Truckers might want to start brushing up on their resumes: The southeast US has seen more than 1,300 job cuts in freight-related industries since April 2025.
The impacted industries include manufacturing and distribution in addition to freight. Tariff uncertainty and related trade tensions may be a factor in the job losses.
Here’s a look at the latest companies issuing mass layoffs, as well as how many workers will be affected in each case.
US Freight Company Lay Offs
Companies are required by law to issue a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice ahead of a mass layoff, which helps make it easier to spot layoff trends.
Thanks to WARN notices and other media reports, industry site FreightWaves was able to compile this list:
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- C&S Wholesale Services LLC distribution center (Baldwin, Florida) – 490 workers
- Adient Plc auto supplier (Tennessee) – 415 workers
- Saks Global Tennessee fulfilment center ( La Vergne, Tennessee) – 446 workers
- Grede LLC iron foundry (Brewton, Alabama) – 220 workers
- Bunzl Distribution USA Inc. (Memphis, Tennessee) – 106 workers
- Saddle Creek Logistics (Atlanta, Georgia) – 73 workers
- Hood Container Corp. (Simpsonville, South Carolina) – 60 workers
- Corsicana Mattress Co. (Shelbyville, Tennessee) – 47 workers
- Quickway Transportation Inc. trucking company (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) – 45 workers
In most cases, the companies are either closing entire locations or shuttering their whole operation.
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Texas Truckers Aren’t Impacted Yet
The layoffs are extending outside of the southeast corner of the nation, as well, with California already seeing cargo slowdowns. But Texas hasn’t been affect just yet. In an interview with WFAA, Jim Grundy, who owns 150 trucks at Sisu Energy LLC, says that they’ve “increased the amount of goods over the last 60 days out of fear of any delays of products.”
Grundy had a measured take on the U.S.-China trade war, as well.
“Neither economy wants to go through this […] The people are the ones who wind up paying for this, whether it’s loss of jobs or increased good prices.” -Grundy
Temu Pursues Local Fulfilment
The impacts of tariffs are already being felt in other industries, too. China-based fast fashion company Temu had previously announced hikes in price to accomodate the tariffs. Now, though, it has a new pivot.
It’ll be switching to “a local fulfillment model,” according to a report from Supply Chain Dive.
In other words, all of its US sales will be fielded by locally based sellers from within the country in which the order is placed.
“The move is designed to help local merchants reach more customers and grow their businesses. This shift is part of Temu’s ongoing adjustments to improve service levels.” -Temu spokesperson
It’ll be accomplishing this feat by recruiting US sellers to the platform. That’s good news for any US businesses that can keep their products local, although it may still result in higher prices for the consumer, since any arbitrage benefits will be lost.
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