Staffing cuts at U.S. logistics firms have more than doubled between September and the end of November, as businesses have struggled to manage costs in the face of persistently weak freight demand.

According to a survey of 284 U.S. shipping and transportation professionals from technology publishing outlet Tech.co, the number of logistics companies that have reduced their employee headcount rose from 13% to 28% between September and November, while the share of firms reducing employee hours increased from 13% to 26% over that same period.

"It's bad news for companies and their workers, with businesses needing to quickly stretch budgets to stay afloat as they head into an uncertain new year," said Tech.co editor Jack Turner.

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“Managing financial pressure” was cited as a top business priority by 20% of respondents in both October and November. That's up eight percentage points from September, and marked the first time Tech.co had seen a sustained focus on financial pressure in back-to-back months. 

That pressure has been driven in part by the lack of a surge in freight demand that's typically seen at the end of the year, with 17% of logistics firms reporting low demand in the fourth quarter of 2025. Rising fuel prices have added additional strain, with average U.S. diesel prices hitting their highest levels of the year in November, and more than a quarter of respondents reporting that fuel accounts for as much 39% of their company's monthly operating budget.