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Over 1,300 layoffs hit logistics companies across US

Texas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Georgia firms say market conditions, loss of customers forced job cuts

Transportation solutions provider RXO recently announced it is laying off 114 employees at a facility in Warren, Michigan. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Layoffs continue across the freight and logistics industry, with companies in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Texas announcing job reductions and facility closures over the past two weeks.

Universal Logistics

Warren, Michigan-based Universal Logistics is laying off a total of 677 employees at two of its subsidiaries in Detroit, according to notices recently filed with the state.

The layoffs are at Logistics Insights Corp. and Universal Dedicated of Detroit, an auto parts warehousing and logistics facility.

Universal Dedicated of Detroit’s job cuts will affect 230 truck drivers who worked from the facility.  Logistics Insights Corp.’s layoffs includes 164 warehouse workers, 212 forklift operators, 26 dockworkers and 45 clerical employees.


Universal Logistics (NASDAQ: ULH) is a truckload transportation, intermodal and logistics provider across the U.S, Mexico, Canada and Colombia. The company has more than 10,000 employees.

It did not provide a reason for the layoffs in state filings.

Officials for Universal Logistics said one facility in which both subsidiaries operate out of are being impacted by layoffs. However, both subsidiaries are still active operating entities of Universal Logistics Holdings Inc.

Swissport Cargo Services

Global cargo handler Swissport Cargo Services recently announced it is laying off 235 workers at a cargo handling operation in Atlanta.


The layoffs, which are related to losing a contract with e-commerce giant Amazon, are expected to be finalized by May 22.

“We’re always evaluating our operations to better serve our customers and have made the decision to change vendors at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport,” Sam Stephenson, Amazon spokesperson, told FreightWaves. “This will not impact customer deliveries in the Atlanta area.”

Amazon is working with incoming vendors to identify opportunities for impacted workers.

On Feb. 19, Swissport announced it was laying off 378 workers at a cargo handling operation at Newark Liberty International Airport. The job reduction was also related to losing a customer contract, officials said.

“Our customer has decided to change its service provider and to terminate the contract,” Swissport officials told FreightWaves. “To our great regret and as a result of this decision, all 378 Swissport employees at Newark airport will no longer be employed by Swissport.”

The Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) recently announced it is cutting over 230 jobs and permanently closing delivery hubs in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as well as Miami.

The facilities operated as part of the Kroger Fulfillment Network, an e-commerce grocery delivery service for residential customers. The layoffs include 198 delivery drivers.

“Despite our best efforts, including the support from new customers, learnings from other locations, and the incredible work of our associates, these facilities did not meet the benchmarks we set for success,” Kroger officials said in a statement to the media.


The facilities will permanently close by the end of May.

RXO Logistics 

Transportation solutions provider RXO (NYSE: RXO) recently announced it is laying off 114 employees at a facility in Warren, Michigan.

The layoffs are from RXO Managed Transport, a subsidiary operating at 29755 Chevrolet Road. Company officials did not give a reason for the layoffs in a notice filed with the state. 

Officials for Charlotte, North Carolina-based RXO told Crain’s Detroit Business that the layoffs were related to the loss of a customer contract.

The layoffs are expected to be finalized by May 31.

Nosco Inc. 

Packaging solutions provider Nosco Inc. is closing a facility in Carrollton, Texas, and laying off 51 workers.

Company officials said the facility’s closure is related to the relocation of some operations to company headquarters in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

The Carrollton facility will close permanently by Oct. 2. 

Ryder Integrated Logistics

Ryder Integrated Logistics is laying off 29 workers from a trucking facility in Romeoville, Illinois.

The job cuts, which are scheduled to be finalized by April 30, are due to the loss of a customer, according to state filings.

Ryder Integrated Logistics is a subsidiary of Ryder System Inc. (NYSE: R), a Miami-based leasing, fleet management, transportation and supply chain solutions provider.

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17 Comments

  1. Les Rosen

    D.R.
    As for trying to blame the mess on Trump and saying caused by him allowing Covid to spread across the country is Ludacris even for a liberal to suggest. Trump was advised at the onset by the CDV and the holdover medical doctors like Fauchi who actually financed the lab that made the virus. On Bidens first days he destroyed the domestic oil industry and from there on it has been all down hill. This should be no surprise if you read his record over the years. His entry ststement match Soto. If the Democrats slated a real Candidate and had a primary Trump could have been beaten, voting for Biden is a vote for Harris as he is not going to make it another 4 years. Trump as well would be wise to have a middle of the road V.P. as it is possible the pressure of 4 years of pressure may affect him as well. This is one race where the VP is as important as the presidential candidate.

  2. Anonymous

    The Trump Administration increased the debt by giving tax cuts to people that didn’t need it and increase spending rates higher than 1945 by over $3 trillion dollars. Trump supporters also have amnesia regarding over $3million jobs less than when he came into office. This explains why the Biden Administration inherited policies of inflation and had to take measured actions to reduce inflation even though over 70% of the inflation was outright greed.

  3. Bobby

    DR, the economy was at an all time high during trump, jobs were low, business was booming, inflation was below 3%, gas was affordable. Due to the globalist policies Biden established, inflation and open borders are eroding away the economic power of this country. You’re wrong, things have been far worse under Biden, the worst this country has seen.

  4. CJ

    DR, the economy was at an all time high during trump, jobs were low, business was booming, inflation was below 3%, gas was affordable. Due to the globalist policies Biden established, inflation and open borders are eroding away the economic power of this country. You’re wrong, things have been far worse under Biden, the worst this country has seen.

  5. Jack D Geiser

    Bidenomics at work! nothing’s built, nothing’s better, and we want Trump back! Bidenomics…………trickle up poverty!!

  6. D.R.

    Bobby, the supply chain issues in this country have been unstable due to the actions of a “former president” who allowed the pandemic to spread across the nation. Since that crisis has played out the market has taken time to recover to pre-covid numbers. Mix in a huge dose of corporate greed (which they don’t pay enough taxes on thanks to the 2017 tax reform from a “former president”)
    and we have seen our economy suffer greatly. Side note, if you want to resort to name calling please keep that garbage on social media where it belongs not here, this is a news source for those in transportation. Please stay safe.

  7. Bobby Scott

    Bidenomics. Will the idiots in this country ever come to grips with the truth. This empty suit has set us back 100 years from where we once existed. I just don’t understand how past performance isn’t indicative of a former President in comparison to this idiot who now occupies the White House. Liberals are disgusting vermin out of touch with the common man.

  8. ,🌮🐸🌮🌮👽🌮

    Distribution center to the store jobs are hiring. You open the door on the front passenger side, pull the step ladder out of the slot then stack your 6 foot tall pallets of ice cream on a rolling cart based on numbers. Then roll it into the store, trying to keep it from falling over from uneven pavement and mud holes.

Comments are closed.

Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com