Year after Yellow Corp.'s collapse: stagnation in trucking employment

The employment report shows a difference of 400 more jobs compared to last year

The closure of Yellow Corp. in 2023 marked a milestone in the freight transportation industry, deeply impacting thousands of workers. As one of the major players in the sector, Yellow Corp.’s bankruptcy became the most significant in the history of trucking in the United States. A year after its collapse, the industry has experienced ups and downs in terms of employment.

The impact of Yellow Corp.’s closure is reflected in the stability of employment in the sector, which has barely changed since last year. Yellow Corp.’s bankruptcy significantly contributed to a decrease of 36,700 jobs in August 2023. This week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment report shows a notable figure in the trucking sector, with a difference of 400 jobs.

The seasonally adjusted figure for trucking employment stood at 1,543,500 jobs in August, just 400 more than the 1,543,100 jobs reported for the same month last year. This increase is modest compared to the peak of 1,556,400 jobs reached in March, before a series of downward revisions brought the current figure close to what it was after the closure of the LTL company Yellow.

David Spencer from Arrive Logistics told FreightWaves that the lack of clear signs of recovery in the trucking market might be causing some carriers to leave the sector after another down season. Spencer suggests that the outlook for a rate recovery might extend another 9 to 12 months.

Employment statistics in the freight transportation sector

In contrast, employment in the warehousing sector showed an increase in August, with 1,791,800 jobs, representing a rise of 3,900 from the previous month. This increase is notable after a major downward revision in July’s data, where the revised figure for that month was 7,000 jobs lower than originally reported. Although warehousing jobs have grown by 24,900 since December 2023, they are still below the peak of 1,942,200 reached in April 2022.

Shannon Gabriel from TBM Consulting Group offers a more optimistic view, highlighting that while trucking employment numbers show marginal changes, the industry remains active. With 86,000 job listings on LinkedIn and a substantial number of resumes available, Gabriel suggests that the industry still maintains significant strength.

Finally, the monthly report also reveals that the number of hours worked in trucking remains near a historic high, with 29.93 hours in July, almost reaching the record of 29.95 hours set in May. In summary, while the trucking sector shows signs of stagnation, warehousing employment continues to grow, and the outlook for recovery in the transportation market remains uncertain.