the development around the hospital. I can see a new mall being built on the property. Springhill Drive is a high traffic count road.
 
DCM_Doc said:
Unless the company has more real estate in Memphis/West Memphis than I am aware of it will have to squeeze a lot into a small space. When the terminal in NLR was being planned a number of cities courted the company to locate in their cities because of the tax base & impact on the economy. Memphis was one of these towns along with Oklahoma City. Memphis makes sense for a break bulk because of it's location. If this takes place 878 will suffer greatly. I hope something can be worked out to save at least part of 004. Maybe the city of NLR will do something to keep the tax base there. If the move is done I think the 45 acres on Springhill Drive will be sold & a small terminal would be built or the company would move into some existing terminal. There are several available in the LR area. The terminal is sitting on prime real estate & it will easily sell because of the development around the hospital. I can see a new mall being built on the property. Springhill Drive is a high traffic count road.
Click to expand...


What the fort was saying is they are shopping for tax breaks for the break bulk in 009

I would like to know what they plan to do with west bound freight out of 009?

I am aware of the the 009 120 meet what are the plans for all the people that have been hired at 073?
 
Been a way for a while but here goes. Currently Memphis has bids that flip LR twice. LR then runs west to Amarillo who then turns Albuquerque. . The plan maybe is to run Memphis to OK city 580 miles and Albuquerque to OK city 530 miles.Chicago can't make LR now but could go straight down I 55 to Memphis.Memphis may become primary to all terminals within 600 miles. Watch out Atl Nashville Knoxville Jackson. The bigger picture is McReynolds. she has already commented that drivers make too much money. Last contract she came up with the UE driver. Now look how much road freight and how many meet and turns they do instead of the road drivers. I could be wrong but most are hourly wages.that wasn't good enough so now we have shiny wheels hauling our stuff everywhere.
 
There may be a bidding war between Memphis & Mississippi on tax breaks/credits for the terminal. It would be very possible to locate a terminal across the Mississippi state line. I still don't think ABF has enough real estate in Memphis for a terminal large enough for a break bulk of this size even with the six acres for sale close to the existing terminal. It will be very expensive to convert this property as reported in Memphis Business Journal. I don't know what is available on the Mississippi side but a larger tract of land would be attractive.
 
DCM_Doc said:
There may be a bidding war between Memphis & Mississippi on tax breaks/credits for the terminal. It would be very possible to locate a terminal across the Mississippi state line. I still don't think ABF has enough real estate in Memphis for a terminal large enough for a break bulk of this size even with the six acres for sale close to the existing terminal. It will be very expensive to convert this property as reported in Memphis Business Journal. I don't know what is available on the Mississippi side but a larger tract of land would be attractive.
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention that because that's what OD did. We are currently in the old CF yard and are building a mammoth breakbulk on State Line Rd over in Southaven. I'm assuming it's for tax purposes and cheap land. We are packed in tight over there off Carrier Dr currently.
 
It's their own personal entitlement. Don't dare mention it to the righties though they might get upset about it.
 
It is my guess that there is a buyer for the 45 acres in NLR. That sale would help finance a terminal in Memphis/Mississippi. The company has closed the Harrison & Russellville terminals so there is no reason to think those running the company now have any sentimental attachment to anything in Arkansas. The terminals are not like a family homestead they want to preserve for memories. I am sure the company lost freight in towns where they closed terminals & no doubt will lose customers in Central Arkansas if the 004 terminal is moved. Even if the company retains a small terminal in LR customers with loyalty to locally owned businesses will think the company has abandoned the state.
Many NLR employees say they will not move to Memphis due to living conditions there & having established a life in Arkansas. Those who can retire will do so & others will just move on to another job.
I don't see any way the company can add capacity to handle all of the freight & employees from NLR in the near future unless there is an existing facility for sale in the Memphis area.
 
Their probably counting on people not to take the transfer so they can hire new people at a lower rate and no vacations. It's called "Shaking the tree" just think of how much money they could save by this move!
 
That's exactly what they want ,Dog. Guys with 4 or 5 weeks to retire and replace the dock workers with non CdL holders at 70%. Look at the article on Memphis business journal from last night. Love the comment by Abf's vice President that there will be opportunities for "those who are absent a high school diploma". Shows how low they are willing to stoop. Keep the " new applicants "below 30 hours and save on all the benefits too. Unreal
 
It will be interesting to see what the "freight shrinkage" numbers will rise to with the "absent a high school diploma " workforce
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top