In a stunning turn of events, California-based trucking company Kal Freight Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, unveiling a web of fraudulent activities that have sent shockwaves through the industry. The company faces serious allegations of financial misconduct and asset mismanagement.
According to a filing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Kal Freight employs 600 drivers and has 580 power units. The company was founded in 2014 and has locations in California, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Arizona and Arkansas.
Kal Freight filed Chapter 11 with nearly $325 million in long-term debt. Unsecured claims total at least $24 million, according to court filings. Among the largest unsecured creditors are CIMC Reefer Trailer Inc., owed more than $12 million; Continental Tire, owed more than $1 million; and Cargo Solution Express, owed more than $950,000.
However, court documents reveal a far more troubling picture of Kal Freight’s operations. Daimler Truck Financial Services USA, LLC, the company’s largest vehicle finance lender, has uncovered evidence of massive fraud perpetrated by Kal Freight against its creditors.
In a shocking revelation, Daimler alleges that Kal Freight fraudulently obtained approximately $16.878 million to purchase 164 trailers from Vanguard. However, the company never actually paid Vanguard or received the trailers. Instead, Kal Freight somehow managed to provide Daimler with fraudulent certificates of title for these non-existent trailers, complete with recorded liens. To add insult to injury, Kal Freight continued to make monthly payments on this loan as if the trailers had been purchased and were in their possession.
Daimler’s investigation has also uncovered that approximately 366 trailers serving as collateral for their loans were illegally transferred to Big Rig Trailers & Leasing, Inc., a Canadian affiliate of Kal Freight owned by the same individual, Mr. Singh. These trailers were subsequently sold, leased, or pledged to third parties in Canada, potentially creating a complex legal situation where innocent third parties may claim senior interest in the collateral. This unauthorized transfer could result in an additional $20 million loss for Daimler.
In yet another fraudulent maneuver, Kal Freight reportedly transferred numerous trucks and trailers that were part of Daimler’s collateral to its affiliate, Kal Trailers & Leasing Inc., a truck and trailer dealer. Kal Trailers then sold these units to third parties, allegedly free and clear of Daimler’s liens, under the guise of ordinary business transactions. Daimler never received the proceeds from these unauthorized transfers.
