YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Hundreds of employees are without work Monday after Falcon Trucking Company, 4944 Belmont Avenue, in Youngstown announced over the weekend that it was shutting down, another devastating blow to a community already hit by the closure of the General Motors plant last month.
According to WKBN, several employees from the company received email and text messages about the closing from Director of Operations Jayson Calhoun.
"All Falcon Employees, We regret to inform you that Falcon Transport Co. is not able to continue operations and will be shutting down effective today. Please stop any work you are doing for the company immediately. You are not expected to return to work. Please be on the lookout for further information we will be sending regarding this situation."
Business Development Manager Nicholas Holdren told WKBN, "Falcon has closed as of today."
Oliver Ford, a driver for Falcon, told WKBN that the company shut off fuel cards, which means drivers who have been dispatched ran out of fuel, leaving many unable to drive back home.
Ford said the company is three weeks behind on pay and at least 300 drivers are affected by the closure.
Congressman Tim Ryan released a statement following the closure.
“This is another example of how our system is rigged. It’s infuriating that this economy continues to gut working class wallets while management attempts to cut their way to prosperity. It's short-sighted, it’s shameful, and it’s wrong. The private equity firm that owns Falcon Trucking has left its drivers stranded all over the country, without explaining when or whether they will get their paychecks. These employees put in years of hard work and deserve to be treated like the hard working Americans they are. The President told these people not to sell their houses. What now? This economy isn’t working for ordinary Americans working hard and playing by the rules. We need to start putting people first. We need a big change in America. I will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of Labor, State of Ohio, and local agencies to see what kind of assistance can be offered to our workers during this difficult time,” said Rep. Tim Ryan.
