YRC’S Captain at the Wheel

Satish Jindel  •  Journal of Commerce

December 14, 2015


The story of YRC Worldwide isn’t unlike that of the Titanic on its maiden voyage from the U.K. to New York City more than a century ago. YRC Worldwide was headed for the same fate if it hadn’t been for the redirection of its captain. The events unfolding at YRCW between 2003 and 2011 have many parallels to the Titanic.

Between 2003 and 2005, Bill Zollars went on a massive acquisition strategy to create North America’s largest less-than-truckload carrier. In 2003, it acquired Roadway Express, which doubled YRC’s revenue. In 2005, it bought US Freightways, adding another $1.7 billion in revenue…