Freight bankruptcies pile up as carriers, logistics firms seek court protection

Why it matters: The latest bankruptcy filings show financial pressure continuing to work through the freight economy, with both small carriers and larger logistics and distribution companies confronting debt loads, thin asset bases and restructuring challenges. A wave of bankruptcy filings swept through the freight and logistics sector from late July through Aug. 25, hitting trucking companies, freight forwarders, distributors, warehouses and other supply-chain businesses across the U.S. At least 21 transportation and logistics-related companies included in bankruptcy filings reviewed by FreightWaves sought Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 11 protection during the period. The companies range from single-truck carriers to national distributors with hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and liabilities. The filings underscore how financial hardship remains uneven across the freight economy, with small trucking companies struggling alongside larger logistics and distribution businesses. Among the largest was BFG Supply Co. LLC, an Indianapolis-based horticultural and agricultural supply distributor that filed for Chapter 11 protection Aug. 18 in Delaware. The company estimated both assets and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million and reported more than 100,000 creditors. BFG operates a national network of 15 warehouses carrying more than 100,000 SKUs from over 1,000 manufacturers. The company had approximately 454 employees as of April, according to information compiled with the bankruptcy filing. Several of the filings involved trucking companies with only a handful of power units. Anchor South Transport LLC, an Albertville, Alabama-based carrier with 14 trucks and 12 drivers, filed for Chapter 11 protection July 28. The carrier reported nearly $1.4 million in assets against approximately $2.2 million in liabilities, with banks and other financial institutions holding secured claims against equipment. Court schedules put Anchor South’s assets at $1.396 million, including more than $1.1 million in machinery, equipment and vehicles. Black Lion Transportation and Truck Repairs LLC of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy July 29. The company estimated both assets and liabilities between $100,001 and $500,000 and elected to proceed under Subchapter V, a streamlined Chapter 11 process for qualifying small businesses. Black Lion Transportation and Truck Repairs’ creditor list includes Renasant Bank, which held claims tied to a 2023 Peterbilt 579 and two 2023 Great Dane trailers. The filing also lists tax, toll and other business debts. Kings of the Road Transport LLC, based in Sanford, Florida, filed for Chapter 7 liquidation July 28. Court schedules show just $77,000 in assets — all machinery, equipment and vehicles — against $393,380 in liabilities. Another notable trucking bankruptcy came from Stoneman Trucking LLC of Breckenridge, Michigan, which filed for Chapter 11 protection Aug. 11. The company elected Subchapter V treatment. Its schedules list about $1.03 million in assets against $892,187 in liabilities, including $774,000 in secured claims and $118,187 in nonpriority unsecured claims. PLR Transport Inc. of Pembroke Pines, Florida, presented one of the sharpest asset-to-debt imbalances among the trucking filings. The carrier filed Chapter 7 on Aug. 21 with just $21,520 in assets and nearly $5.33 million in liabilities, including more than $5.25 million in nonpriority unsecured claims. PJM Distributors LLC of North Miami Beach, Florida, also filed Chapter 7, on Aug. 12. Its schedules list $125,086.94 in assets and $464,342.13 in liabilities. The company told the court that after administrative expenses are paid, no funds are expected to remain for unsecured creditors. Other small carriers seeking liquidation included Aneiro’s Trucking LLC of Moreno Valley, California; R3 Hauling LLC of Northbrook, Illinois; AP Freight Inc. of Lake Zurich, Illinois; and DD Freight Express Inc. in the Chicago area. Aneiro’s, which has six trucks and six drivers, listed assets of up to $100,000 and liabilities between $100,001 and $1 million. R3 Hauling, a one-truck carrier, reported the same asset and liability ranges, while one-truck AP Freight reported both assets and liabilities of no more than $100,000. DD Freight Express filed Chapter 7 on July 27. The carrier previously reported 40 power units and 40 drivers in federal records, although its bankruptcy filing listed eight tractors among its owned assets. The company reported at least $223,000 in assets and only $2,930 in liabilities. Financial stress reaches freight forwarding, warehousing The filings extended well beyond motor carriers. Jet-Speed Logistics (USA) LLC, an international freight forwarder and customs broker, filed Chapter 11 in Illinois on Aug. 25. The company estimated assets of $50,000 to $100,000 and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million, with between 200 and 999 creditors. Jet-Speed continues to provide international freight forwarding and customs brokerage services and operates as a licensed non-vessel operating common carrier under the Jet-Speed Ocean Line name. Inclusive Logistics LLC, an El Paso, Texas-based cross-border logistics provider, filed Chapter 11 on Aug. 8 with estimated assets and liabilities of $1 million to $10 million and between 50 and 99 creditors. The company operates two warehouse facilities totaling about 113,000 square feet and provides foreign trade zone , customs and ocean transportation intermediary services along the U.S.-Mexico trade corridor. Royal Cold Storage Inc., a Beverly Hills, California-based refrigerated warehousing provider, filed Chapter 11 on Aug. 25. It listed both assets and liabilities below $50,000 and between one and 49 creditors. The company historically operated a 118,000-square-foot facility with capacity for 14,500 pallet positions. Other Chapter 11 filings included America Enterprice LLC, a long-distance truckload carrier in Zuni, Virginia; Great Southern Copackers LLC, a beverage contract manufacturer in Lakeland, Florida; Emil’s Produce Corp., a Brooklyn produce wholesaler; NJS Partners Inc., a New York seafood wholesaler; ML Imports Inc., a New Jersey consumer goods distributor; and The Power of Peek Trucking Company LLC of Lithonia, Georgia. ML Imports’ filing followed substantial litigation. The company’s compiled records indicate it had been hit by court-ordered disgorgements stemming from litigation over diverted corporate opportunities and trademark infringement. The business listed both assets and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million. The Power of Peek, meanwhile, operates just two trucks and filed Chapter 11 with estimated assets between $500,000 and $1 million and liabilities between $100,000 and $500,000. Bankruptcy filings, July 27-Aug. 25 Company Location Filing Business Assets Liabilities Key detail DD Freight Express Inc. Chicago area Ch. 7, July 27 Trucking At least $223K $2,930 Previously 40 trucks/drivers; filing lists 8 tractors Anchor South Transport LLC Albertville, AL Ch. 11, July 28 Trucking $1.396M About $2.2M 14 trucks, 12 drivers Kings of the Road Transport LLC Sanford, FL Ch. 7, July 28 Trucking $77K $393,380 Assets consist of vehicles/equipment Black Lion Transportation and Truck Repairs LLC Peachtree Corners, GA Ch. 11, July 29 Trucking/truck repair $100K-$500K $100K-$500K Subchapter V D.A.R. Carrier Inc. Oak Lawn, IL Ch. 11, July 30 Trucking $1M-$10M $1M-$10M 1 truck, 1 driver Power of Peek Trucking Co. LLC Lithonia, GA Ch. 11, Aug. 4 Trucking $500K-$1M $100K-$500K 2 trucks R3 Hauling LLC Northbrook, IL Ch. 7, Aug. 6 Trucking $0-$100K $100K-$1M 1 truck, 1 driver ML Imports Inc. Edison, NJ Ch. 11, Aug. 7 Consumer goods distribution $1M-$10M $1M-$10M Filing followed significant litigation Inclusive Logistics LLC El Paso, TX Ch. 11, Aug. 8 Cross-border logistics $1M-$10M $1M-$10M 2 warehouses, 113K sq. ft. Stoneman Trucking LLC Breckenridge, MI Ch. 11, Aug. 11 Trucking $1.03M $892,187 Subchapter V NJS Partners Inc. Port Chester, NY Ch. 11, Aug. 11 Seafood wholesale/distribution $100K-$500K $100K-$500K Operates as LP Wholesale Seafood PJM Distributors LLC North Miami Beach, FL Ch. 7, Aug. 12 Distribution $125,087 $464,342 No funds expected for unsecured creditors after administrative costs Emil’s Produce Corp. Brooklyn, NY Ch. 11, Aug. 12 Produce distribution $100K-$500K $1M-$10M 2 power units BFG Supply Co. LLC Indianapolis, IN Ch. 11, Aug. 18 Agricultural/horticultural distribution $100M-$500M $100M-$500M 15 warehouses; 100K+ creditors AP Freight Inc. Lake Zurich, IL Ch. 7, Aug. 19 Trucking $0-$100K $0-$100K 1 truck, 1 driver Great Southern Copackers LLC Lakeland, FL Ch. 11, Aug. 20 Beverage manufacturing/distribution $1M-$10M $1M-$10M 75K-sq.-ft. facility PLR Transport Inc. Pembroke Pines, FL Ch. 7, Aug. 21 Trucking $21,520 $5.33M More than $5.25M unsecured Aneiro’s Trucking LLC Moreno Valley, CA Ch. 7, Aug. 24 Trucking $0-$100K $100K-$1M 6 trucks, 6 drivers Royal Cold Storage Inc. Beverly Hills, CA Ch. 11, Aug. 25 Refrigerated warehousing $0-$50K $0-$50K Historically 118K sq. ft., 14,500 pallet positions Jet-Speed Logistics (USA) LLC Illinois Ch. 11, Aug. 25 Freight forwarding/customs brokerage $50K-$100K $1M-$10M 200-999 creditors America Enterprice LLC Zuni, VA Ch. 11, Aug. 25 Trucking $500K-$1M $500K-$1M Upcoming FreightWaves Events Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Awards F3 Awards Dinner The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals. October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry. The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room. The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals. The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now 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