Ruan photo

Iowa-based Ruan Transportation has closed its two logistics offices in Tulare and Turlock, according to a layoff notice filed with the state.

Ruan Transport Corp. at 754 S. Blackstone St. in Tulare laid off 92 employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the Employment Development Department.

Another 47 employees at the Turlock operations were losing their jobs, according to the Jan. 8 filing.

According to City of Tulare officials, the company will be exiting the milk hauling business in California after serving Central Valley dairies for decades.

The company had advised patrons for some time that they were planning this exit, although “the news set off quite a scramble,” says one dairy industry source. Everyone has found alternative transportation, however, added the source.

Both Tulare and Turlock have multiple dairy processors that receive milk daily from dairies in the region.

Ruan Trucking was founded in 1932 by John Ruan with just one truck. The small business grew into Ruan Transportation Management Systems, one of the nation’s largest trucking networks with more than 300 operations and 5,000 employees, of which 80% are truck drivers. 

Ruan also has 1.5 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space.

A spokesperson for the company was not available for comment.

Speculation, however, relates to the cost of tightening air quality rules in California that would require major fleets to upgrade from diesel to zero-emission trucks. Litigation over reporting mandates on existing trucks has recently led to a temporary postponement of pending deadlines.

Still, major investment in new trucks will be required in California.