COLDWATER, Mich. — Penkse, a well-recognized name in transportation and logistics on four continents, has announced layoffs in its logistics division. The company notified about 120 workers at its cross-dock facility in Coldwater, Michigan, that it will be permanently closing the operation effective April 30. Drivers were notified of the closure in a meeting with management Feb. 24.
Randy Ryerson, vice president of marketing for Penske, told Freightwaves the closing of the Michigan facility is a result of an “unexpected loss of a fair market bid with Ford Motor Co.” All employees impacted are eligible for immediate openings elsewhere with Penske Logistics, and a representative has been appointed to help the laid-off employees transfer locations.
In accordance with the WARN Act, requiring notifications of layoffs at least 60 days in advance, the company issued a notice with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Penske’s main offices are in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Penske Logistics employs 5,000 drivers and maintains 3,600 power units in the U.S., as well as 18,000 employees in 400 locations throughout the world. This layoff is the company’s second in eight months, as it closed its terminal in Fort Wayne, Indiana, last July, when termination of a local contract resulted in 80 layoffs.
Penske Corp. is a diversified on-highway transportation-services company with subsidiaries operating in industry segments including retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics and professional motorsports. Penske Corp. manages businesses with consolidated revenues of more than $32 billion, operating in more than 3,200 locations and employing more than 64,000 people worldwide. Penske’s Premier Truck Group is best known for manufacturing trucks carrying the Freightliner placard, as well as two other truck groups, Western Star and SelecTrucks.
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