Dec 15, 2006 8:47 AM, from staff and wire reports

Dallas TX-based Greatwide Logistics Services has agreed to manage Tyson Foods' owner-operator-based transportation services.

As part of a five-year agreement with the Springdale AR-based meat company, Greatwide will manage about 300 owner-operators. They will operate among Tyson production facilities, distribution centers, and customer sites nationwide.

This agreement does not apply to Tyson’s private fleet of 1,000 trucks or its involvements with other third-party trucking firms.

Greatwide anticipates that most owner-operators who currently lease to Tyson, along with employees who support them, to transition to Greatwide. This transition likely will be finished by the end of January 2007.