CTL May Cut 130 Jobs As Contract With Mosaic Ending

Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 4:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 4:23 p.m.

MULBERRY | CTL Transportation is bracing for a jobs shakeup.

CTL, a Mulberry-based trucking company serving the fertilizer and phosphate industry, will have to cut or reassign about 130 workers in the coming months because CTL?s contract with The Mosaic Co. is coming to an end, according to Richard Straughn, general counsel for CTL.

?Mosaic is making a business change. CTL is having to move forward with its business decisions as well,? Straughn said. ?We?ve certainly had a long and beneficial partnership with Mosaic that we wish to continue in the future.?

CTL has worked with Mosaic and its predecessor company for nearly 40 years, Straughn said. Mosaic spokesman Dave Townsend said the firm periodically reviews its major contracts and issued a request for proposals for transportation services last February.

After evaluating companies based on safety performance, pricing, skills and other criteria, Townsend said Mosaic ultimately chose Tampa-based Dillon Transport, and will begin its new contract with Dillon on March 1.

Approximately 130 CTL employees ? truck drivers and support staff ? who work for the company in Mulberry and Tampa could be affected by the loss of Mosaic?s business, Straughn said.

?The business change is resulting in a reduction in force, but we have made appropriate steps to offer potential employment at our sister companies,? he said.

CTL has about 430 total employees.

The business was founded in 1964 and joined Auburndale-based Comcar Industries in 1985. Comcar has other subsidiaries and affiliate companies in Georgia, Arkansas and South Dakota, according to its website.

Two current CTL drivers who spoke with The Ledger said they fear the company won?t be able to retain enough staff for local work.

?A lot of guys are looking for jobs right now,? said one driver, who asked to remain anonymous.

[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at kyle.kennedy@theledger.com or 863-802-7584. ]

Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130115/news/130119574

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