At least 16 U.S. trucking carriers filed for bankruptcy protection between Sept. 18 and Oct. 21, 2026, amid persistent financial distress across the freight sector, FreightWaves reported based on a review of federal bankruptcy records.
Sixteen Carriers File for Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 Protection
The recent court filings span multiple segments of the freight industry, including general freight, petroleum transportation, and logging and timber hauling. The distressed businesses range from single-truck operators to carriers reporting dozens of power units.
The bankruptcies include both Chapter 7 liquidations, which wind down operations, and Chapter 11 proceedings, which allow companies to restructure debts while potentially continuing to operate.
Sixteen trucking companies filed for bankruptcy in less than a month, according to federal court records reviewed by FreightWaves. The filings range from single-truck owner-operators to fleets with more than 100 power units, and span general freight, last-mile delivery,… pic.twitter.com/TP85oHs0yp
Midwest Expedited Co. Reports $2.3 Million in Liabilities
Chicago-based Midwest Expedited Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 6, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company reported approximately $2.31 million in liabilities against just $108,351 in assets.
The filing outlines $935,384 in secured claims and roughly $1.38 million in nonpriority unsecured claims. Although Midwest Expedited’s LinkedIn page previously listed 95 trucks, its bankruptcy schedules specifically identify seven 2023 and 2024 model year Freightliner M2 trucks collectively valued at $107,500.
Site2Site Transport Files for Liquidation After Revenue Decline
In El Paso, Texas, Site2Site Transport filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 29, 2026, following a steep drop in annual earnings. The company generated approximately $2.1 million in gross revenue in 2024, dropping to $1.6 million in 2025—a decline of roughly 24%.
Court documents show the company reported zero gross revenue from Jan. 1, 2026, through the date of its bankruptcy filing. Site2Site disclosed leases for eight trucks and liabilities exceeding $493,000, signaling a complete wind-down rather than a debt restructuring.
A string of small trucking and logistics companies across the U.S. have filed for bankruptcy protection in recent weeks, underscoring continued financial pressure on smaller carriers as freight demand remains uneven and costs stay elevated.The filings include Liberty Carriers…
Multi-State Freight Operations Face Insolvency
Bankruptcy filings have impacted motor carriers across several other states:
- KLS Logging Inc. (Lyons, Georgia): Filed for Chapter 11 protection in the Southern District of Georgia. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records show the carrier operates 53 power units and 28 registered drivers, hauling unmanufactured logs and lumber.
- American Petroleum Carriers (McAllen, Texas): Filed for Chapter 11 protection under case number 26-70331, listing 16 trucks and 10 drivers.
- Eskil Trucking (Lakeview, Oregon): Filed for Chapter 11 protection with more than $1 million in liabilities and under $500,000 in assets. Court filings identify an $855,000 debt owed to Sargent Transportation as its largest creditor claim.
- Illinois Carriers: Maksteel Transport LLC filed for Chapter 11 on Sept. 23 with five trucks and three drivers; Douglass Logistics LLC filed Chapter 11 the same day with 15 trucks and 10 drivers; Windy City Supply Chain LLC filed Chapter 7 on Oct. 2 with 20 owner-operator drivers; and Xcalibur Logistics of Lake Zurich filed Chapter 7 with one truck and one driver.
Midwest Expedited and Other Carriers File for Bankruptcy
| Company | Trucks / Power Units | Drivers | Bankruptcy Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Expedited Co. | 95 reported (7 in schedules) | Not specified | Chapter 11 |
| KLS Logging Inc. | 53 | 28 | Chapter 11 |
| Site2Site Transport | 8 leased | Not specified | Chapter 7 |
| Eskil Trucking | 7 | 6 | Chapter 11 |
| Douglass Logistics LLC | 15 | 10 | Chapter 11 |
| American Petroleum Carriers | 16 | 10 | Chapter 11 |
Outstanding Questions in the Freight Sector
While the compiled court records demonstrate acute financial distress among the 16 identified carriers, the data does not establish whether these filings represent a broader, industrywide surge in carrier bankruptcies nationwide. Fleet counts listed in public filings and safety databases often reflect reporting periods that differ from current operational sizes.
Worth a look