Billings, MT — Meadow Lark Transport Inc. has abruptly shuttered its doors, ending a 40-year run in the logistics industry and leaving approximately 275 office staff and drivers searching for new employment. The sudden collapse of this Montana-based brokerage and trucking company leaves a void in the national supply chain, impacting a fleet that operated 337 power units across 40 nationwide terminals.
Founded in 1983 by Rick and Donna Jones and later acquired by their daughter, Mandy Roth, the company had recently reported annual revenues exceeding $200 million. Despite this scale, the business environment turned toxic long before the final closure. Contracted carriers report being stiffed on invoices for months, and the company has stopped taking phone calls regarding payment status, opting instead to send generic emails acknowledging the debt while failing to provide a timeline for settlement.
Legal trouble shadowed the company’s final years. In June 2022, a former driver initiated a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The litigation targets the carrier's lease-driver program, alleging that Meadow Lark misled contractors regarding the true economics of the operation. Plaintiffs claim that once fuel, maintenance, and lease payments were deducted, many drivers were left with zero pay or ended up in debt to the company, failing to receive the promised 75% of actual gross revenue.
What This Means for Drivers
The immediate impact for the 273 drivers formerly under the Meadow Lark banner is a chaotic transition into a tight job market. Many CDL-A driver professionals are now forced to scramble for new positions while dealing with the fallout of withheld final paychecks. Owner-operator contractors who relied on the brokerage for consistent freight are now left with significant bad debt, which threatens their own ability to maintain their equipment and meet regulatory obligations. With the company refusing to answer phones, those owed money are likely looking at a long, difficult road through bankruptcy court to recover any portion of their earnings.
Industry Reaction
The collapse of a firm with 40 terminals highlights the ongoing instability facing mid-sized carriers in the current freight market. While some industry observers point to the high-interest rate environment and fluctuating fuel costs, the Meadow Lark case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with lease-purchase programs. Advocates for independent contractors have long warned that opaque contract structures can often leave a driver with no path to profitability. For an OTR truck driver, this serves as a cautionary tale about vetting the financial health of any carrier before signing a lease or committing to a long-term contract.
Key Points
- Meadow Lark Transport operated 337 power units and 40 terminals nationwide before its sudden closure.
- The company had been in operation for four decades, originating as a family-owned business in 1983.
- A class-action lawsuit filed in 2022 remains active, alleging deceptive business practices within the carrier's lease-driver program.
- Contracted carriers report that the company stopped paying invoices months before the final shutdown and has ceased all phone communication.
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