CALIFORNIA – Epic Lightning Fast Service LLC, a trucking company based in San Diego notified the Employment Development Department that it is permanently closing and laying off 116 employees effective, October 31, 2025.
Positions affected by the closure include 8 dispatchers, 3 administrative assistants, and 105 delivery associates.
The company moved general freight across state lines and had a fleet of 59 trucks.
The announcement comes after Fresno-based TGS Transportation closed at the end of July, ending 40 years in business amid challenging market conditions in the trucking industry.
Economic and industry pressures
The U.S. trucking industry remains in a prolonged freight recession, with 13 consecutive quarters of weakening demand and stagnant spot rates squeezing carriers—especially small and mid-size operators.
Rising operating costs have compounded the strain.
Despite a small dip in total costs to $2.26 per mile in 2024, non-fuel expenses hit a record $1.78 per mile, up 3.6% year over year, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) projects a 1.6% increase in freight volumes in 2025, while ACT Research forecasts a similar 1.8% uptick—modest gains that may not offset years of decline.
California specific challenges
In California, diesel prices remain $1+ above the national average, and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard adds roughly $0.54 per gallon in compliance costs.
High insurance premiums, wage requirements, and administrative costs under AB 5 (the worker-classification law) have further tightened margins for small fleets.
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