Albany, Georgia-based Commercial Shuttle Service (CSS) ceased operations in mid-December, citing a mix of market conditions, insurance costs and aging ownership.
The company had 55 total employees, including 41 drivers, and 41 power units, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER database.
“My dad, AJ Collins, the company’s CEO, he’s in his 80s, and business had gotten tough, so he decided to shut it down,” Brett Collins, CSS’ former vice president, told FreightWaves.
Commercial Shuttle Service was a dry van carrier that worked with shippers nationwide but operated primarily in the Southeast.
The family-owned company was established in 1981, operating as a tire lumper service for Bridgestone/Firestone with one truck as Collins Brothers, according to the company’s website.
As business grew over the years, CSS’ fleet of International tractors traveled everywhere from Florida to as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Texas.
Brett Collins said another factor in the shutdown was that CSS was in the middle of renewing its carrier insurance and decided not to.
“My dad kept the company going as long as he could,” Brett Collins said. “My mother [Melba Collins] worked at the company, too. It was a family business.”
This year has been one of the toughest in the trucking industry in more than five years. Around 10 midsize and large carriers have shut their doors in 2019, including Celadon, HVH Transportation, New England Motor Freight Inc., Falcon Transport, Stevens Tanker Division, GDS Express and LME.
Brett Collins added that many of the laid-off employees at CSS have been able to find positions at other companies, or at least interview for new jobs.
“I’ve been dialing around, calling friends, bankers, helping as much as I could,” he said. “I’ve known a lot of these people more than 20 years.”
Tewelde Fisshaye
Is good if they deal agreement
Lady DOE
Get the government out of the industry
Noble1
If it weren’t for government , the industry wouldn’t have been deregulated in 1980 in the first place !
You can’t have your cake and eat it too .
In my humble opinion ………..
Gerrit
I’m a truck driver for many years in Europe looking for a new job
Alec
Many companies are going under due to brokered loads. Companies need to get out and look for their own work instead of paying brokers 25 to sometimes 50% for work. Independent contractors have to start demanding more money for loads. With a number of these large companies dropping off brokers have no choice but to pay what we ask for loads. Trucking is the only industry in which rates have not increased in the last 5 years. But maintenance and everything else has increased. This is why companies are going under.
Shipwreck🇺🇸
Sad to hear but alot of those CSS drivers were unprofessional douchebags on the road tailgating other vehicles and speeding quite often. No surprise the company had to close since they have several pending lawsuits from their drivers having accidents.
Ryan
Wish I could’ve bought this company. Sad when you have a family business and people don’t wanna take it over.
Henry
I agree, American drivers FIRST
Pete
Freetrade agreement allowing Mexican carriers to work in the usa.now they are taking over trucking industry. And no one is doing nothing.
Tariq
My name is Tariq Hussain you’re country Pakistan driver license
Noble1
It’s a FREE country !
What would you like to be done ???