XPO Logistics is offering voluntary furloughs to drivers and dockworkers at some of the carrier’s terminals around the country during the holidays, the company confirmed to Transport Dive Wednesday.
“As we've done in the past, some of our terminals are doing local voluntary furloughs to right-size their teams over the holidays,” an XPO spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
While the furloughs being offered are based on softening volumes at the terminals, XPO did not disclose which locations would be affected or how many furloughs the company is seeking. It projected tonnage would increase YoY in Q4, and it expects any employee who takes a furlough to be brought back by the end of January.
The Greenwich, Connecticut-based LTL carrier is far from alone in pulling back on labor costs as economic conditions worsen. Yellow, J.B. Hunt, Knight-Swift, Werner and others have turned their attention to finding savings in the face of lower freight demand.
FedEx Freight on Nov. 12 confirmed voluntary furloughs, citing “current business conditions impacting volumes.” It also offered permanent transfer opportunities for eligible employees to other markets with hiring needs.
Others have pulled a last-resort lever to lower their headcount. C.H. Robinson laid off approximately 650 workers, the company confirmed to Transport Dive on Nov. 11, citing the need for cost-cutting amid changing market conditions.
