Home Depot, a popular big box retailer, reassured Kiplinger that its extensive and diversified supply chain is capable of withstanding disruptions, including the recent shutdown of Yellow, one of its transportation partners. The company stated that it is always prepared for potential disruptions and has numerous partners, allowing it to be flexible and agile in such situations. Home Depot even managed to navigate through significant disruptions during the pandemic, successfully handling high volumes of business. Yellow, which is the third-largest less-than-truckload carrier in the country based on revenue, did not respond to Kiplinger’s request for comment. This carrier, previously known as YRC Worldwide, has a massive operation with thousands of employees, hundreds of terminals, and millions of shipments annually. Interestingly, Walmart, another customer of Yellow, chose not to comment on the situation. On July 31, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s workforce of 22,000, received notification that the company was ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy. This development came shortly after the Teamsters called off a strike that was scheduled to commence on the same day. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas had recently ruled against Yellow’s request for an injunction to prevent the Teamsters from striking due to the company’s failure to contribute to employee benefits. In response to these events, General President Sean M. O’Brien of the Teamsters expressed disappointment but pointed out the historical mismanagement of Yellow Corp. despite significant financial assistance from worker concessions and government bailouts.
Home Depot Assures It Can Handle Yellow Trucking’s Shutdown
