A third-generation family-owned trucking company and brokerage — Certified Freight Logistics, headquartered in Santa Maria, California — is ceasing operations on Saturday after 95 years.
Scott Cramer, president of Certified Freight Logistics (CFL), said he notified employees on Aug. 22 that the trucking company and freight brokerage, which employs 157 workers, including 101 linehaul and local truck drivers, would begin layoffs on Saturday with the wind down of the company concluding on or about Nov. 18.
CFL, which hauled refrigerated food and fresh produce for major retailers throughout the western U.S., also filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notification in August with the California Employment Development Department of the company’s impending closure.
Cramer told FreightWaves he is working with truck dealers about early lease terminations, adding that the “current freight conditions have been pretty difficult.”
“Management has been attempting to maintain profitable operations but current market conditions have made it difficult to operate without a loss,” said Cramer in a statement to FreightWaves. “Pandemic volume demand, equipment availability issues, increased costs followed by falling freight rates and reduced volume put us in a place to have to make this difficult decision.”
Cramer said the company has arranged transition services for its employees, including many who have been with the company for more than 20 years.
Besides closing its headquarters in Santa Maria, CFL will close its yards in Stockton, California, and Sumner, Washington.
“The company delayed any decision for some time while trying to resolve the fundamental operating issues and is no longer able to viably operate,” Cramer said.
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Nellie
Can’t blame truckers because of the new laws on every electric by 2025, then moved up a few years. Newsom and other Liberal don’t have a clue how many things are gas. My husband realized that to have solor panels on our new house in 1982, we would have to have a lithium batteries or no way for backup electricity. No way would he have lithium batteries in our garage or near the house. I think our government is stopping the fire department from reporting what’s causing the homes to catch on fire and cause 90,000 dollars in damage in 20 minutes. No electric cars for me. Prayers for our country. The ozone is caused by to many people and houses. No trees, farms, ranch and balance in people driving 100 miles one way to work. A balance.
Perry
We have been in business for a combined 30 years, I’m now almost 54 years old and I have stop running as of May 2023. My wife and I worked up to five trucks and then back to two then one and finally closed shop. Lucky that I have a Biology degree and was able to get a good job, but the haunting of some bills are still there.
My advice to a person wanting to be in the business, RUN. Buy a lawnmower and a pickup truck you will do better in the long run. Trust Me
I have friends whom are on the brink as well that have already started the bankruptcy process and nobody cares. It has nothing to do with management skills and all to do with GREEDY people
Forty
Uber and lyft getting into the trucking business is trouble also. They will devalue the business until no one can afford to operate.. Just like the taxi business.