Layoffs, bankruptcies batter U.S. logistics and manufacturing at start of 2026

U.S. logistics, manufacturing and supply-chain firms person started 2026 with a surge of layoffs, installation closures and bankruptcy filings, affecting much than 2,200 workers nationwide.

State notices and tribunal records amusement occupation cuts spanning obstruction enactment services, parcel networks, nutrient manufacturing, packaging, last-mile transportation and e-commerce, arsenic companies grapple with mislaid contracts, precocious costs, excess capableness and tighter recognition conditions.

RailCrew Xpress, a Kansas City–based proscription institution that shuttles railroad crews betwixt occupation sites, is laying disconnected much than 400 employees crossed aggregate states aft losing a large declaration with CSX, according to institution disclosures and authorities WARN filings.

The layoffs impact workers successful Virginia, Georgia and Florida, with further bureau closures planned successful North Carolina, wherever astatine slightest 8 locations are slated to unopen down. Employees successful Kansas and Missouri are not presently included successful the cuts.

Founded successful 2005, RailCrew Xpress operates successful astir 25 states. Prior to the layoffs, the institution employed astir 2,000 workers.

AVI Food Systems plans to laic disconnected 297 employees successful Philadelphia arsenic portion of a installation closure, according to authorities WARN filings.

The layoffs are scheduled to instrumentality effect Feb. 1 and interaction workers astatine locations listed arsenic 2400 Spruce St. and 1 Convention Ave., suggesting the occupation losses are tied to ample organization foodservice operations.

The institution has not publically disclosed the crushed for the closure. AVI Food Systems operates on-site eating and foodservice programs astatine hospitals, universities, normal centers and different high-traffic facilities.

Packaging Corporation of America plans to laic disconnected astir 200 employees astatine its containerboard mill successful Wallula, Washington, aft deciding to permanently unopen down a insubstantial instrumentality and kraft pulping operations astatine the site, according to authorities filings.

The layoffs are expected to instrumentality effect successful February. Other parts of the mill — including a recycled pulping cognition and a abstracted insubstantial instrumentality — volition stay successful operation.

PCA said the determination is portion of a restructuring aimed astatine improving the mill’s semipermanent viability amid precocious wood fibre and vigor costs that person made the installation little competitive.

Kroehler Furniture Co. permanently closed its Conover, North Carolina, manufacturing installation connected Dec. 31. The closure volition effect successful the layoff of much than 275 employees, according to a authorities WARN notice.