The Boeing Co. is considering hiring an outside company to move its commercial jet engines and wings around the country, a decision that would affect roughly 500 truckers, drivers and their bosses, as well as freight managers and other related staff.
According to Seattle Post Intelligencer, the company has analyzed a host of functions in recent years, trying to determine what is critical to its business and where outsiders could do a better job.
"We have talked with a number of companies and experts in terms of the best way" to do the work, Boeing spokeswoman Beverley Clark told the newspaper.
Clark said Boeing has not made a decision about whether to send the work to an outsider. Boeing employees shuttle the massive jet parts around Western Washington, Kansas and other locales in the United States.
The account comes as Teamsters Local174 prepares to open talks on a new contract for its drivers. Its three-year contract with Boeing expires March 31.
