APL Logistics is shuttering two warehouses in Minooka, Illinois, eliminating 230 jobs by late February 2026, leaving families in a small logistics-dependent community to face winter without income.
The announcement came abruptly through WARN notices filed on December 1 and 2, 2025, with Illinois authorities. No prior warning reached employees, and the company offered no public rationale. Workers learned of their fate via government filings, scrambling to adjust household finances amid holiday pressures and the season’s hiring slowdown.
Two-Punch Closure Timeline
The first facility at 1460 Cargo Court will close January 31, 2026, affecting 130 employees. Six weeks later, on February 28, 2026, the second site at 6225 E. Minooka Road will lay off 100 more. Both notices listed “plant closure” without detailing business drivers. This staggered timeline prolongs uncertainty, hindering rapid job searches or retraining in a weak winter market.
APL Logistics Profile
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, APL Logistics operates 110 sites across 60 countries, handling warehousing, customs, and fulfillment for global clients. Owned by Japan-based Kintetsu World Express since its 2015 acquisition for $1.22 billion, the firm earned accolades from brands like Target, Lenovo, Kellogg’s, and Nike. The Minooka sites formed key nodes in its North American operations, even as APL expanded elsewhere, such as a new French office in September 2025.
Industry Pressures Mount
The third-party logistics sector grapples with 2025 headwinds: merger activity dropped 15.5% year-over-year, freight recessions squeezed profits, tariff volatility disrupted shipments, and geopolitical tensions added costs. Warehousing overbuilt during the pandemic now faces excess capacity as importers delay or reroute amid rising duties. Firms consolidate by closing regional facilities, favoring automation, AI-driven hubs, and robotics to cut labor needs. APL’s move aligns with this pattern, shedding underperforming assets amid competition and profit strains.
WARN Act Scrutiny and Worker Options
Federal law mandates 60 days’ notice for mass layoffs at firms with 100-plus employees. APL’s filings provided 61 days for the first group and 88 for the second, prompting Strauss Borrelli PLLC to launch a federal probe on December 2, 2025, alleging potential violations. Successful claims could yield 60 days’ back pay, extended health benefits, and penalties multiplying across the workforce—precedents include $20 million for Bitwise workers in 2024 and $700,000 for Beverage Works in 2025.
Minooka, with 12,000 residents in Will County, relies heavily on logistics employment. The closures erase 1-2% of local jobs, slashing $46 million in annual wages. Retail spending will dip, single-income families risk housing instability, and schools face funding shortfalls. Statewide, Illinois shed 1,192 jobs in November 2025 alone, ranking 38th in business taxes amid 1.17 million national layoffs—the worst non-pandemic year. Logistics faces 90,000 more cuts by November.
Workers have pathways forward: file unemployment with the Illinois Department of Employment Security within two weeks; tap Illinois WorkNet for training funds covering manufacturing, healthcare, tech, and trades; contact Strauss Borrelli at 872.263.1100 or sam@straussborrelli.com with records for the suit. APL’s silence on relocation, customer shifts, or severance beyond minimums persists, fueling speculation of broader Kintetsu-directed restructuring.
These closures underscore logistics consolidation’s toll on communities, as firms chase efficiency through tech while courts enforce notice rules. For Minooka families, recovery hinges on swift aid, retraining, and potential settlements amid sector-wide upheaval.
Sources
Yahoo News, “Illinois company to close two plants and lay off workers in 2026,” December 12, 2025
Illinois Department of Commerce WARN database, “Illinois WARN Activities and Layoff Data,” December 2, 2025
State Journal-Register, “Nearly 700 people to be laid off in Illinois. Here’s what to know,” December 9, 2025
Strauss Borrelli PLLC, “APL Logistics WARN Act Investigation,” December 2, 2025
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, “2025 U.S. Layoff Tracker,” December 4, 2025
Capstone Partners, “3PL M&A Update,” September 2025