California drayage carrier enters bankruptcy amid mounting debts

National Road Logistics lists up to $10M in liabilities, major creditor claims tied to leases, contracts

National Road Logistics’ bankruptcy filing underscores mounting financial pressure on smaller port and drayage carriers navigating high costs and volatile volumes. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

A Southern California-based trucking company focused on port and intermodal freight has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing mounting debts tied to leases, vendor obligations and contract disputes.

National Road Logistics LLC filed for bankruptcy on Monday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, according to court documents.

The Signal Hill, California-based carrier reported estimated assets between $1 million and $10 million, with liabilities also falling within the same range. 

The company indicated it expects funds to be available for unsecured creditors as part of the restructuring process.

Creditor claims top $9M

The filing shows significant exposure to large unsecured claims, including:

  • Nordstrom: $9.5 million tied to a lease deficiency
  • Prologis Management: $8.3 million in vendor-related claims
  • Sunshine Distribution: up to $7.5 million in breach-of-contract claims

Additional obligations include equipment leases, chassis rentals and vendor payables across logistics and transportation partners.

The company also disclosed secured claims totaling roughly $7.5 million, including liens tied to financing arrangements and ongoing legal disputes.

Asset base relatively limited

Court filings show National Road Logistics held approximately $1.6 million in total assets at the time of filing, including:

  • $411,000 in cash
  • $655,790 in accounts receivable
  • ~$354,000 in retirement-related accounts
  • Limited rolling stock, including two Freightliner Cascadia tractors valued at about $31,000

Small fleet, port-focused operations

According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data, National Road Logistics operates a relatively small fleet of 27 power units and employs about 35 drivers.

The carrier primarily hauls general freight and intermodal containers in interstate operations, indicating a business model closely tied to Southern California port activity, including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

National Road Logistics officials declined to comment at this time.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
AI

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post • Chicago, IL
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
AI Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • The Old Post • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post • Chicago, IL Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com