More than a dozen American trucking companies have sought bankruptcy protection in the past month as diesel prices climb to record highs and other operating costs keep rising.
Sixteen firms, representing more than 250 jobs, have filed Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 cases, FreightWaves reported earlier this month. Diesel, the industry’s lifeblood, averaged a record $6.53 a gallon on September 22 amid President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. AAA said the fuel has jumped $2.76 over the past year.
Two of the larger names, Xoco Transport and Globemaster, are using Chapter 11, staying open while they work out repayment plans with creditors under court supervision. Neither company spelled out what triggered the filings in federal court papers. The Independent said it had sought comment from both.
Higher pump prices do not stay at the pump. Logistics firm ASM Group, in a December 2025 industry analysis, said the shock hits the rest of the business. “When fuel costs go up, the trucking companies face a sudden increase in their operational cost and are forced to increase freight rates to avoid going in loss,” the group wrote.
Raising rates is not enough. ASM said carriers typically cut workers and sell equipment to survive, shrinking capacity and the chance to earn more.
Fuel is only one pressure. A July analysis by consultancy Deloitte found other costs stacking up at the same time. “Labor, insurance, maintenance, and regulatory compliance costs continue to escalate,” Deloitte wrote.
Freight work also swings between busy and slow seasons. In the quiet months, Deloitte said, revenue may not cover those rising bills.
Of the 16 companies in FreightWaves’ tally, eight are seeking Chapter 11 reorganization. Seven are liquidating under Chapter 7 and shutting down. The remaining carriers sit in a market where diesel is at a historic high, insurance and parts keep climbing, and the trucks that move America’s goods are disappearing from the road one filing at a time.
