The trucking and logistics sector has confronted financial challenges and monetary misery over the past three years, with 1,000s of delivery firms shutting down operations completely and going out of enterprise.
The variety of motor carriers with working authority dropped by 3.7% in 2024 or 13,000 fewer than in 2023, with 339,220 carriers working, based on the Federal Motor Carriers Affiliation, Fleet Proprietor reported.
Key trucking business statistics:
- 2024 motor carriers, 339,220
- 2023 motor carriers, 352,220
The business, nonetheless, had some encouraging information, because the variety of newly registered carriers rose by 13% or over 25,000 greater than in 2023 to 148,485 in 2024.
However the information currently hasn’t been nice because the business has endured the Nice Freight Recession over the past three years, and specialists say it is not completed but.
“News Flash: The three-year-long Great Freight Recession is NOT over. The leading indicators that caused FreightWaves to declare the end of the GFR in November 2024, and the resulting carrier optimism is now in the rearview mirror,” David Roush, president of accounting agency KSM Transport Advisors, stated on the corporate’s web site in March 2025.
In some instances, trucking firms have filed for chapter safety.
Associated: Struggling nationwide trucking firm recordsdata Chapter 11 chapter
Not less than 20 trucking and logistics firms filed for chapter within the second quarter of 2025 alone, Gear Finance Information reported. The business was on tempo within the third quarter to match the second-quarter outcomes, as 16 trucking companies had filed for chapter by mid-September.
Main trucking firms have been capable of climate the storm and shut down sure services that now not make financial sense, whereas persevering with to function worthwhile areas.
J.B. Hunt Transport closing Dwelling Depot facility
One of many nation’s main trucking firms, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., filed a federal Employee Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act discover asserting that it’s going to shut its facility on the Dwelling Depot Distribution Middle in Lithonia, Ga., on Oct. 27, 2025.
J.B. Hunt despatched a required 60-day discover to its 74 workers on the facility on Aug. 26, informing them that the power could be closing, based on a letter despatched on the identical day to the Technical School System of Georgia, which oversees the state’s WARN discover filings.
And now, a a lot smaller trucking operation has additionally despatched a WARN discover to its workers, asserting that it’s shutting down all of its operations.
Epic Lightning Quick Service closes down its operations.
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Epic Lightning Quick Service shuts down enterprise
San Diego-based trucking firm Epic Lightning Quick Service LLC plans to close down all operations completely on Oct. 31 and lay off all 116 of its employees, based on a WARN discover that the corporate filed with the State of California, FreightWaves reported.
The delivery firm, which was established in 2013, filed its WARN discover with the state Employment Improvement Division on Sept. 1, giving workers 60 days’ discover that it was closing down operations, as required by legislation.
The corporate listed eight dispatchers, three administrative assistants, and 105 supply associates who could be laid off by the corporate’s final day of operation on Oct. 31, in a letter to EDD.
Epic Lightning Quick Service layoff checklist
- Dispatchers laid off, 8
- Administrative assistants laid off, 3
- Supply associates laid off, 105
The letter additionally acknowledged that affected workers is not going to have “any bumping rights,” however there isn’t a indication that the corporate will keep any worker positions after Oct. 31.
“There will not be any bumping rights for the affected employees, that is, employees will not be able to displace more junior employees out of their job positions as a result of this closure,” the letter stated.
Firm’s subsequent step unknown
Epic Lightning Quick Service has not indicated any plans for the corporate after it closes, together with whether or not it plans to file for chapter safety.
The corporate operated 59 energy items with 93 drivers, based on a Federal Motor Service Security Administration SAFER submitting on July 30, 2025. The corporate operated interstate delivery of basic freight, the submitting stated.
Associated: 64-year-old trucking firm closes Dwelling Depot delivery facility
