The trucking industry has been stuck in the Great Freight Recession for the last three years, dealing with reduced shipping demand, lower freight rates, and rising costs of labor, fuel, and insurance, which have impacted revenues and profits.

Long-haul truckload demand plummeted by 25% in the first half of 2025, with trucking becoming more of a short-haul delivery method for the final leg of freight movement.

The freight recession is far from over, as businesses struggle and launch out-of-court restructurings or file for bankruptcy.

Freight companies filed 21 bankruptcy petitions in the third quarter of 2025 compared to 20 filed in the second quarter, Equipment Finance News reported.

Five trucking companies filed for bankruptcy in the last week of the third quarter, including Precision Express, L.S. Trucking, and GMB Transport on Sept. 23, WBK Transport on Sept. 26, and Sky Rock Trucking on Sept. 29.

5 trucking companies close quarter in bankruptcy

• Precision Express, Sept. 23
• L.S. Trucking, Sept. 23
• GMB Transport, Sept. 23
• WBK Transport, Sept. 26,
• Sky Rock Trucking, Sept. 29.

Also, some major trucking companies have shut down operations without filing for bankruptcy.

J.B. Hunt Transport closed distribution center

Giant trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. filed a federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice and closed its facility at the Home Depot Distribution Center in Lithonia, Ga., on Oct. 27, 2025.

And just as the busy December mail delivery season begins, a significant company that helps deliver Christmas cards, packages, and holiday shopping bills is getting ready to go out of business.

U.S. Postal Service contract trucking company 10 Roads Express closes down.

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10 Roads Express shutting down business

U.S. Postal Service trucking contractor 10 Roads Express revealed plans to end its mail hauling business and shut down all operations by the end of January 2026.

The Carter Lake, Iowa, transportation and logistics company, which reported 2,462 power units and 2,606 drivers on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration SAFER website, submitted a 60-day Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice on Dec. 1 with a final layoff date of Jan. 30, 2026. About 2,000 workers will be laid off.

10 Roads Express decided to wind down its operations after continued and significant headwinds impacted the transportation industry and the company, whose primary customer is the U.S. Postal Service, it said in a statement. The company also hauls commercial products.

“Our industry has been navigating unprecedented challenges, and despite the dedication of our employees and leadership, the realities of the industry have become impossible to overcome,” a 10 Roads spokesperson said in the statement sent to TheStreet.

10 Roads Express contracts with US Postal Service

10 Roads Express, which has contracted with the U.S. Postal Service for 47 years, said it will complete all contractual obligations during a transition period.

“We remain appreciative of our long-standing relationship with the USPS and are committed to supporting a smooth transition,” the spokesperson said.

Headwinds over the last two years have included the U.S Postal Service’s operational changes, which led to a more prevalent use of brokers and the insourcing of transportation work.

The operational changes resulted in a 70% loss of revenue for 10 Roads Express, with all indications that the trend will continue. The transportation company was unable to reduce its platform enough to make continued operations sensible, leading to its difficult decision to cease operations, the statement said.

The company will share further communications about the winddown with relevant shareholders at a future date. It has not indicated any plans to file for bankruptcy.

More closings:

• Major trucking company closes Home Depot distribution facility
• 63-year-old bankrupt retail chain closes all stores permanently
• Discount retail chain closes half its store locations

10 Roads Express, which began its expansion in 1977, was created from a consolidation of a group of trucking companies dating back to 1946, according to the company’s website.

The company operated from 36 terminals across the U.S., with scheduled delivery points in 47 states. The company at one time maintained and operated 3,500 company-owned tractors and 5,000 company-owned trailers, according to its website.

10 Roads Express history

• 10 Roads Express launches in 1946.
• Company’s expansion begins in 1977.
• Operated 3,500 tractors in 2020.
• Operates 2,462 power units in 2025.
• Contracts with U.S. Postal Service for 47 years, ending January 2026.
• Plans to close down operations by Jan. 30, 2026.

Related: 88-year-old dining chain closes all restaurants, no bankruptcy