Another blow just hit the U.S. trucking industry and “it’s just getting worse,” said trucker Josh from The Enemy From Within, reacting to the latest round of layoffs in a viral video.
Texas International Enterprises, a cross-border carrier based in Laredo, Texas, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and laid off 600 drivers. It’s one more sign of serious strain in a sector that many truckers say is collapsing under financial pressure.
According to a bankruptcy filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, the company reported between $10 million and $50 million in assets and liabilities. It also said more than 200 creditors are affected and that after administrative costs, there won’t be any money left for unsecured creditors.
The company, which operates 280 power units and 1,500 trailers, had an active status with the U.S. Department of Transportation and logged over 39 million miles in 2024.
But by this month, it joined the growing list of carriers shutting down amid falling freight rates, high costs, and slow demand.
A Border Shutdown With Big Implications
What makes this case particularly alarming is the company’s location. Laredo, Texas, is one of the busiest hubs for international shipping between the U.S. and Mexico.
“A trucking company closing in Laredo, Texas this time of year should send off the alarm bells like crazy,” Josh said. He pointed out that the area is always packed with freight movement, especially during the holiday season.
“Laredo, Texas is an excellent economic indicator of what’s going on in shipping. And the reason is because it’s international trade.”
The driver, who posts regularly about industry conditions, added that this isn’t just about one company. It’s part of a much bigger downturn that’s been building for months.
Warning Signs Piling Up
In the same video, the trucker shared footage of nearly empty truck stops and shorter wait times at major warehouses. These are things drivers notice before the numbers even show up in reports.
“I was telling you guys about the empty truck stops all over the country, or the lower wait times at shippers and receivers,” he said. “There just weren’t as many trucks there.”
While critics initially dismissed his concerns, he says the evidence is now too clear to ignore.
The holiday season typically brings a spike in freight volume, but many drivers report it’s been flat or even slower than usual.
Owner-Operators Hit the Hardest
Texas International employed 600 drivers, yet operated only 280 trucks. That indicates many of the drivers were likely owner-operators—independent drivers who own or lease their own trucks.
“Donald Trump hates the owner-operator truck driver because Donald Trump hates small business in general,” the driver claimed.
He went on to say that larger companies are consolidating control over the freight industry while independent operators are being pushed out.
“Good luck breaking through and trying to make a run for yourself at buying your own truck or even starting your own trucking company. Unless you’ve got some other sort of revenue stream, you’re pretty well [expletive], right?”
He warned that if the trend continues, the industry will be dominated entirely by mega-carriers.
Holiday Season Blues
This bankruptcy hits during what should be peak season. December is normally a strong month for trucking companies due to increased demand for goods, shipping, and restocking.
“We should be absolutely terrified by the signs we’re seeing in trucking as it relates to the United States economy,” the driver said. He predicted that the first quarter of 2026 will be a “complete bloodbath” for small and mid-size trucking firms.
So far, Texas International hasn’t released a restructuring plan or announced whether it will continue operating. The company did not respond to requests for comment from FreightWaves.
A Frustrated Industry
Josh has been documenting similar shutdowns for months. In a recent video titled “Donald Trump just screwed more American truckers,” he reacted to the sudden closures of MinStar Transport and Transport Design Inc., two Minnesota-based carriers that laid off around 200 drivers.
Both companies were owned by Minneapolis private equity firm True North Equity Partners and operated fleets of about 100 trucks each.
“But right now, the big thing that is going on that people need to be aware of economically is that the trucking industry is absolutely collapsing because of Donald Trump’s tariffs,” Josh said.
Drivers were reportedly left stranded with no notice and no working fuel cards. “You are now out of a job,” he said, emphasizing how isolating and difficult a shutdown can be for drivers far from home.
He also pointed to 10 Roads Express, a longstanding U.S. Postal Service contractor, which recently announced it would shut down and lay off 2,000 employees. With freight volumes down 25% and operating costs up, many companies are finding it impossible to stay afloat.
“This is a big deal,” Josh warned, predicting “absolute destruction” for the industry in the first quarter of 2026.
The driver’s rant struck a nerve with many in the trucking community. He criticized those who blame immigrants for the industry’s problems, calling it a distraction from the real economic forces at play.
“We’re going to do the lazy thing here, though, that we always do in America. Blame a Mexican. That’s what we’re going to do because we don’t actually want to learn how anything works.”
He ended the video with a warning to fellow drivers not to ignore the economic writing on the wall.
“Right now, while you’re bowing down to Donald Trump and saying he’s doing great things for you, he is getting you fired. He is selling you out to the mega-carriers.”
As the trucking industry heads into 2026, smaller companies and independent drivers face a tough road ahead. With more bankruptcies piling up and freight demand soft, many fear the golden era of the owner-operator may be coming to an end.
“It breaks my heart,” the driver said. “It used to be everyone’s goal to get out here and learn to drive these damn trucks, then buy your own rig.”