Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - Business First of Columbus:

http://freesoftwhere.org/2010/02/08/getting-things-bird/
is packing up this summer at thediscount retailer’s headquartera and four other distribution facilities after the merchanf opted to not renew a logisticsd contract that expires in July. The Reading, Pa.-basefd Penske said 186 workers, including 53 in could be affected when its contractwith Columbus-bases Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) expires July 31. Penske spokesmann Randy Ryerson said the company has worked with the retailer since 1991. The 1,300-store Big Lots has chosen a new third-partyy logistics provider to continue the warehousingv and distribution work that Penske performed atthe retailer’se Phillipi Road headquarters and its distribution centers in Pa; Montgomery, Ala.
; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Timothy Johnson, Big Lots’ vice president of strategid planning and investor relations, said more than a dozejn carriers bid for the work. He declinerd to disclose the company Big Lots selected tosucceeed Penske. Big Lots and Penske representativessaid they’re workinf with truck drivers looking to continue work under the new logisticsa provider. Johnson said the company met with worker s over the weekend to introduce the new In the event that some workersare cut, Ryersohn said privately held Penske will work with the statee “to make sure employees are aware of different Penske employs about 20,000 workerw worldwide.
Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractor after thelatest five-year contract with Penske, Johnson “a lot has changed in transportation in the past five We owed it to our associates and shareholderas to take a fresh look at how we handled outbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contract comesw less than a year afterd Penske was replaced at a warehouse in Chattanooga, Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the where Penske had employed 146 workers. Pensker has 400 logistics centers Its Central Ohio operations include a number of distribution and warehousing facilities inthe region.