Pandemic spurs more freight-related job cuts across the country

Amazon, Basic Energy Services and BCS Automotive laying off more than 1,400 employees

Oilfield services provider Basic Energy Services could cut about 1,200 jobs in Texas, California and New Mexico, including 175 truck driver positions. (Photo: Basic Energy Services)

The pandemic has prompted several freight-related businesses to eliminate a total of nearly 1,400 jobs, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices filed in several states.

Oilfield services provider Basic Energy Services could cut about 1,200 jobs in Texas, California and New Mexico, including 175 truck drivers, as well as five trucking and supply chain supervisors.

The layoffs could include more than 700 employees in California, 500 in Texas and 70 in New Mexico.

Keith Schilling, CEO of Fort Worth, Texas-based Basic Energy Services, said in a statement earlier this month the company has faced “extraordinary challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Basic Energy Services recently filed for bankruptcy and has entered into asset purchase agreements with several companies. If the sales are not completed, or if the acquiring company does not offer current employees jobs following the close of the sales, the positions will be eliminated.

BCS Automotive Interface Solutions U.S. said it is permanently closing an automotive parts plant in Auburn, New York, and laying off 64 people by Sept. 17.

According to a notice filed with the New York Department of Labor, BCS Automotive cited the economy and said it is transferring products/production lines to its Winona, Minnesota, and Reynosa, Mexico, facilities.

BCS Automotive employs six truck drivers, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Amazon said it is closing a logistics station in Los Angeles and eliminating 161 jobs by Sept. 28, according to a filing with the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department.

Amazon did not give a reason for the closure of the DLA3 facility at 5829 Smithway St., in East Los Angeles.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

Oklahoma betting big on $124M global logistics park

Port Houston signs agreement for $1B channel expansion

Nuvocargo launches more efficient cross-border billing solution

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
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
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN 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