Trucking company plagued with “bogus” lawsuits shutting down after 71 years

A trucking company says that a barrage of “bogus” lawsuits has forced them to close their doors after 71 years of business. 

Carroll Fulmer Logistics was founded in 1954 by Carroll Fulmer, running loads in Georgia and South Carolina. The company then moved to New York and opened an office in Groveland, Florida in 1995, which became their headquarters. 

The trucking company operates 400 trucks and 1700 trailers, with 100 employees in Groveland alone. The family-run business says that the economy and a slew of “bogus” lawsuits have given them no choice but to shut down. 

“There are many attorneys who make it seem easy to sue a trucking company,” said company partner Phillip Fulmer to the Clermont Sun. “Many of these lawsuits are bogus, meaning that no injury actually occurred, but we still have to fight them and that takes a lot of money. These payments cause people to lose jobs and businesses to close and insurance rates to increase for everyone. We can’t carry on. It’s tiring and it’s draining fighting all the time. Sadly, we’ve had enough. I know I can’t deal with this anymore.”

The company says that it has been fighting as many as 6 to 8 lawsuits at a time, each claiming more than $250,000. Fulmer also says that the last four years post-Covid have been the worst for the company economically. 

The company plans to offer their 600 employees 60 days severance pay and assistance finding a new job.  

“We want to do right by our faithful employees, some who have been with us for many years. They matter to us. We hope to wind down as smooth as we can and attempt to get all vendors paid before we close,” Fulmer said. 

“We feel the most for our employees,” he continued. “All employees will be paid for 60 days. Carroll Fulmer along with the assistance of local businesses and the City of Groveland will be helping their employees obtain positions with other businesses.. I hate that it’s come to this, but we have no choice. We want to thank Groveland for years of support of our family’s business. I’m just sorry it must end.”