T.J. O’Connor named chief operating officer of YRC Worldwide

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — YRC Worldwide has promoted T.J. O’Connor to chief operating officer effective immediately. O’Connor will report to YRC Worldwide Chief Executive Officer Darren Hawkins and will continue to serve as president of YRC Freight.

“T.J. has a strong track record of delivering operational results throughout his career at Roadway Express, Reddaway and YRC Freight,” Hawkins said. “With our network optimization initiative, combined with the recently ratified five-year labor agreement that offers new operational flexibilities, this is the time to bring T.J. into the role of COO. His new position will help us drive performance objectives through enterprise-wide process improvement and accountability initiatives at all of our coast-to-coast terminal locations.”

“This is a great opportunity to lead our terminal-based field teams as we collectively focus on service improvements and achieving operational efficiencies while operating with the highest degree of safety,” O’Connor said. “Throughout my three-and-a-half-decade career in the less-than-truckload industry, I have worked closely with many of our field employees. I’ve seen their dedication and commitment firsthand. I look forward to working with the Holland, New Penn, Reddaway and YRC Freight teams in this new role.”

The YRC Worldwide COO position recently held by Darren Hawkins has been vacant since Hawkins was named CEO of YRC Worldwide in April 2018. As referenced during the YRC Worldwide May 8, 2019, first quarter earnings call, Scott Ware was named chief network officer of YRC Worldwide. Ware leads the YRC Worldwide network solutions, linehaul and property teams.

T.J. O’Connor has over three-and-a-half decades of experience in the transportation industry. His career in transportation began at Roadway Express. O’Connor assumed positions of increasing responsibility at Roadway Express, ultimately being named Western Division vice president. O’Connor went on to be named president of Bestway Express and then president of Reddaway. He became president of YRC Freight in January 2018.

O’Connor supports advancements in the transportation industry by serving on the board of directors of SMC3, a provider of data, technology and education as an integrated solution to the freight transportation community. He also provides leadership via community service. He has served as a member of The Robert W. Franz Leadership Cabinet of the Providence Cancer Center, a world-recognized organization engaged in the fight against cancer. O’Connor has served in various committee leadership roles for the California Trucking Association, Oregon Trucking Associations and the American Trucking Associations.

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