Teamsters Union members at the trucking operation, UPS Freight, have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new national five-year master agreement that increases wages, significantly strengthens pension benefits and takes on the issue of subcontracting.

The vote, which was 5,195 to 2,094 as of Sunday night, was held at local union halls during the weekend. Participation was 69%, which far exceeded the previous ratification vote last June, which was 58%. The contract is separate from the one covering Teamsters members who work at the parcel operation of UPS.

A handful of local unions covering less than 50 members had not reported their results as of Sunday night. Vote results can be viewed at http://teamster.org/sites/teamster.org/files/01.12.14upsfvotecount.pdf.

The new five-year national contract, which covers 13,000 UPS Freight workers, improves and protects wages, benefits and working conditions at a time when most freight companies are making cuts, according to the union. It also provides $2.50 in wage increases over five years.

Last summer the Teamsters and UPS Freight reached an agreement on a new contract but it was voted down overwhelmingly, sending negotiators back to talks.