A significant logistics firm announced plans this week to eliminate over 200 truck driver and warehouse positions at its locations in Washington and Oregon by March 31.
Penske Logistics, based in Reading, Pennsylvania, submitted Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notices in both states on Tuesday, according to Alen Beljin, the company’s senior public relations manager.
Overview of WARN Notices
Under federal law, WARN notices require companies to give employees a 60-day warning about potential plant closures or large-scale layoffs.
Reason for Layoffs
The anticipated layoffs, which are expected to be permanent, stem from a decision by Penske Logistics’ client Republic National Distribution Co. (RNDC) to take on the work Penske has been handling at its facilities in Washington and Oregon, as stated by Beljin to FreightWaves.
About Republic National Distribution Co.
RNDC, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, is among the leading wholesale alcohol distributors in the country and has been privately owned since its establishment in 1898.
Penske Logistics Workforce
Penske Logistics employs nearly 8,800 drivers and operates about 7,300 power units, as reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER website. Across the globe, the company has around 21,000 employees in total.
Employee Opportunities
Beljin mentioned that the forthcoming transition was communicated to employees ahead of the state filing dates. He added, “Workers on this account with Penske Logistics will have the chance to apply for positions directly with RNDC.” The company is collaborating with RNDC to streamline this process, ensuring workers have opportunities for continuous employment.
Impact in Oregon
While Washington does not make WARN Act letters public or specify the number of positions affected by layoffs, Oregon does provide this information. In Oregon, 78 positions are impacted by the layoffs, with 67 located in Portland and the rest in Bend, Eugene, and Medford. According to the WARN notice acquired by FreightWaves, 36 of those affected in Oregon are truck drivers and 22 are warehouse employees.
