It is all too common for once-prosperous trucking companies who are bought out by private equity companies to end up going under a short time later. Several such high-profile shutdowns have left drivers stranded while executives cash their checks and head for greener pastures. Some employees who are left at a recently shuttered trucking company are banding and working for free to help others land on their feet.
Michael Dusi Logistics (MDL) was founded twenty years ago. It grew to include Michael Dusi Trucking and Michael Dusi Logistics Warehouse. Then, in March of 2018, it was taken over by two private equity companies, Tattooed Dog Holdings and Headhaul Capital Partners, LLC.
Less than two years after MDL was taken over, it closed down. A letter sent by employees of the company to a local newspaper, The Paso Robles Press, lays the blame squarely at the feet of the private equity firms who bought out the company.
“The saga of Michael Dusi Trucking and Warehouse companies is a long one and like all great sagas, whether good or bad, there must be an end,” reads the letter. “This one has been a very bad end.”
“Unfortunately, the investors who came in to save the company were not the business-savvy personas they projected to all of the loyal employees. We were given the choice to ‘keep on trucking’ and pay our rent, mortgage, daycare, etc. to continue to live and work in this beautiful place, or leave. The employees that remained until today have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into trying to make this company work, and we were gaining significant momentum. As we were beginning to see the fruits of our long nights and lost weekends come to fruition, the investors and company leadership summarily departed to the East Coast without warning. Effectively, we have been left to close down the company with no guidance and no warning from our leadership team. We are very sorry this must end this way.”
Fortunately for those who lost their jobs however, some at the company are continuing to offer assistance to fellow employees to help them find new work. “As the last remaining employees attempt to close down the doors our primary concern is for our team, our work family, and that they land on their feet.”
MDL workers have set up a temporary email address where potential employers or those looking to help fellow truckers find employment can reach out: mdlogistics.talent@gmail.com.
“Former staff members will continue to distribute this information long after we receive our final pay checks,” says the letter.
In the heartfelt note, those left holding the bag make an appeal to the community – and anyone else who might read it.
“You are our community, you are our neighbors, and you are our friends. Our kids go to school together, we hit the same bars on Saturday, and ask for forgiveness for it in the same places of worship on Sunday. The last thing we want to do is end our 20+ years of service with you with a bad taste in your mouth. You deserve better and we deserve better. We will be doing whatever we can to make this dissolution as painless as possible for you, our customers, our vendors, and our friends.”
You can see the full text of the letter from The Paso Robles Press website below:
“To Whom It May Concern:
We regret to inform you that Michael Dusi Trucking and Michael Dusi Logistics Warehouse, collectively known as MDL, will be shutting our doors effective immediately.
The saga of Michael Dusi Trucking and Warehouse companies is a long one and like all great sagas, whether good or bad, there must be an end. This one has been a very bad end. Many of the employees started with the company at the beginning or grew up seeing the big shiny Michael Dusi Trucks driving down the 101 or the 46 freeway. In the past year and a half, we’ve recruited new team members that uprooted their families to take an active role in transforming this company. Every one of us took immense pride in being part of a company that has been a part of the fabric of Paso Robles, the Central Coast, and the entire wine community.
Unfortunately, the investors who came in to save the company were not the business-savvy personas they projected to all of the loyal employees. We were given the choice to ‘keep on trucking’ and pay our rent, mortgage, daycare, etc. to continue to live and work in this beautiful place, or leave. The employees that remained until today have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into trying to make this company work, and we were gaining significant momentum. As we were beginning to see the fruits of our long nights and lost weekends come to fruition, the investors and company leadership summarily departed to the East Coast without warning. Effectively, we have been left to close down the company with no guidance and no warning from our leadership team. We are very sorry this must end this way.
You are our community, you are our neighbors, and you are our friends. Our kids go to school together, we hit the same bars on Saturday, and ask for forgiveness for it in the same places of worship on Sunday. The last thing we want to do is end our 20+ years of service with you with a bad taste in your mouth. You deserve better and we deserve better. We will be doing whatever we can to make this dissolution as painless as possible for you, our customers, our vendors, and our friends.
We will start by asking a favor. When our investors and current leadership threw in the towel, they left highly qualified talent with deep industry experience holding nothing but sand. As the last remaining employees attempt to close down the doors our primary concern is for our team, our work family, and that they land on their feet. We will be providing a list of our staff, their skillsets, and their contact information to any customer who wants it to keep this community strong. If you have an opportunity available or know of opportunities, please help support us, your neighbors. We are still here, in this community trying to sort out our situation. We’ve set up a temporary email address where you can reach out with opportunities mdlogistics.talent@gmail.com. Former staff members will continue to distribute this information long after we receive our final pay checks.
Next, we ask that you bear with us during this short wind down and dissolution. We know you have questions. For more than a few of you, the practices of this company have negatively impacted you. We have had our sleepless nights with these practices too. We will be functioning with an incredibly small skeleton staff moving forward. Today will be the last day for the majority of the under signers but we will do our best to limit the negative impact on our customers as much as possible.
Finally, we want to apologize again for the abruptness and pain this will cause. We did our best to make this thing work for you and for us and we would have achieved it if not for the failure of our leadership.
Thank you for your support and business over the years.”
Source: pasoroblesdailynews, freightwaves, gomdl, pasoroblespress
Fuel is to high price. The rich get greedy. The blue collar starve. I drove long haul 18 years. If it were not for ssi I’d be working at McDonald’s (not).
There are to many of these situations happening. I am sorry for your situation and wish Gods best on you and for you. Maybe the remaining employees can talk to the banks and factor in the remaining customers and buy the company as is and continue to support their existing contract with the help of their bank.
Just the name of those investors would be a red flag for me.
AMEN!!
I’m at May Trucking Company out of Brooks Oregon.
They’re a growing company and have treated me good.
If you need a truck driving job and have a good record give them a call. They have terminals all over the country.
Typical private equity firm! Such the life out of a company and just leave carnage behind with total disregard for who it effects. Greed at it’s most disgusting level!
And yet our conservative media personalities would have us continue in our Stockholm syndrome in blind awe of the American business owner. Everyone is on the cusp of being let go every day, but that’s supposed to be acceptable for the working second class citizens while the management insists on having its every whim and care lovingly pampered.
It’s a little too late! Truckers aren’t just losing their jobs due to closures, but many owner operators can’t afford to fuel or repair their trucks due to brokers severely underbidding the industry and lining their pockets. It was a matter of time before it implodes.
They’re not underbidding….just underpaying!
Like what was done to Falcon Transport by Counterpoint Capitol Partners from Californication
How could you take seriously an investor who goes by tattooed dog?
The government is responsible. When they “de-regulated” this industry they de-regulated the wrong people and started over regulating the wrong people.
They want it this way and it’s not going to change.
They deregulated the airlines and damn near broke them but all these prob we hav is our fault ,nobody else is 2 blame but us for sitting back an do nothing .keep this n mind -we r the only industry that controls this country nd we r the weakest!
I’ve been a driver for 20 years, the last year I’ve been at Bob Evans Foods (not a part of the restaurant chain anymore) I’ve never been treated better compensated more fairly or had better benefits or home time! I’m making 85,000 a year I’m home for 3-3.5 days every week as I run a dedicated deal but some guys here are making over 100,000 a year and still home every week! Our equipment is good and very well maintained, we have locations in Ohio, Michigan, and Texas . But we run all over the country! I think you should probably live near the offices but I don’t know about that for sure… if anyone from that company is looking for a great job , give them a call ! You will not be disappointed
I have been driving for 20 plus yrs had worked for 15-20 different companies all because of mostly they changed something like pay different route planning etc; Company I now work for cut my pay plus I go across country.I originally was to be home every week end but that all changed so I’m just looking 4 something that we both could agree on
c2860719
Last filing with the Secretary of State office in Sacramento was March 6 2018, and on that P.D.F. page submission lists “Michael Dusi as Agent for service of process” so unless I am missing some other filing since then on the SOS.CA.GOV website I do not see that proper notification was given to the Secretary of State office of any change in the status of ownership. The bank would have a new listing of signer on the checking accout otherwise that would be bank fraud if the new guys were signing checks. Fraud anybody?
Bet nothing changed hands.. just names..you ought to run those equity firms..bet the same names will keep poping up…
I found a home at trucking Proz outtahudson Wisconsin
Hired on toldem dont lie to me, and they haven’t. 3100 miles a week great equipment and 50cpm . While lots shutting down trucking Proz is expanding and I am a jerk honestly don’t take b.s. and figure I was looking for a job when I found this 1. 7jobs 2/3 years because if you lie to me I quit. At the rate this job is going I’ll be here until retirement. Do call them. Don’t mention my name. They have a referral bonus but I don’t want that. I want my fellow drivers to have a sound reliable job. Jason is the owner and he is a man of his word.
On the California Secretary of State listing of Corporations and LLC entities I find no reference to either Tattooed Dog Holdings or Headhaul Capital Partners, LLC. This means that unless I am mistaken these businesses were either ficticious or not licenses by the State to do business inn California, nor licenses as foreign businesses in california. This may encourage you to seek advice from a Lawyer licensed to practice and aware of California Corporate Laws
Crete is always looking for great drivers, contact them. I’ve been here 8 months. Also anyone with tanker and hazmat, contact LSP out of Texas, my brother works for them, going on 10 years I think. Great money.
Just wondering if a company like Taylor Express is destined for the same date. Saw the story they were bought from Celadon by White Willow Holdings out of NH. Never heard of them, I just know they paid a lot less to Celadon than was paid to Taylor Express in 2014.
Hello, Driver’s If you’re looking for a Great Company to drive for either o/o or company I suggest Duke Transportation in Cincinnati Family Owned and Operated very Family Oriented I Love this Outfit
Hello drivers I drive for wfx out of okc and I’m a contractor they treat you like a human not a steering wheel holder if you are a runner they will keep you running so if you do go just let them know 2875 c sent you
O’boy it’s all up to you drivers to organize your own organization to put a end of the criminal acts and selfishness of the hands in this industry,
Anyone who thinks 0.050 per mile is good money and have to run 3000 miles a week for a industry that makes this country stay afloat your clueless.
I have driven for more then 31 years and the fuel coast and letting the foreners drive the us truck driver out of there jobs we will all be paying for this when there’s no more jobs for the truck drivers that made this country and the DOT
Unless drivers UNITE and form a union, we will ALL be set for DOOM! I’ve trucked for 30 years and watched these GREEDY owners buy houses around the world, buying yachts etc., while we truckers make them millions and get pennies for our hard work and hard living! “Unionize or Die” that should be EVERY trucker’s motto! Owners are some Greedy MF’s!!
We have become a nation devoid of honor or integrity blindly trusting in say anything, do anything leadership. God has a plan, but we must move our hands and feet. What I hear in this letter is the voice of an intelligent hardworking man with a broken heart. In brokenness, his leadership is made clear. Why shut down at ALL? YOU CAN DO THIS. Local money. Local legal representation. May GOD BE WITH YOU. AMEN.
We need to quit listening to politics some one blows a horn on truck and says he loves truck drivers this guy loves anyone he can con into voting for him throw em all out start over that’s what I say
Think LTL as , Estes, Old Dominion, …
My uncle, during ww2 in Europe, drove war supplies to the front 24/7.
Dues anyone remember the – RED BALL EXPRESS