The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and ABF Freight have reached a tentative deal on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, the union and carrier announced Wednesday evening.

The proposed contract for about 8,600 drivers, dockworkers and other ABF Teamsters includes wage increases, improved benefits and better working conditions, “among other gains,” according to the union.

“This tentative agreement is a testament to our hard work, strength, and determination at the bargaining table,” Teamsters National Freight Director John Murphy said in a statement.

ABF Freight, owned by ArcBest Corp., plans to provide additional updates in the coming weeks, ArcBest VP of Investor Relations David Humphrey said in a statement.

“We are pleased with this successful outcome for our employees, our customers and other stakeholders who rely on us and thank everyone for their continued patience as we work toward full contract ratification,” a company spokesperson told Transport Dive in an email. 

The tentative deal was reached within two weeks of Teamsters members raising the stakes by voting 97% in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary.

Union representatives are scheduled to meet in Chicago next week to review the tentative deal before sending it to the membership for a ratification vote. Once ratified by the union’s rank-and-file members, the new labor contract would replace the existing one, which was set to expire at the end of this month.

Union leaders had pledged to “fight like hell” on behalf of members in the negotiations, which began at the end of March and took place alongside separate contract negotiations at other unionized LTL carriers.

“I can confidently say that we did just that,” Murphy said.