AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SMOKEY MOUNTAIN LOGISTICS

Lebanon, Tennessee-based Smokey Mountain Logistics, a last-mile delivery company operating as an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, has announced it is permanently closing its Lebanon operations.

The closure will impact 145 employees, including 75 drivers, effective February 28, 2026.

As with most Amazon last-mile contractors, rising costs, uneven delivery demand, and stringent contractual requirements make a one-customer company vulnerable to financial and operational difficulties.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ALAN RITCHEY

Valley View, Texas-based Alan Ritchey, a logistics and trucking company contracted to operate the U.S. Postal Service's Denver Regional Transfer Hub, has announced the closure of the U.S. Postal Service’s Denver Regional Transfer Hub.

The closure will impact 729 employees commencing on February 28, 2026.

CEO Robby Ritchey noted, "We regret that we could not provide more notice of this layoff. The United States Postal Service notified the Company by letter late in the day on December 29, 2025, that, effective February 28, 2026, it is terminating the performance period of the Company’s contract with it. This was not expected or foreseeable. The performance period has been continuously extended over the last year.

Further, the Company could not foresee that the USPS would provide such short notice of termination, since we had previously been informed that USPS would modify and transition the facility to a USPS facility, a process that would take more than 61 days.

On Monday, January 5, 2026, we spoke with the USPS by phone and requested an extension of the performance period. USPS declined. The Company is left with no other options."

In July, USPS Deputy Assistant Inspector General Mary Lloyd released a critical audit of the Denver mail hub, finding that the facility lacked sufficient security to safeguard registered mail and recommending termination of its management contract at the end of 2025.

An April inspection revealed numerous packages that had been cut open, with labels and contents missing. Damaged mail was not turned over to USPS staff as required, and the volume of compromised packages far exceeded that of comparable USPS-run facilities.

The audit concluded that these deficiencies exposed mail to theft and unauthorized handling. USPS management also raised concerns that contract employees were opening Priority Mail Open and Distribute (PMOD) sacks to selectively steal medications.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT MCLANE COMPANY

Temple, Texas-based McLane Company, a wholesale supply chain services company that distributes products to convenience stores, discount retailers, wholesale clubs, drug stores, military bases, fast-food restaurants, and casual dining restaurants, has announced it's scaling back to a single work shift at its Danville, Illinois facility.

The reduction will impact up to 220 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, “McLane announced that we are making adjustments to staffing levels at our Danville facility based on current business needs. McLane has been a longstanding employer in the region and remains committed to our teammates, customers and the community. While this was a difficult decision, our focus remains on supporting our teammates and delivering value to our customers.”

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?