700-truck fleet Falcon Transport shutters operations due to GM plant closure

[kscarbel2]

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ)  /  April 29, 2019

In a story echoing that of the high-profile Christmas Eve 2009 closure of mega-fleet Arrow Trucking, the 700-truck operation of Falcon Transport on Friday, April 26 suddenly ceased operations. The Youngstown, Ohio-based fleet deployed text messages and emails to workers that day notifying them of the closure, leaving its drivers stranded without jobs, pay, access to fuel or even a way home, according to accounts posted to Facebook and local news reports.

The company sent emails to its nearly 500 drivers Saturday telling them to stop work immediately. The company is also said to have blamed a computer malfunction when drivers did not have their paychecks direct deposited as usual on Friday.

In all, 577 people are out of work: 89 office employees, 81 owner-operators and 407 company drivers, according to The Youngstown Vindicator.

The Youngstown Business Journal is among numerous media outlets that say Falcon Transport’s Director of Operations Jayson Calhoun sent an email to employees Saturday saying:

“We regret to inform you that Falcon Transport Co. is not able to continue operations and will be shutting down effective today. Please stop any work you are doing for the company immediately. You are not expected to return to work. Please be on the lookout for further information we will be sending regarding this information.”

Most reports of Falcon’s closing blame it on the shutdown of the General Motors Lordstown Complex early last month. GM built its Cruz sedan at the plant. It was a major customer of Falcon, which had dry van and flatbed operations.

Calls to Falcon’s headquarters to received a message saying it was not a working number.

.

[kscarbel2]

Drivers Left Stranded After Falcon Transport Stops Operations

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  April 29, 2019

Ohio-based Falcon Transport has apparently ceased operations, notifying its drivers over the weekend to stop working because the company was no longer operating, according to a local Ohio Fox affiliate.

The message to drivers read:

“We regret to inform you that Falcon Transport Co. is not able to continue operations and we will be shutting down effective today. Please stop any work you are doing for the company immediately. You are not expected to return to work. Please be on the lookout for further information we will be sending regarding this situation.”

The sudden end to operations may have been partly caused by the closing of a General Motors Assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio which shut down in March. Falcon hauled vehicles and other products for the nearby plant.

Drivers were reportedly left stranded in the field with some drivers finding fuel cards were no longer working and arriving to the fleet’s facilities to find out it was locked and their key cards were deactivated.

According to Falcon Transport’s website, the Youngstown-based company has been in operation for over 100 years, hauling for steel mills, automakers and moving commodities for large businesses.

.