Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Roadrunner to Cut Equipment, Terminals and Jobs in Downsizing Effort

Roadrunner Transportation Systems says it will downsize its unprofitable dry van business, part of the company’s truckload segment.

October 1, 2019
Roadrunner to Cut Equipment, Terminals and Jobs in Downsizing Effort

Roadrunner Transportation Systems has announced a plan to downsize its unprofitable dry van business which is part of the company’s truckload segment.

Photo via Roadrunner

2 min to read


Roadrunner Transportation Systems says it will downsize its unprofitable dry van business, part of the company’s truckload segment.

The downsizing effort will reduce the company’s dry van company tractor and trailer fleets by over 50% and will include the closing of five terminal locations and cutting 450 jobs, or about 10% of the company’s total workforce. Employees affected by the cuts will receive either severance or a 60-day notice.

Ad Loading...

Equipment sales and terminal closures are expected to be complete by the end of 2019 and workforce reductions will be effective in the next 60 to 90 days.

“We factored in the impact of this downsizing as part of the strategic review of our truckload segment,” said CEO Curt Stoelting. “We believe downsizing the dry van business will improve operating margins and cash flow, reduce lease obligations and debt, improve internal controls, and allow greater focus on the significant value-creation opportunities within our other businesses.”

When Roadrunner reported its second quarter financial results in August, the company showed higher operating losses compared to the same period in 2018, which it attributed to challenging market conditions, specifically in the dry van truckload segment.

Ad Loading...

While the company saw increased revenue from its less-than-truckload segments and improvement in the temperature controlled and flatbed truckload segments, the gains were offset by declines in dry van. At the time, Stoelting said that the company planned to put “less focus on the truckload segment in favor of our logistics and asset-light LTL segments.”

In May, Roadrunner announced plans to buy 500 new trucks and acquire or refinance over 2,100 dry van and refrigerated trailers in an effort to reduce its overall fleet age, reduce breakdowns and improve efficiency. By August, the company reported investing over $50 million in the new equipment. It is not certain how the downsizing effort will affect the company’s investment going forward.

More Fleet Management

A monitor with a bar graph with a person sitting next to it wearing a headset.
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets

Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.

Read More →
The Cyber Stop column header with photo of a smiling driver in truck with a laptop and a wi-fi icon
Fleet ManagementAugust 21, 2026

Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data

Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.

Read More →
Woman in white blazer superimposed on background showing a row of Fraley & Schilling truck, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 19, 2026

For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Headshot of Adam Buttgenbach with a Pepsi-branded Tesla Semi in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 18, 2026

Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.

Read More →
Deen Albert in collared shirt superimposed on background showing a Grand Island Express blue tractor pulling a trailer, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 17, 2026

Deen Albert: Let Automation Do the Math, People Make the Decisions

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Deen Albert makes sure people are still at the heart of operations at Grand Island Express, even while adopting artificial intelligence tools. AI-assisted dispatch helped boost revenue 25% with the same number of trucks.

Read More →
Illustration of computer screen with Trimble Arc Agent screen
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 14, 2026

Trimble’s New AI Agent Takes Aim at Fleet Back-Office Busywork

Arc Agent works across Trimble TMS products to automate repetitive tasks such as freight orders, maintenance, invoices, fuel costs and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photos of three men and two women with HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet ManagementCover Storyby Deborah LockridgeAugust 13, 2026

How HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations

Meet five trucking leaders who are challenging assumptions, solving operational problems, and putting innovative ideas to work.

Read More →