More than a hundred auto transport workers in Fort Wayne found themselves without jobs last week after Jack Cooper Transport abruptly ceased operations. The closure came after major automakers, including General Motors and Ford, severed ties with the company, leaving employees blindsided and scrambling for answers.
No Warning, No Time to Prepare
Ken Butterfield and Tasha Burgoon were among the employees caught off guard. They wrapped up what seemed like a normal workday, only to receive messages later instructing them not to return.
“When I left Thursday at 1 p.m., everything was as normal,” Butterfield said. “And then about a quarter after six Friday night, my direct supervisor called and said, ‘As of 6 p.m., Jack Cooper is no more.’”
Now, rows of idle trucks sit in Jack Cooper’s parking lot—a stark reminder of the jobs that vanished overnight. Burgoon described the past week as “crazy, sad, all of the bad adjectives you can think of.”
Contract Losses Led to Collapse
Jack Cooper’s troubles started last month when Ford ended its longstanding contract. The company struggled to stay afloat, but the final blow came when General Motors walked away after failed contract negotiations.
GM later confirmed the split, telling the Detroit Free Press: “We can confirm that Jack Cooper Transport management has informed us of their plans to unilaterally stop services to GM, effective immediately.”
Employees, however, were kept in the dark. “The most frustrating thing is the lack of communication from the top down,” Butterfield said. “They were in negotiations with GM for weeks, and we didn’t know. Maybe we could have prepared better.”
Uncertain Futures for Workers
Now, more than 100 former employees are left searching for new jobs, uncertain of what comes next.
- Many workers have families depending on their income.
- Some are struggling with immediate financial concerns after losing their paychecks with no notice.
- Others are still processing the sudden shock of losing what they thought were stable jobs.
Burgoon remains determined to stay positive despite the situation. “I’m trying to encourage everyone else to stay positive too,” she said.
Butterfield, a father of five, is feeling the pressure. “My family, I have five children, my wife, and a dog. And I still don’t have many answers.”
Jack Cooper Transport has not responded to requests for comment. However, a letter sent to employees last week confirmed the company’s decision to shut down.
