Regional LTL Carrier Mountain Valley Express Shuts Down Operations

What happened: Mountain Valley Express, a regional less-than-truckload carrier headquartered in Manteca, California, told customers on July 7, 2026 that it had stopped operating. FreightWaves quoted a company email saying existing accounts and services were "no longer active" as of that date. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data lists the carrier with 277 power units serving 13 terminals across California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Why drivers should care: Abrupt carrier shutdowns leave company drivers, dock workers, and contractors without a payroll overnight. Closures rarely include an orderly HR wind-down: fleet apps and dispatch tools often go dark first, while pay stubs may sit on a separate third-party payroll system — or cut off on its own schedule. Knowing where each type of record lives helps you download proof before any portal locks you out.

Behind the headlines

FreightWaves reported Tuesday that Mountain Valley Express confirmed it is no longer operating. In addition to regional LTL linehaul, the carrier provided warehousing and logistics services through its multi-state terminal network.

The carrier had already downsized in late 2024. FreightWaves notes a restructuring that eliminated about 105 positions during integration work tied to DC Logistics and the GLS U.S. Freight brands. In late 2025 the company highlighted growth targets alongside a new transportation management system from Carrier Logistics, Inc. Those plans did not prevent a full shutdown this week.

The company has published a creditor claims link for vendors and contractors with unpaid balances.

What it means for owner-operators

• Lane gaps: Operators who interlined freight through Mountain Valley on West Coast regional runs will need alternate partners on short notice.
• Payment risk: Outstanding settlement balances may require filing through the creditor portal; recovery timelines vary after sudden closures.

What it means for company drivers

• Payroll is usually outsourced: Most trucking employers process wages through a third-party payroll provider — ADP, Paycom, Paylocity, UKG, and similar platforms are common. Your pay stubs and year-to-date earnings often live there, not inside the carrier's dispatch software.
• Carrier systems hold different data: Trip assignments, internal safety notes, training completions, and performance summaries typically sit in the fleet's TMS or driver app. That access tends to disappear quickly when operations halt — sometimes before the payroll site does, sometimes sooner.
• Employment obligations remain: Final wages, reimbursements, and W-2 forms are still owed even after a shutdown. The question is whether you can still log in to download them yourself.

What you can do

• Identify your payroll vendor: Check a recent pay stub or direct-deposit descriptor for the provider name. Log in while credentials still work and download recent pay stubs, year-to-date summaries, and tax withholding statements to a personal device or email archive.
• Export carrier-only records next: Pull whatever the fleet app or employee portal still shows — recent trip or route lists, safety training certificates, performance summaries, and any HOS or mileage exports the employer allows. Do not assume this data is duplicated on the payroll site.
• Save separation details if available: Screenshot or save any in-app notices about last day worked, PTO balances, or equipment return instructions before the carrier site goes offline.
• Document equipment turn-in: If you are leaving a truck or trailer at a closed terminal, take time-stamped photos of the unit and note the location and date while parked.
• Prepare for unemployment filing: State offices ask for employer name, work dates, and earnings. Saved pay stubs from the payroll vendor cover much of that even if HR never sends a formal separation packet.
• Watch regional hiring: Surviving LTL carriers may pick up abandoned lanes and hire locally; a clean safety and MVR history helps when terminals restart recruiting.

What to watch next

Removing 277 power units will push shippers on California, Arizona, and Nevada regional lanes to rebook freight quickly. Competitor LTL carriers may post hiring openings near former terminal cities over the next two weeks. Watch regional job boards while parked, and keep downloaded payroll and safety records organized before portal access ends.

Sources: FreightWaves. Trucker Feedback analysis for drivers. Not legal or financial advice.