Freight and manufacturing layoffs sweep across supply chain

Warehouses and production lines across multiple states are reducing headcount as supply-chain employers restructure ahead of 2026

Amazon’s third-quarter results show the e-commerce giant investing heavily in rural delivery and fulfillment automation to sustain record-fast Prime delivery speeds. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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Key Takeaways:

  • Amazon and Target are leading a new round of significant corporate layoffs, with Amazon planning up to 30,000 cuts due to AI-driven automation and Target eliminating 1,800 roles to simplify operations.
  • The manufacturing and industrial sector is experiencing widespread job cuts and plant closures across several key states, impacting diverse industries from food and beverage to packaging and dairy.
  • The automotive industry, including parts suppliers, continues to shed jobs amid electric-vehicle investments colliding with weaker consumer demand.
  • The logistics and warehousing sector is also retrenching, with freight operators and third-party logistics providers reducing payrolls due to falling contract volumes.
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Amazon, Target lead latest cuts

Amazon and Target are the largest names in the latest round of layoffs.

Amazon confirmed plans to cut around 14,000 corporate positions—with reports suggesting the total could reach 30,000—as part of a global restructuring tied to AI-driven automation and efficiency. Target announced it will eliminate 1,800 corporate roles, including about 1,000 active layoffs, in an effort to simplify operations and reduce costs.

Manufacturing contractions ripple across key states

In the manufacturing and industrial sector, closures and consolidations have hit several regions:

  • California: Beverage co-packer Manna Beverages is eliminating 638 jobs in Anaheim, while packaging recycler rPlanet Earth is cutting 178 positions in Los Angeles. Food producer Bumble Bee Foods shed 56 jobs, and Leprino Foods plans to close its Lemoore East cheese plant, affecting 300 workers. Packaging maker Dart Container laid off 175 in Corona.
  • Texas: Rubber producer Lion Elastomers will close its Orange facility, cutting 100 jobs, while Yang Ming Corp. is closing its Houston customer-service center, affecting 118 employees.
  • Florida: Window and door maker PGT Industries is cutting 442 positions in Hialeah and Medley, and logistics operator ID Logistics will eliminate 174 jobs in St. Petersburg.
  • Georgia: Flooring manufacturer Mannington Mills will close three plants and cut 200 jobs, while Saddle Creek Logistics plans to lay off 128 workers in Newnan after losing a key contract.
  • Wisconsin: Dairy producer Saputo Cheese USA will lay off 240 employees as part of a consolidation plan, and Wausau Equipment Co. will cut 67 workers amid declining construction demand.

Auto and parts suppliers under strain

The auto sector continues to shed jobs as electric-vehicle investments collide with weaker consumer demand.

In Michigan, Autokiniton is closing a Detroit stamping plant and cutting 133 jobs, IAC Alma will eliminate 246, and Dana Thermal Products is closing its Auburn Hills facility with 200 layoffs.

Tenneco has reduced 82 positions in Tennessee, while Federal-Mogul Motorparts shut down its Boaz, Alabama plant, affecting 82 workers.

Logistics and warehousing also retrenching

Freight operators and third-party logistics providers are trimming payrolls as contract volumes fall:

  • Averitt Express is cutting 193 positions in Alabama following the end of a Mercedes-Benz contract.
  • Allen Distribution is closing an Allentown, Pennsylvania facility and laying off 70 workers, and CBJ Logistics plans to eliminate 101 jobs in Philadelphia.
  • 360x Logistics, an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, is closing its Wisconsin warehouse and cutting 59 employees.

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