Press Releases
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Louisville, Kentucky
New Facility Fuels Growth and Enhancements to Support Customers and Associates
LEXINGTON, S.C. (December 9, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in Louisville, Kentucky.
The new Louisville service center, located at 150 Loves Road in Shepherdsville, consists of 40 associates and 100 dock doors – more than double the number of dock doors featured at the previous facility. Boasting an elevated appointment warehouse, a driver rest facility, truck shop and more, the new state-of-the-art Louisville service center highlights Southeastern's continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers, supporting the well-being and development of its associates, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
"This new service center is an incredible upgrade for Louisville, enabling us to not only better support our team of associates but advance our performance and optimize travel times," said Henson Gibbs, service center manager. "We're excited to operate from this new, ideal location to bolster our service in the Louisville area, and I'm confident that great opportunities are ahead for our team."
Previously located at 2220 South 7th Street, the Louisville service center opened for business in 2015 with 48 dock doors and eight associates.
"Advancing our culture and providing quality service are fundamental to who we are at Southeastern, and the growth of our operations in Louisville reflects our ongoing commitment to furthering this mission," said Jason Hood, regional vice president of operations. "With its network of dock doors and modern amenities, the new service center equips the Louisville team with the resources and capacity needed to continue its growth trajectory for years to come."
Southeastern Freight Lines Expands Reach with New Direct Service Line to Las Cruces, New Mexico
LEXINGTON, S.C. (September 24, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload transportation services, today announced the launch of a new direct service line to Las Cruces, New Mexico – signifying a notable addition to the company’s arsenal of reliable, efficient transportation solutions.
The new route will be serviced from Southeastern’s El Paso service center in Texas, elevating the company’s ability to meet the growing demands for freight movement in the Southwest region. As a reflection of its mission to deliver Quality Without Question service, Southeastern's direct service to Las Cruces offers significant benefits to its customers, including reduced shipping costs, enhanced delivery reliability and consistency and improved transit times, including next-day shipping from the Dallas, Fort Worth, Odessa and San Antonio areas of Texas.
“As a company, we are continuously working to advance our culture, empower operational excellence and innovate quality service,” said Brian Schulz, vice president of service center operations. “This strategic move not only bolsters our strong footprint but empowers us to meet and exceed the needs of our customers with greater efficiency. We look forward to leveraging our optimized service structure to support the rapid economic growth of the Las Cruces area.”
Since its establishment in 1950, consistent, organic growth has been a key component of Southeastern’s success. Boasting 37 dock doors and a dynamic team of 45 associates, the El Paso service center’s robust operational network and dedicated team are perfectly positioned to support the extension of the company’s seamless, high-quality transportation services into neighboring zip codes.
“The team at El Paso is thrilled at the opportunity to service and develop new business relationships in a new market,” said Joe Cardenas, service center manager at the El Paso facility. “The expansion of our delivery services into the Las Cruces area is a testament to our associates’ commitment to fostering a community of collaboration and integrating our core values into every aspect of our operations.”
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 35 Years of Service at its Miami and West Palm Beach Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (September 3, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 35 years of “Quality Without Question” service at its service centers in Miami, Florida and West Palm Beach, Florida.
Both service centers opened in 1989 and have seen significant growth since their establishment. Miami began operations with 20 dock doors and 39 associates and currently boasts 101 dock doors and 127 associates. West Palm Beach’s initial seven dock doors and 10 associates has since expanded to 93 dock doors and 84 associates.
“Since 1989, the associates at our Miami service center have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence, helping further our goal of delivering unmatched quality and integrity to our great customers,” said Raul Garcia, Miami’s service center manager. “As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our mission to not only continually enhance and grow our operations but uphold the company values that position Southeastern as a trusted leader in the transportation industry.”
To commemorate this significant milestone, the Miami service center is honoring Linehaul Driver Anthony Davis – an associate who has worked at the facility since its humble beginnings 35 years ago – for his pivotal role in helping establish the service center as a cornerstone of the Miami area and its surrounding communities.
“Looking back, it’s rewarding to see the impact that the West Palm Beach service center has made within the community, including the strong relationships we've built with customers and partners across industries,” said Josh Beaty, West Palm Beach’s service center manager. “Our success today is due to the hard work and dedication of both past and present associates. We look forward to continuing our tradition of delivering ‘Quality Without Question’ service to the South Florida market for years to come.”
Over the years, the Miami and West Palm Beach service centers have given back to their communities, most recently through Southeastern Serves – a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist the less fortunate.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Miami service center has volunteered with organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities. In addition, the service center raised donations for and participated in the St. Jude Walk/Run – a nationwide cancer walk event during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to help support St. Jude’s mission of finding cures for childhood cancer. Valuing the same commitment to community, the West Palm Beach service center has supported various nonprofit organizations, such as Little Smiles, and donated resources to the individuals in Puerto Rico who were impacted by Hurricane Maria.
The Miami service center was the 24th service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Soon after, the West Palm Beach service center was founded as the 25th location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Southeastern Freight Lines Receives 2023 Echo Global Logistics LTL Carrier of the Year Platinum Award
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 10, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as a 2023 Echo Global Logistics LTL Carrier of the Year Platinum Award winner. This prestigious honor marks Southeastern’s ninth Platinum Award, breaking the record for most wins in the category since the award’s founding in 2008.
Echo is an industry-leading provider of technology-enabled managed transportation and supply chain services. Its LTL Carrier of the Year Platinum Award was created to recognize LTL carriers who consistently meet and exceed the company’s rigorous quality standards and provide excellent customer service to both the Echo team worldwide as well as their mutual clients.
“We are honored and humbled to be recognized for our unwavering commitment to delivering top-notch, timely shipment and delivery services,” said Richard Slater, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Southeastern. “This could not have been accomplished without the hard work and dedication of our associates and their execution of our quality processes. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Echo team for this honor and look forward to growing our strong partnership to continue serving and elevating the broader transportation industry.”
“We’re grateful to have a reliable and efficient carrier partner in Southeastern,” said Marty Martin, senior vice president of sourcing at Echo Global Logistics. “The company’s incredible dedication to on-time delivery, high-quality performance and visibility into every shipment are values we share at Echo. As a leading third-party logistics provider (3PL), this dedication allows us to provide simple solutions to complex problems unique to every client and carrier.”
Southeastern’s Taylor Humphrey, national account manager, and Toby Toburen, director of 3PL national accounts, accepted the award at Echo’s Chicago headquarters in early May.
About Echo Global Logistics
Echo Global Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services. Headquartered in Chicago with more than 30 offices around the country, Echo offers freight brokerage and Managed Transportation Solutions for all major modes, including truckload, partial truckload, LTL, intermodal, temperature-controlled shipping and warehousing, and warehouse services. Named one of Newsweek’s Most Trusted Companies in America, Echo leverages its proprietary, web-based and mobile app technology, analyzing data from its network of more than 50,000 transportation providers to help its 35,000 clients simplify the critical tasks involved in transportation management. For more information on Echo Global Logistics, visit: www.echo.com.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Greenville Service Center Celebrates 65 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 3, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 65 years of Quality Without Question service at its Greenville service center located in Piedmont, South Carolina.
The original service center opened for business in 1959 with 10 dock doors and 16 associates. By 2007, it had expanded to include 112 dock doors. To continue the facility’s rapid growth trajectory, Southeastern relocated the service center to 516 Sagitairus Way in 2020, which now boasts 202 dock doors and 230 associates.
To commemorate this significant milestone, the Greenville service center is honoring five of its associates whose long-standing commitment to providing quality service has played a pivotal role in establishing Southeastern as a cornerstone of the Greenville area and its surrounding communities:
- 47 years of service: Pickup and Delivery Driver Jerry Pennington
- 40 years of service: Clerical Associate Gigi Oliver
- 37 years of service: Driver Mentor Marshall Cook, Fleet Services Associate Robert Pickle and Office Manager Rosa Little
“The Greenville facility has forged a legacy of operational excellence over the years, largely in part due to the dedication our associates have shown to its steady growth since its humble beginnings,” said Kyle Hulsey, service center manager. “As we look to the future, we embrace the task to unlock new avenues of opportunity and continue providing world-class, timely service to our great customers, partners and the community."
Since its establishment, the service center has given back to the Greenville community through its Southeastern Serves initiative – a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
The Greenville service center was the sixth service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve Customers and AssociatesLEXINGTON, S.C. (March 11, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The new Bowling Green service center, located at 6333 Whitney Drive, consists of 45 dock doors and 22 associates as well as enhanced office and dispatch spaces, updated conference and driver break rooms, roll up garage doors and more. The impressive facility underscores Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its customers and supporting the well-being and development of its associates.
“The modern facility will not only inspire the ongoing innovation of our operational standards but empower all our great associates to continue the execution of best-in-class service,” said Alex Ayers, service center manager. “We could not be more excited for this milestone, and I look forward to all the new opportunities that await our team in this next chapter.”
Previously located at 2570 Russellville Road, the Bowling Green service center opened for business in 2015 with 23 dock doors and 12 associates.
“At Southeastern, we are continuously working to advance our culture and provide quality service,” said Jason Hood, regional vice president of operations. “While the Bowling Green facility has experienced numerous years of steady growth, the greater capacity provided by both the expanded dock and yard positions Southeastern to continue its rapid growth trajectory down the line.”
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Dalton Service Center Celebrates 40 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (March 4, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 40 years of quality without question service at the Dalton, Georgia service center.
Located at 180 Cross Plains Boulevard, the service center opened for business in 1984 with 12 dock doors and 18 associates. Since then, the facility has engaged in significant expansion efforts, and it now boasts 168 dock doors and 224 associates. Most notably, as Dalton is known as the “Carpet Capital of the World,” Southeastern has bolstered its services to support the hundreds of carpet plants and outlets within the Dalton market, establishing Southeastern as a carrier of choice for carpet services across the Southeast.
“The team at our Dalton service center masterfully drives Southeastern’s unique culture and quest for quality to cultivate strong relationships with customers and ensure the long-term success of the company,” said Blake Potter, service center manager. “We are proud to lead the LTL segment in our service territory and value the positive impact we have had throughout our footprint over these past four decades. We look forward to all that is to come in the years ahead.”
Since its establishment, the service center has given back to the Dalton community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves – a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Dalton associates have donated time and resources in partnership with organizations such as City of Refuge, which equips people and families with the resources required to meet basic needs, repurpose their giftings and abilities and reclaim their sense of life direction.
The Dalton service center was the 16th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve Customers and AssociatesLEXINGTON, S.C. (January 3, 2024) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of an expanded service center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The contemporary Charlotte service center, located at 4524 Reagan Drive, consists of 230 dock doors. Upgrades include a complete yard rehabilitation and a new remote trailer parking lot. The best-in-class facility is part of a multi-phase redevelopment project that aims to incorporate Southeastern’s latest design standards, such as signature structural elements and interior finishes in addition to network and security features. The facility will embrace new technological advances, streamline operational costs, and, most notably, provide its dynamic team of associates with a modernized work environment to thrive in their various roles.
“The redevelopments at Reagan Drive will not only serve the local Charlotte market but will also increase the efficiency and bandwidth of freight we can push through this breakbulk, which impacts the entire surrounding region,” said Ryan Smigiel, Vice President of Real Estate. “As the Charlotte area is demonstrating exponential growth, we are looking forward to matching this momentum and expanding our operations to continue improving service to our customers.”
The new Reagan Drive service center will house both Charlotte’s pickup and delivery operation and breakbulk operation on an interim basis while Southeastern works to redevelop its second Queen City facility on Amble Drive – a project that will construct a new service center consisting of 185 dock doors, an appointment warehouse with six additional dock doors, a regional office, and a driver rest facility.
The Reagan Drive facility opened for business in June 1972 with eight dock doors and six associates.
“The new service center not only empowers our company to cultivate lasting relationships with its great customers, partners, and associates in the Charlotte region and beyond, but also instills an opportunity for additional expansion and job growth down the road with its dock door expansion, latest design standards, and efficient yard layout,” said Smigiel.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Austin, Texas
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve Customers and AssociatesLEXINGTON, S.C. (September 18, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in Austin, Texas.
The new Austin service center, located at 10001 E US Hwy 290, consists of 120 dock doors and 57 associates, as well as a refreshed appointment warehouse, larger office and breakroom spaces and a fuel island for drivers. The new facility will not only bolster Southeastern’s operational capabilities by guaranteeing earlier deliveries and pick-ups, but aid in the development of an increasingly collaborative and productive work environment for associates across the greater Austin region to grow their professional skillsets and thrive in both current and new roles.
“It’s incredible to see how our Austin operation has evolved over the last 20 years. We’re excited about the opportunity the new facility provides us to serve our customers at a higher level, but also the advantage it gives us to effectively navigate the rapid growth in Austin,” said Coley Campbell, senior vice president of operations. “I look forward to supporting our great team of Austin associates while they continue to meet our customers’ needs in this next chapter.”
Previously located at 1916 Waukesha Drive, the Austin service center opened for business in May 2000.
“As the Texas market continues to grow, we recognize Austin as one of the top 10 most populated cities in America. SEFL’s vision to support current and future needs led us to build a state-of-the-art facility,” said Austin Winters, regional vice president of operations. “By adding dock doors and owning the acreage to expand, we have added capacity well into the future. We feel the new location is even better situated to provide outstanding service to our customers.”
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve Customers and AssociatesLEXINGTON, S.C. (September 11, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The contemporary New Orleans service center, located at 588 West Alpha Drive, consists of 120 dock doors and 82 associates. The best-in-class facility not only supports growth and maximizes Southeastern’s service to its customers but communicates the company’s dedication to going the extra mile and providing excellent working environments for its people. The impressive facility additions include enhanced office and dispatch spaces, new appointment warehouses, a bunkhouse, gym, large breakrooms and a sizeable increase in dock doors.
“With increasing economic growth in the New Orleans area, this is the perfect time to relocate to a larger service center,” said Coley Campbell, senior vice president of operations. “We are excited to provide our current and future employees with a great work environment, while increasing operational efficiencies and timeliness of deliveries. Ultimately, this move allows us to provide Quality Without Question to both our associates and our customers in New Orleans.”
The new facility serves as a testament to Southeastern’s dedication to providing Quality without Question service. The company goes the extra mile to build best-in-class facilities that maximize services for customers and offer employees an excellent working environment.
Previously located at 1525 Sams Avenue, the New Orleans service center opened for business in 1996 with 30 dock doors and 20 associates.
“Since Southeastern started serving the New Orleans community in 1996, we have seen steady growth in our operations. With the continued success over the years and gains in market share, we are excited to move to our new facility,” said Mark Coggin, regional vice president of operations. “The new service center gives us the ability to continue serving our great customers at a high level and provides ample room for expansion in the years to come.”
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as C.H. Robinson 2023 Carrier of the Year Award Winner
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 17, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized by C.H. Robinson as a winner of its 2023 Carrier of the Year Awards.
C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest global logistics companies, selected Southeastern for the honor from its network of more than 96,000 contract carriers.
The Carrier of the Year Awards acknowledge companies that have enhanced overall performance and demonstrated exceptional quality and reliability of service through the adoption of new technology and operational excellence.
“We are thrilled to once again receive this award from a respected leader in today’s logistics space,” said Austin Miller, national account manager for Southeastern Freight Lines.
“This recognition serves as a testament to the continued commitment of our associates to uphold Southeastern’s values and culture across all operations. We would like to extend our thanks to C.H. Robinson for this honor and look forward to witnessing our partnership evolve in the years to come.”
C.H. Robinson hosted an event at its Eden Prairie headquarters in Minnesota from May 31 – June 2, where Miller, alongside Keith Huggins, vice president of national sales and logistics, and Mike Redden, vice president of national accounts, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.
Now in its sixth year, the in-person gathering celebrated the 2023 Carrier of the Year honorees.
Southeastern Freight Lines celebrates two decades of quality service in Texas, looks ahead to statewide growth
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 27, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 20 years of full-state service coverage in Texas.
Since its establishment in 1950, consistent, organic growth has been a key component of Southeastern’s success. As population growth and business outputs grew in Texas, SEFL knew having full-state coverage was key to supporting its customers’ demands. In 2003, the company had 11 service centers and 374 dock doors in Texas. Today, the company operates 20 service centers and 1,432 dock doors – nearly doubling its real estate footprint. This infrastructure and commitment to providing excellent service has allowed the company to grow over 500% in the last 20 years.
“SEFL is proud to be a part of the Texas community and is committed to providing exceptional service in the state and beyond,” said Brian Schulz, vice president of service center operations. “Our success in Texas is a testament to the dedication of our 1,700 associates across the state who have worked hard to build our reputation with customers by living out our core values. As growth is top of mind, there are already plans underway to build on our legacy of excellence and continue to expand our infrastructure with more service centers."
To commemorate its 20 years of service in Texas, SEFL is honoring 10 of its service centers across the state celebrating milestones this year. These facilities have played a critical role in the company's success and helped increase its statewide market share.
- 20 years – Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, El Paso, Odessa, Abilene and Amarillo
- 15 years – Waco
- 10 years – South Houston and Monroe
“When I joined the team at Corpus Christi, there were four pickup and delivery drivers and one line haul driver. Our team of associates has grown immensely, and today, we have the privilege to work out of a beautiful new service center,” said Erasmo Hernandez, a linehaul driver at the Corpus Christi service center who has been driving for SEFL since Corpus Christi’s opening in 2003. “It is rewarding to look back two decades and reflect on the impact the team and I played in growing Corpus Christi’s operations. To this day, I am still honored to be part of the Southeastern family.”
SEFL’s continued commitment to growth in the state is evident in its investment in additional land and updates to existing facilities. In the last two years, SEFL has purchased 177 acres and opened a new 50-door Corpus Christi facility as well as a new Amarillo service center. Both facilities have state-of-the-art conference rooms and office spaces. Additionally, the Abilene and Waco service centers will undergo dock expansions this year. Looking ahead, SEFL plans to continue broadening its Texas operations by breaking ground on multiple facility projects in the years to come.
Southeastern Freight Lines Awards Two Drivers With 50 Years of Safe Driving
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 20, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, recognized Larry Spinks and Michael Crapps for 50 years of safe driving during the company’s annual Safety and Service Awards.
Larry and Michael’s safety records are an accomplishment that puts them in an elite class. The duo joins Pickup and Delivery Driver Malcolm Bryant as the only three Southeastern drivers to reach this threshold of safety in the company’s history.
“Out of the 3.5 million truck drivers on the road today, Larry and Michael have made the short list of drivers across the country who have successfully accomplished this rare milestone,” said Southeastern President Tobin Cassels. “They both not only embody Southeastern’s safety culture, but through their years of hard work and dedication, serve as an example to the entire trucking industry on what it means to lead with safety in mind.”
Larry, a pickup and delivery driver at the Atlanta, Georgia service center, started his career in trucking by pulling commissary loads with a tractor and trailer for the Army. He joined Southeastern’s pickup and delivery team at the age of 21 and has remained a fierce advocate for the company’s mission to meet and exceed the needs of every customer.
When asked about the secret to his success, Larry states, “I'm grateful to work for a company like Southeastern who equips its drivers with the necessary tools and technology to perform their best while out on the road. Most notably, I couldn’t have reached this milestone without my two biggest inspirations by my side – my daughters, Delaine and Crystal.”
Michael, a linehaul driver at the Columbia, South Carolina service center, knew he wanted to pursue truck driving as a profession from the start. He joined the Southeastern team in 1973 as a pickup and delivery driver and transitioned into his current role in 1994. In 2010, Mike was recognized as Southeastern’s Regional Linehaul Driver of the Year and was awarded Driver of the Month by the South Carolina Trucking Association in January 2012.
"Ever since jumping into my first truck over 50 years ago – which had no air conditioning – I’ve always made it a priority to trust in my skillset and be courteous to the other vehicles on the road,” said Michael. “I’m honored to receive this recognition and hope it inspires others to carry out safe driving practices for years to come.”
While the trucking industry has evolved and traffic congestion has made safe driving more challenging than when Larry and Mike began their careers, they remain diligent in maintaining their 50-year impeccable driving record.
“We’re so proud to recognize both Larry and Michael as top performers in their field and thank them for their many years of quality service,” said Cassels.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Florence Service Center Celebrates 70 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 9, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 70 years of quality without question service at the Florence, South Carolina service center.
Located at 1421 West Darlington Street, the service center opened for business in June of 1953 with a handful of dock doors and one associate. Since then, the facility has grown to 67 dock doors and 60 associates.
“We are grateful for all the Florence associates who have helped serve our customers over the past 70 years,” said Seth Fetzer, regional vice president of operations at Southeastern. “It is because of our people – past and present – that our great company has established a strong presence in the Florence market, and we are looking forward to continuing to innovate our operations and cultivate new and existing partnerships in the decades to come.”
Over the years, the service center has given back to the Florence community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Florence associates have donated time and resources in partnership with organizations such as The Miracle League, which provides children with mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime – baseball.
The Florence service center was the third service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines packages 50,000 meals for the hungry, acknowledging a decade of giving back
Southeastern associates across the Sunbelt honor the “Southeastern Serves” program’s long-lasting impact by partnering with local humanitarian nonprofit organizationLEXINGTON, S.C. (February 6, 2023) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its “Southeastern Serves” program is celebrating over 10 years of serving local communities across the Sunbelt. In honor of this milestone, the trucking company partnered with Minneapolis-based nonprofit Harvest Pack, a humanitarian hunger relief organization that addresses food insecurity in local communities, to prepare 50,000 meals for Harvest Hope Food Bank.
More than 266 Southeastern volunteers gathered at the company’s headquarters in Lexington, South Carolina to package the nutrient-dense breakfast meals and make a tangible difference in the fight against hunger in the Palmetto State. The meals packaged as part of the hunger project are made using gluten-free, U.S.-sourced ingredients and contain ample carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins, as well as all nine essential amino acids.
“The Southeastern Serves program empowers our associates to give back to their communities and support various essential organizations, such as Harvest Pack and the Harvest Hope Food Bank,” said Tobin Cassels, president at Southeastern Freight Lines. “It’s heartwarming to reflect on the impact Southeastern Serves projects have had across our company’s footprint since the program’s establishment in 2012."
Over the past decade, more than 10,676 participants, including Southeastern associates, friends and family members, completed more than 33,764 total hours of community service across 686 projects, ranging from serving meals to families in need, to volunteering at veteran organizations, homeless shelters and domestic abuse shelters. A few examples include:
- In Texas, 19 Southeastern associates and family members from Tyler and Waco volunteered 92 hours at Hunger for Love’s Christmas Under the Bridge event, helping decorate and serve food and beverages for the homeless community and under-resourced families. Tyler associate Robin Kennedy oversaw Santa’s Tent at the event and was able to collect more than 600 donated toys from local businesses and associates, gifted to more than 200 boys and girls.
- Additionally, Southeastern sent 19 volunteers in Greenville, South Carolina to serve 95 hours at The SonShine Club, preparing and serving food, while also cleaning and providing gift bags for members. The SonShine Club provides special needs adults a safe space to meet with their peers to enjoy music, fitness, games, arts and crafts, Bible study and lunch at no charge.
- Southeastern’s Albany service center volunteered with Little League Challenger to play baseball with individuals who have physical and intellectual disabilities. Southeastern associates acted as ‘buddies’ during the game to assist Challenger athletes in the areas of batting, base running and defense, in addition to handing out food and drinks after the game and collecting monetary donations.
“It is a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the communities across the Sunbelt. We aim to add value to everything we do and are proud of our ongoing commitment to continuing to live our values in the communities our associates reside,” said Cassels.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Centers in Texarkana, Arkansas and Corpus Christi, Texas
New Facilities Enable Growth and Advancements to Serve CustomersLEXINGTON, S.C. (December 20, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of two relocated service centers in Texarkana, Arkansas and Corpus Christi, Texas.
The new Texarkana service center, located at 4100 East 19th Street, consists of 37 dock doors and 25 associates. Its state-of-the-art interior finishes and the addition of over a dozen dock doors allow for future growth and will streamline transit times and cross-dock operations.
“Our new facility will empower all associates to continue the execution of best-in-class operations, cultivate financial strength and serve our customers in a greater capacity,” said Michael Groover, service center manager. “It’s been a pleasure to watch our service center grow over the years, and I look forward to being a part of this next chapter.”
Previously located at 3201 East 50th Street, the Texarkana Service Center opened for business in 2007 with 18 dock doors.
The new Corpus Christi service center, located at 5717 Bear Lane, opened December 5 and consists of 50 dock doors.
“Since we first opened our doors, the Corpus Christi associates have always prioritized completing efficient and timely deliveries,” said James Carman, service center manager. “We look forward to utilizing the new and improved facility to further this long-standing mission and continue implementing Quality without Question services throughout Texas.”
Previously located at 533 Navigation Road, the Corpus Christi Service Center opened for business in 2003.
Southeastern Freight Lines' Puerto Rico Service Center Celebrates 25 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (December 7, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 25 years of quality without question service at the Puerto Rico service center.
Located in Guaynabo, the service center opened for business in 1997 with eight associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 15,650 square feet of warehouse space, including two double doors, an office and a loading dock area for nine containers. Currently, 11 associates and 11 independent contractor drivers work at the facility.
Drivers Ricardo Rivera, Jose Bauza and Waldemar Pol are celebrating professional milestones after joining the Southeastern team in the late 1990s and continue to serve the company’s internal and external customers today. Evelyn Hernandez, a customer service associate, celebrated 20 years at the Puerto Rico service center in November, and Service Center Manager Tony Roldan will reach his 20-year milestone in January 2023.
“Since the Puerto Rico service center’s establishment in 1997, our associates have served the region with excellence,” said Roldan. “Our goal is to continue innovating our quality processes in order to grow our presence in Puerto Rico and cultivate meaningful relationships with new and existing customers and associates.”
Over the years, the service center has given back to the Puerto Rico community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Puerto Rico associates have donated time and resources in partnership with organizations such as La Casa Ronald McDonald Puerto Rico, Iniciativa Comunitaria and Hogar de Niñas de Cupey.
The Puerto Rico service center was the 49th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Schneider Logistics 2021 Carrier of the Year Award Winner
LEXINGTON, S.C. (December 5, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized by Schneider Logistics as a 2021 Carrier of the Year award winner.
Schneider, a premier multimodal provider of transportation, intermodal and logistics services, selected Southeastern for the honor from its network of more than 60,000 carriers. The Carrier of the Year Awards acknowledge companies that exceed service standards and demonstrate superb performance in Schneider Logistics’ key scorecard areas: high load acceptance, exceptional service, clear communication and overall FourKites visibility.
“Southeastern’s strong partnership with Schneider Logistics dates back many years. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside their team to enhance our quality-driven results,” said Algie Grubbs, National Account Manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. “This award is a direct testament to each of our associates’ commitment to providing world-class service and building meaningful client and partner relationships. On behalf of the entire Southeastern team, I’d like to thank Schneider Logistics for this recognition.”
Schneider Logistics hosted an awards ceremony at Lambeau Field, the legendary home stadium to the Green Bay Packers located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on October 6 where Keith Huggins, Vice President of National Sales for Southeastern Freight Lines, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 70 Years of Service at its Charleston and Savannah Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 70 years of "Quality Without Question" service from its service centers in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
Both service centers opened in 1952 and have seen significant growth since establishment. Charleston began operations with five dock doors and six associates and has grown to 63 dock doors and 92 associates.
"This anniversary marks an important milestone for our service center," said Mark Davis, Charleston’s service center manager. "While we have experienced seven decades worth of tremendous growth, we don’t have any plans to stop innovating our quality process. Our service center will begin expanding our facility to include an additional 50 dock doors at the end of this year. I’m looking forward to the future development of the Charleston service center and am excited for our team to continue driving success."
Savannah started with just one dock door and the facility now consists of 90 dock doors and 70 associates.
"We are humbled by the relationships we’ve cultivated with both customers and associates over the last 70 years.” said Adam Lake, Savannah’s service center manager. “Our 90-door facility and 70 associates has allowed us to timely process our freight and provide quality service to our loyal customers in Savannah and beyond. Many thanks to the decades of associates who have believed in our philosophy of providing "Quality Without Question" service. We look forward to providing excellence for many years to come."
Over the years, the Charleston and Savannah service centers have given back to their communities, most recently through Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist needy individuals.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Charleston service center has volunteered with organizations such as Samaritans Feet and League of Dreams. In addition, the service center donated knitted gifts to international seafarers through the Christmas at Sea organization, supporting the thousands of U.S. mariners working on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterways. Valuing the same commitment to community, the Savannah service center has supported the Treutlen House by providing landscaping and remodeling services on the grounds of the foster home for the 10- to 21-year-old boys living on the property.
The Charleston service center was the third service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Soon after, the Savannah service center was founded as the fourth location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Charlotte Service Center Celebrates 50 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (September 22, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 50 years of quality without question service at the Charlotte, North Carolina service center.
Located at 4524 Reagan Drive in Charlotte, the service center opened for business in the summer of 1972 with eight dock doors and six associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 122 dock doors and 260 associates. As part of its expansion efforts, the Charlotte service center is undergoing a three-phase real estate transformation that includes significant updates to the service center’s facilities and business processes in the coming years.
Three employees are celebrating professional milestones after joining the Southeastern team in the 1970s and continue to serve the company’s internal and external customers today:
- Linehaul driver Bernie Burris, 46 years
- Freight handler Robert Ledbetter, 45 years
- Freight handler Chip Wood, 45 years
“The associates at the Charlotte service center exemplify Southeastern’s culture and understand the value of providing best in class customer service,” said Kyle Donahue, service center manager. “Our associates’ hard work combined with Southeastern’s commitment to growth, development and Quality Without Question processes are sure to propel Charlotte’s success for decades to come.”
Over the years, the service center has given back to the Charlotte community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Charlotte associates have donated resources and provided shelter in partnership with organizations such as Samaritan’s Feet International, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte and Roc Solid Foundation.
The Charlotte service center was the seventh service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 70 Years of Service at its Charleston and Savannah Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 70 years of "Quality Without Question" service from its service centers in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
Both service centers opened in 1952 and have seen significant growth since establishment. Charleston began operations with five dock doors and six associates and has grown to 63 dock doors and 92 associates.
"This anniversary marks an important milestone for our service center," said Mark Davis, Charleston’s service center manager. "While we have experienced seven decades worth of tremendous growth, we don’t have any plans to stop innovating our quality process. Our service center will begin expanding our facility to include an additional 50 dock doors at the end of this year. I’m looking forward to the future development of the Charleston service center and am excited for our team to continue driving success."
Savannah started with just one dock door and the facility now consists of 90 dock doors and 70 associates.
"We are humbled by the relationships we’ve cultivated with both customers and associates over the last 70 years.” said Adam Lake, Savannah’s service center manager. “Our 90-door facility and 70 associates has allowed us to timely process our freight and provide quality service to our loyal customers in Savannah and beyond. Many thanks to the decades of associates who have believed in our philosophy of providing "Quality Without Question" service. We look forward to providing excellence for many years to come."
Over the years, the Charleston and Savannah service centers have given back to their communities, most recently through Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist needy individuals.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Charleston service center has volunteered with organizations such as Samaritans Feet and League of Dreams. In addition, the service center donated knitted gifts to international seafarers through the Christmas at Sea organization, supporting the thousands of U.S. mariners working on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterways. Valuing the same commitment to community, the Savannah service center has supported the Treutlen House by providing landscaping and remodeling services on the grounds of the foster home for the 10- to 21-year-old boys living on the property.
The Charleston service center was the third service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Soon after, the Savannah service center was founded as the fourth location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
SEFL Delivers Quality Without Question Service into Canada
LEXINGTON, S.C. (August 8, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has enjoyed sustainable and rapid growth in U.S.-Canada cross border operations via SEFL Canada. Bolstered by robust relationships north of the border, SEFL Canada provides daily service into Canada’s two largest markets, Ontario and Quebec.
International business development has been a key segment for SEFL for 25 years, with Canada serving as a prominent piece of the company's business model along the way. In moving commodities like paper, textiles, chemicals and high-value goods between borders, SEFL Canada is extending its signature "Quality Without Question" service to our northern neighbors.
"The relationships we've fostered across Canada, not only with our customers, but with key business stakeholders at the governmental level, have paved the way for our current and continued success," said David Atkinson, Director of International Business for SEFL. "We are proud to be able to deliver our trademark quality service to the Canadian market and look forward to what the future holds for our cross border operations."
SEFL's commitment to customer satisfaction was recognized and validated by a recent visit to the El Paso, Texas Service Center by the Consul General of Canada, Rachel McCormick. While on-site, McCormick met with members of the SEFL team, who engaged in discussions around supply chain challenges, fleet electrification and cross border relations. SEFL's involvement in these conversations places the brand on the forefront of the latest developments in cross border operations and lays the groundwork for continued success between the company and the Canadian government.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as C.H. Robinson 2022 Carrier of the Year Award Winner
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 27, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized by C.H. Robinson as a winner of its 2022 Carrier of the Year Awards.
C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest global logistics companies, selected Southeastern for the honor from its network of more than 85,000 contract carriers.
The Carrier of the Year Awards acknowledge companies that have demonstrated exceptional quality of service and operational excellence, including timeliness, reliability and adoption of technology to increase efficiencies for their business and customers.
“It is truly an honor to receive this award from one of the foremost leaders in today’s logistics space,” said Austin Miller, National Account Manager for Southeastern Freight Lines.
“This could not have been accomplished without our associates and their unwavering commitment to delivering service that is second to none. We would like to extend our thanks to C.H. Robinson for this recognition and look forward to carrying this momentum forward in our relationship.”
C.H. Robinson hosted an awards ceremony at its Eden Prairie, Minnesota headquarters on May 24 where Miller accepted the prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.
Now in its fifth year, the in-person celebration brought together both 2021 and 2022 Carrier of the Year honorees.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Transplace 2021 Regional LTL Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 23, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as the Transplace 2021 Regional LTL Carrier of the Year.
Transplace, an Uber Freight company and premier provider of logistics technology and services, acknowledges carriers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty by providing on-time
service and notable volume and speed of operations, all while implementing exceptional customer service, responsiveness and accuracy across business processes.
Transplace chose Southeastern based on the value the company has added to its commercial and operational relationships within its transportation and logistics network.
“We are honored to once again receive this award from one of the world’s top transportation service providers,” said Austin Miller, National Account Manager for Southeastern Freight Lines.
“This recognition serves as a testament, not only to the unrivaled quality of our service, but also the ongoing commitment of our associates to upholding Southeastern’s values and culture across operations.
We would like to thank Transplace for recognizing our company and look forward to strengthening our relationship in the months to come.”
After accepting the award virtually last year, Miller attended the 2022 Transplace Virtual Carrier Symposium,
an event providing education, recognition and appreciation for its transportation carriers in Arlington, Texas,
and was honored to receive this prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.
Southeastern Freight Lines Announces New Regional Structure
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 17, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has implemented a new regional structure this month that expands its organizational framework from six to eight regions.
The regional restructuring is part of a business strategy that enables regional leadership to invest more time in the service centers with Southeastern’s associates.
By reducing the size of each region, regional leadership is better equipped to address the increase of freight volumes and combat industry strains such as the driver shortage.
With eight regions, Southeastern furthers its pursuit of operational excellence and commitment to associate development at the field level.
“As a company, we are continuously working to advance our culture, provide quality service to our customers and solidify our vision of being the best and biggest in the Sunbelt,” said Coley Campbell, Senior Vice President of Operations for Southeastern Freight Lines.
“We believe this new structure will allow us to continue growing our footprint in the Sunbelt while ensuring we keep our associates and culture at the forefront.
We anticipate these changes will have a positive impact on our associates, which inevitably will have a very positive impact on our customers and organization as a whole.”
As part of the organizational restructuring, Brian Schulz has been promoted to Vice President of Service Center Operations – Regions 4, 5 and 7
while Austin Winters, Jason Hood and Mark Coggin have each been promoted to the role of Regional Vice President for their respective territories.
The new structure has also opened a number of other leadership growth opportunities at the service center management level where more than a dozen additional Southeastern team members are taking on new positions.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates Major Milestones at its Jacksonville and North Atlanta Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (March 2, 2022) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating years of “Quality Without Question” service from its service centers in Jacksonville, Florida and North Atlanta, Georgia. The Jacksonville service center has now been in business for 35 years and the North Atlanta service center has been in business for 30 years.
Both service centers have enjoyed significant growth since establishment. Jacksonville began operations with 10 associates and 12 dock doors and has since grown to 190 associates and 125 dock doors.
There are six Jacksonville associates celebrating professional milestones. Linehaul Drivers Harold Inman and Tim Scardasis, Pickup and Delivery Drivers Paul McKinley and Steve McCorkel, International Supervisor Angela Foster and Safety Specialist Randy Hand have each been serving Southeastern’s internal and external customers at the Jacksonville service center since its opening in 1987.
“I am proud of the impact that our service center has had in helping Southeastern uphold its commitment to Quality Improvement these past 35 years,” said Dan Perez, service center manager for Jacksonville. “Our team of dedicated employees have worked tirelessly to grow the service center to the success story it is today, and we are excited to continue cultivating our various partnerships and adding value to Southeastern’s transportation processes for years to come.”
North Atlanta started with 122 dock doors and the facility today consists of 173 dock doors and 387 associates.
Three employees have been working at the North Atlanta service center since its opening in 1992 and remain active with Southeastern today: Ray Tucker, an associate within the fleet department, and Eddie Bailey and Yancy Chambers, associates within the pickup and delivery department.
“It’s rewarding to look back and reflect on the immense growth that has taken place here in North Atlanta,” said Russ Brien, service center manager for North Atlanta. “Our dedicated employees and numerous tenured leadership associates have been the root of our service center’s success. They have worked hard to live Southeastern’s culture and establish momentum that continually provides quality results for our customers.”
Over the years, the Jacksonville and North Atlanta service centers have given back to the surrounding communities, most recently through Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist needy individuals.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Jacksonville service center has volunteered with many organizations, including March of Dimes, Seamark Ranch and Gabriel House of Care. Valuing the same commitment to community, the North Atlanta service center has donated canned food to the Georgia Mountain Food Bank and The Quinn House, as well as sponsored Christmas gifts to spread holiday cheer to the children at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter.
The Jacksonville service center was the 21st service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Shortly thereafter, the North Atlanta service center was founded as the company’s 30th location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as 2020 Echo Global Logistics Regional LTL Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (October 12, 2021) – Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as the 2020 Echo Global Logistics Regional LTL Carrier of the Year.
Echo, a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services, created the Regional LTL Carrier of the Year award to honor one regional LTL carrier that best meets their quality standards and who Echo's nationwide personnel most enjoy doing business with and trust with their freight. Southeastern was given this award due to their quality client communication, employee training and development, web capabilities and their consistent, high-level performance.
"Our recognition as Echo's Regional LTL Carrier of the Year is a direct reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement, adding value and providing quality service through the utilization of collaborative, strong business partnerships," said Andy Carpenter, national account manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. "We are grateful for this honor, and the entire team is looking forward to continuing to foster our partnership with Echo for years to come."
"Southeastern has consistently risen to high levels of measure against our quality standards with both our customers and teammates," said Mark Redini, senior vice president of LTL for Echo Global Logistics. "Southeastern has regularly met these standards over the better part of a decade by virtue of being a three-time Carrier of the Year Award winner and a six-time Platinum Award winning carrier, which is given to carriers that provide clear communication and excellent service."
Carpenter, alongside Southeastern Freight Lines' Keith Huggins, vice president of national accounts, and Mike Redden, director of national accounts, accepted this award at the Echo headquarters in Chicago late August.
About Southeastern Freight Lines
Southeastern Freight Lines, a privately-owned regional less-than-truckload transportation services provider founded in 1950, specializes in next-day service in the Southeast and Southwest and operates 89 service centers in 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Southeastern has a network of service partners to ensure transportation services in the remaining 36 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico. Southeastern Freight Lines provides more than 99.35% on-time service in next day lanes. A dedication to service quality and a continuous quality improvement process that began in 1985 has been recognized by more than 500 quality awards received from customers and associations. For more information, please visit www.sefl.com and www.facebook.com/SoutheasternFreight.
About Echo Global Logistics
Echo Global Logistics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECHO) is a leading Fortune 1000 provider of technology-enables transportation and supply chain management services. Headquartered in Chicago with more than 30 offices around the country, Echo offers freight brokerage and Managed Transportation solutions for all major modes, including truckload, partial truckload, LTL, intermodal, and expedited. Echo maintains a proprietary, web-based technology platform that compiles and analyzes data from its network of over 50,000 transportation providers to serve 35,000 clients across a wide range of industries and simplify the critical tasks involved in transportation management. For more information on Echo Global Logistics, visit: www.echo.com.
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Media Contacts
Katie Davis
Largemouth Communications (on behalf of Southeastern Freight Lines)
katie@largemouthpr.com
(919) 459-6562
Echo Global Logistics
Investor Relations:
Zach Jecklin
SVP of Strategy
Echo Global Logistics
312-784-2046
Media Relations:
Christopher Clemmensen
SVP of Marketing
Echo Global Logistics
312-784-2132
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 40 Years of Service at its Hazlehurst and Valdosta Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (October 5, 2021) – Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 40 years of "Quality Without Question" service from its service centers in Hazlehurst and Valdosta, Georgia.
Both service centers opened in 1981 and have seen significant growth since establishment. Hazlehurst began operations with six dock doors and has grown to 30 dock doors and 31 associates today.
Celebrating a professional milestone, Linehaul Driver Eric Hester began serving Southeastern's internal and external customers at the Hazlehurst service center when it originally opened in 1981 and recently retired after 40 years of service.
"Over the past four decades, the associates at the Hazlehurst service center have continued to serve the region with excellence," said Vic Burton, service center manager. "The great success and achievements our service center has seen since its opening is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team. We're looking forward to continued improvement for years to come."
Valdosta started with nine dock doors and seven associates, and the facility now consists of 107 dock doors and 77 associates.
Three original employees have been working at the Valdosta service center since opening and remain active with Southeastern today: Assistant Service Manager Craig Moore, Linehaul Driver David Morris and Pickup and Delivery Driver Brett Vincent.
"It's been a privilege and an honor to be able to see the Valdosta service center grow over the years to where it is today," said Leggett Lovan, service center manager. "I'm incredibly proud of our dedicated associates who consistently provide Quality without Question service. Our team has always strived for excellence every single day and will continue to work toward continuous measurable improvement."
Over the years, the Hazlehurst and Valdosta service centers have given back to the Georgia community, most recently through Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist needy individuals.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Hazlehurst service center has participated in the Hugs for Soldiers Program and worked with the local Department of Family and Children Services to donate gifts to needy families during the holidays. Valuing the same commitment to community, the Valdosta service center has volunteered at local soup kitchens and partnered with a local church to provide the homeless with a hot shower, clothing and food.
The Hazlehurst service center was the 12th service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Soon after, the Valdosta service center was founded as the 13th location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as One of America's Best Large Employers by Forbes
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 2, 2021) - Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its recognition as one of America's Best Large Employers by Forbes.
Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey 50,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. The survey participants rated their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family and to nominate organizations other than their own.
"We are honored and humbled by this recognition from Forbes. Being recognized as one of 'America’s Best Large Employers' is a direct reflection of our company's people-first culture, built one event at a time over the last 70 years," said Tobin Cassels, president for Southeastern Freight Lines. "Our associate’s willingness to recommend Southeastern to friends and family is a testament to our culture."
The final Forbes list ranks the 500 large and 500 midsize employers that received the most recommendations from survey participants. Last year, Southeastern was also recognized by Forbes as the Best Employer in South Carolina.
For more information about working at Southeastern, visit the careers page on www.sefl.com.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Albany Service Center Celebrates 45 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (August 12, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 45 years of quality without question service at the Albany, Georgia service center.
Located at 1115 Centennial Ave. in Albany, the service center opened for business in summer of 1976, with 20 dock doors and 18 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 44 dock doors and over 44 associates.
Seven employees are also celebrating professional milestones after joining the Southeastern team in the 1980s and continue to serve the company’s internal and external customers today:
- Senior Linehaul Driver - Wayne Swords, 40 years
- Outbound Supervisor - Phil Macolly, 38 years
- Inbound Supervisor - Mark Horne, 37 years
- Senior Pick Up and Delivery Driver - Kirk Mason, 34 years
- Fleet Services - Britt Olson, 34 years
- Combo Driver - Al Attell, 33 years
- Fleet Services - Mark Lasseter, 33 years
“It’s important for us to recognize our senior associates who helped build and grow the Albany service center more than 30 years ago, and who continue to provide the same Quality without Question service today,” said Tommy Herndon, service center manager. “Forty-five years is an incredible milestone for our service center, and we look forward to serving our customers for many more years to come.”
Over the years, the service center has given back to the Albany community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to contributing to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Initiatives have included food drives to collect soup and other canned and dry goods for donations and helping prepare food packages for Kids Against Hunger.
The Albany service center was the ninth service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as 2020 Total Quality Logistics Preferred LTL Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 22, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as the 2020 Total Quality Logistics (TQL) Preferred LTL Carrier of the Year for the Southeast region.
TQL, one of the largest freight brokerage firms in North America, created the Preferred LTL Carrier Program to designate the highest-ranked LTL carriers for its customers. Southeastern earned “Preferred” status based on the market share it handles of TQL shipments in its network, on-time percentage, claims percentage and its technology integration capabilities throughout the year.
“Earning ‘Preferred’ status with a company that mirrors our commitment to exceeding customer expectations speaks volumes to the Quality Without Question service our team provides,” said Toby Toburen, national 3PL manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. “This recognition is a result of our growing partnership with TQL, and we look forward to continuing to share our expertise, merge our capabilities and enhance our results. The entire Southeastern team is grateful to be receiving this award.”
Southeastern is recognized as a Preferred LTL Carrier on TQL TRAX and featured on the TQL website. Toburen accepted the plaque from the LTL Carrier department at Total Quality Logistics.
About Southeastern Freight Lines
Southeastern Freight Lines, a privately-owned regional less-than-truckload transportation services provider founded in 1950, specializes in next-day service in the Southeast and Southwest and operates 89 service centers in 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Southeastern has a network of service partners to ensure transportation services in the remaining 36 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico. Southeastern Freight Lines provides more than 99.35% on-time service in next day lanes. A dedication to service quality and a continuous quality improvement process that began in 1985 has been recognized by more than 500 quality awards received from customers and associations. For more information, please visit www.sefl.com and www.facebook.com/SoutheasternFreight.
About Total Quality Logistics
At Total Quality Logistics (TQL), we create greater supply chain efficiencies for our customers by combining industry-leading technology and unmatched customer service. Customers and carriers turn to us daily to solve their transportation needs with competitive pricing, continuous communication, and a commitment to do it right — every time. Annually, we move more than 2+ million loads across the nation through our comprehensive portfolio of logistics services and our network of 90,000+ carriers. In addition, through TQL Cares and the TQL Foundation, our company and employees make the world a better place by donating thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars each year. TQL is proud to be the naming rights sponsor of TQL Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati. Founded in 1997 in Cincinnati, Ohio, TQL is one of the largest freight brokerage firms in the nation, with 5,000+ employees in 56 offices across the U.S. Learn more at TQL.com.
Media Contacts:
Katie Davis
Largemouth Communications (on behalf of Southeastern Freight Lines)
(919) 459-6562
Julia Fulton
Total Quality Logistics
(513) 495-6767
Baton Rouge-Area Deputy Receives Stuffed Animal Delivery for Local Children
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 1, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, , is donating a 55-gallon drum full of stuffed animals and an empty 55-gallon drum for storage to aid a local police officer in his mission to comfort children he encounters while on the job.
Deputy Corey Caillet with the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office moved the Iberville Parish community with a social media post requesting stuffed animal donations to give to children involved in accidents or bad situations.
“Some of the circumstances we see on the job can be intimidating or scary for children, so it’s nice to be able to have something to give them a sense of comfort,” said Caillet. “It’s amazing to see the solace one stuffed animal can give a child.”
Southeastern quickly became involved in Caillet’s philanthropic mission by collecting donations at its service center located in Port Allen. Southeastern associates filled the 55-gallon drum with stuffed animals within less than a month, in addition to monetary donations. The toys were delivered to Caillet and other deputies from the department.
Alyssa Chatelain, customer service administrator II at Southeastern’s Port Allen service center and Caillet’s friend of 20 years, trailblazed the company’s contribution to the toy drive and encouraged her own six-year-old daughter to donate.
The abundance of support from the community and Southeastern has inspired Caillet to explore turning his initiative into a nonprofit. “I’m always collecting stuffed animals,” said Caillet. “The smile on these kids’ faces it brings, it’s really something.”
The service center collection is part of Southeastern Freight Lines’ company-wide “Southeastern SERVES” program, dedicated to giving back to communities across its footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Over the years, Southeastern’s service centers have volunteered in local communities with organizations such as The Miracle League and Toys for Tots.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Transplace 2020 Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 10, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as the Transplace 2020 Regional Carrier of the Year.
Transplace, one of the world’s largest transportation service providers, acknowledges carriers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty by providing the highest levels of service, embracing technology for improved visibility and establishing quality relationships amongst stakeholders. Transplace chose Southeastern based on the company’s overall spend and market share within its territory, automation and touchless execution metrics and operations feedback taken from a survey measuring aspects of carriers’ performance.
"It is an honor to be named the Regional Carrier of the Year by one of the world’s largest transportation service providers," said Austin Miller, national account manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. “This award demonstrates our commitment to customer satisfaction and appreciation for our strong partnerships. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Transplace for this honor and commend our associates for the hard work and dedication to Southeastern’s commitment of Quality without Question service.”
Miller attended the 2021 Transplace Virtual Carrier Symposium, an event providing education, recognition and appreciation for more than 32,000 transportation carriers, and was honored to receive this prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 30 Years of Service at its Huntsville and Montgomery Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 10, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, this year is celebrating 30 years of “Quality Without Question” service from its service centers in Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama.
Both service centers opened in early 1991 and have seen significant growth since establishment. Huntsville began operations with 20 dock doors and 15 associates and has grown to 44 dock doors and 50 associates.
Four original employees have been working at their respective service centers since opening and remain active with Southeastern today: linehaul drivers Blake Coleman and Lonnie Toney and pickup and delivery driver Randy Campbell of the Huntsville service center, as well as linehaul driver Jesse Keeble of the Montgomery service center. Archie Blevins, linehaul driver for the Montgomery service center retired last year after 29 years of service.
“The dedicated employees in Huntsville have made this service center a key contributor to the Southeastern network,” said Adam Darling, service center manager. “Since the opening of the Huntsville service center, the impact and growth we’ve experienced is an exciting indicator of what’s to come in the approaching decades.”
Montgomery started with 16 dock doors and 10 associates, and the facility now consists of 37 dock doors and 31 associates.
“Reflecting on the Montgomery service center’s 30 years in business, it’s rewarding to see the impact that we have had across the region,” said Brandon Graham, service center manager. “We’re looking forward to continuing our community outreach and cultivating relationships with our associates, customers and partners.”
Over the years, the Huntsville and Montgomery service centers have given back to the Alabama community, most recently through Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist needy individuals.
As a part of the Southeastern Serves mission, the Huntsville service center held a fundraiser event to raise money for CASA Mud Volleyball. In addition, the service center took part in coaching baseball at The Miracle League for children with mental and physical disabilities. Valuing the same commitment to community, the Montgomery service center held a holiday toy drive in collaboration with Toys for Tots and collected backpacks to donate to school-aged children.
The Huntsville service center was the 28th service center opened since the company’s establishment in 1950. Soon after, the Montgomery service center was founded as the 29th location. Southeastern now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Amarillo, Texas
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve CustomersLEXINGTON, S.C. (May 17, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in Amarillo, Texas.
The new service center, located at 4814 SE 22nd Avenue, consists of 33 dock doors and 22 associates. It is housed on more than five acres, allowing for future growth, and features a large open office space equipped with a state-of-the-art conference room for meetings and training.
“With increasing economic growth in the Amarillo area, this is an ideal time to relocate our Amarillo service center to a larger location,” said Aaron Strobel, service center manager. “The increase in dock doors and associates will enable us to continue to serve our area customers with Quality without Question service. We always aim to increase efficiency and timeliness of deliveries and look forward to working with our great team in the new service center to meet our customers’ needs.”
Previously located at 601 Ross Road, the Amarillo Service Center opened for business in 2003 with 22 dock doors and 4 associates.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Augusta Service Center Celebrates 45 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 6, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 45 years of quality without question service at the Augusta, South Carolina service center.
Located at 1040 Edgefield Rd. in N. Augusta, the service center opened for business in spring of 1976, with 12 dock doors and 10 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 54 dock doors and over 55 associates.
Customer Service Representative Angela Hollar is also celebrating a professional milestone, as she has been at the Augusta service center since March 1977 and continues to serve our internal and external customers today.
“As we celebrate this milestone in Augusta, it’s amazing to reflect on the meaningful relationships we’ve built with our customers and associates over the past 45 years, like Angela, who has been a part of our team since 1977,” said Keith McDonald, service center manager. “We’re excited to continue providing Quality without Question service to our customers with our great team year-after-year.”
Over the years, the service center has given back to the Augusta community, most recently as part of Southeastern Serves, a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate. Initiatives have included delivering food in partnership with Meals on Wheels and helping serve and clean up Thanksgiving meals for NHC HealthCare North Augusta residents and their families.
The Augusta service center was the eighth service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines was recently recognized as the Best Employer in South Carolina by GOBankingRates and was recognized by Forbes as Best Employer in South Carolina in its second annual ranking of America’s best employers by state last fall.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Best Employer in South Carolina by GOBankingRates
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 25, 2021) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its recognition as Best Employer in South Carolina by GOBankingRates.
GOBankingRates used data from market research company Statista, global media, branding and technology company Forbes and Recruit Holdings' HR technology business Glassdoor to identify organizations liked best by current and former employees in, “The Best Place To Work in Your State.”
Forbes recognized Southeastern Freight Lines as Best Employer in South Carolina in its second annual ranking of America’s best employers by state last fall.
“We are honored to receive this acknowledgment from GOBankingRates, compiled based off feedback from our current and past employees,” said Richard Slater, vice president of field sales at Southeastern Freight Lines. “It is the culmination of the over 8,500 people who work at Southeastern who represent our values, our brand, and our commitment to serving with excellence in all that we do. We understand that in order to create this culture and standard of excellence across our organization, we must be invested in the well-being of each of those individuals and this award is a testament that this commitment is real.”
South Carolina is home to Southeastern’s corporate office in Lexington as well as five service centers located in Augusta, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville, employing 1,132 associates across the state. The company recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, including 70 years of service out of the Columbia service center.
In 1950, as Southeastern’s corporate office and headquarters, the Columbia service center originally employed eight people who served the corporate office and also ran the terminal. Today, the Columbia service center has grown to 102 dock doors and more than 160 employees and is located at 4025 Sunset Blvd. The corporate office employs an additional 540 employees out of its Lexington, South Carolina, headquarters at 420 Davega Road.
For more information about working at Southeastern, visit the careers page on www.sefl.com.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as American Group Regional Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (December 8, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services,has been recognized as the 2019 Southeastern Regional Carrier of the Year by American Group. This is the second year in a row Southeastern has received this honor.
American Group recognized Southeastern for its demonstration of service excellence for the American Group customer base. The non-asset-based third-party logistics provider based the recognition on a scoring system that measured on-time pickup and delivery performance, accurate invoicing, minimal shortages and damages, practical technology and customer service communication.
"We are honored to be recognized by American Group as the Southeastern Regional Carrier of the Year for the second consecutive year," said Andy Carpenter, National Account Manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. “This recognition is truly a testament to our team’s dedication to providing quality without question service for every customer shipment, every time. We give thanks to American Group and everyone in the Southeastern family for making this possible.”
Carpenter accepted the crystal truck award at American Group’s corporate office in Chandler, AZ, presented by Daniel Krivickas, President of American Group, and John Benisek, American Group’s Director of Business Development.
“Each day, our customers depend on the services offered by Southeastern Freight Lines to bring their goods to the marketplace safely, intact, and on-time. Despite an increasingly challenging business environment, Southeastern comes through for us every day,” said Krivickas.
“We are proud to present this well-deserved award to Southeastern for helping to enable our continued mutual success,” said Michael Schember, American Group’s CEO.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Greenville, SC Region
New Facility Enables Growth and Advancements to Serve CustomersLEXINGTON, S.C. (Oct. 19, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a relocated service center in Piedmont, South Carolina, serving the greater Greenville region.
The new service center, located at 515 Sagitairus Way, consists of 207 dock doors, a large appointment warehouse and 230 associates. It is housed on 110 acres, allowing for future growth, and features a Fleet Services Shop as well as a large open office space equipped with a state-of-the-art conference room for meetings and training.
“We recently celebrated serving the Greenville market for more than 60 years and this new facility will provide the capacity for us to grow and serve our customers for many years to come,” said Patrick Trahan, service center manager. “From when we first opened our doors to today, our goal has always been the same – to meet or exceed the needs of our customers, every single time.”
Originally located inside an old railroad warehouse, the Greenville service center opened for business in 1959 with only 10 dock doors and 16 associates. Since the service center’s development at its most recent location of 710 Mauldin Road in 1964, the facility expanded five times throughout the past 55 years, growing and improving with every addition.
Southeastern Freight Lines Launches Final Mile Service System-Wide
350+ Trucks Ready to Make Residential, Store DeliveriesLEXINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 17, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its Final Mile service is now available across all 89 service centers via a fleet of more than 350 trucks.
Southeastern's Final Mile trucks are the smallest in its fleet, offering residential deliveries as well as deliveries to freestanding retail stores, locations where a dock is not available and strip malls with limited access, among others.
"As we continue to enhance the 'Quality Without Question' service our customers have come to expect, we have strategically built our final mile service over time. We started with a small number of trucks in select markets to test both efficiencies and market demand," said Rob Smith, vice president of service center operations at Southeastern Freight Lines. "With more than 350 trucks now in our fleet, our company is better equipped to efficiently make final mile deliveries across our footprint. Coupled with an increase in demand, we are seeing a 70% increase in daily residential deliveries since last June. We expect that growth to continue."
Southeastern's commitment to Quality Without Question service translates to its Final Mile offering, providing 99.3% on-time service to date. All drivers go through the same comprehensive training and are equipped with branded uniforms and trucks, whether driving a large tractor-trailer or a Final Mile truck.
Southeastern has been a leader in innovation across the fleet industry since its first onboard technology launched more than 27 years ago by consistently upgrading its technology to meet market demands. Its software provides accurate and timely identification of Final Mile deliveries, helps educate the Final Mile customer in what to expect from their delivery and allows customers to handle their appointment and delivery requirements at their convenience online. Features include:
- Real-time tracking with 100% visibility
- Automatic delivery status updates
- APIs allow shippers to integrate their e-commerce shopping carts to the Southeastern system (rate quotes, pickup requests, tracking, etc.)
- Ability to use emails and phone numbers of residential customers to send links for self-appointments. This allows the customer to request a contact before arrival and grant Southeastern permission to deliver without being present.
- Driver mobile allows the driver to take a picture to confirm delivery when the customer is not present
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Best Employer in South Carolina by Forbes
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Aug. 25, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its recognition as Best Employer in South Carolina by Forbes.
Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to pinpoint organizations liked best by employees in its second annual ranking of America's best employers by state.
"At Southeastern, we believe strongly in our culture and values, and that it's what sets us apart. This recognition from Forbes, based on feedback from our employees, is a testament to our people-first culture," said Richard Slater, vice president of field sales at Southeastern Freight Lines. "We offer a commitment to excellence in all we do, serving our associates and communities, comprehensive training, safe and well-maintained equipment and a competitive pay and benefits package."
South Carolina is home to Southeastern's corporate office in Lexington as well as five service centers located in Augusta, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville. The company is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, including 70 years of service out of the Columbia service center.
Seventy years ago, serving as Southeastern's corporate office and headquarters, the Columbia service center originally employed eight people who served the corporate office and also ran the terminal. Today, the Columbia service center has grown to 102 dock doors and more than 160 employees and is located at 4025 Sunset Blvd. The corporate office employs an additional 540 employees out of its Lexington, South Carolina, headquarters at 420 Davega Road.
The ranking was compiled by surveying 80,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees. Surveys were conducted on a rolling basis from October 2019 to May 2020, and responses regarding the same employers were compared throughout the process, accounting for results collected before and after the onset of the pandemic.
For more information about working at Southeastern, visit the careers page on www.sefl.com.
About Southeastern Freight Lines
Southeastern Freight Lines, a privately-owned regional less-than-truckload transportation services provider founded in 1950, specializes in next-day service in the Southeast and Southwest and operates 89 service centers in 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Southeastern has a network of service partners to ensure transportation services in the remaining 36 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico. Southeastern Freight Lines provides more than 99.35% on-time service in next day lanes. A dedication to service quality and a continuous quality improvement process that began in 1985 has been recognized by more than 450 quality awards received from customers and associations. For more information, please visit www.sefl.com and www.facebook.com/SoutheasternFreight.
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Media Contact:
Sarah Osment
Largemouth Communications (on behalf of Southeastern Freight Lines)
sarah@largemouthpr.com
(919) 459-6457
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Columbia and Atlanta Service Centers Celebrate 70 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (April 16, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating its 70th anniversary of providing quality without question service after its founding in 1950, including 70-year milestones at its first service centers in Columbia, South Carolina, and Atlanta.
Starting the Journey in South Carolina
Then, serving as Southeastern’s corporate office and headquarters, the Columbia service center originally employed seven to eight people who served the corporate office and also ran the terminal. Today, the Columbia service center has grown to 102 dock doors and more than 161 employees and is located at 4025 Sunset Blvd. The corporate office employs an additional 542 employees out of its Lexington, South Carolina, headquarters at 420 Davega Road.
Expanding to Atlanta
Even when Founder W.T. Cassels Sr. made the first deliveries for Southeastern Freight Lines from Columbia, he was already planning the company’s expansion into Georgia. The Atlanta service center was the second Southeastern terminal to open and operated out of a filling station for the first few years. There were no interstates in the 1950s, so drivers traveled on a two-lane road from Columbia to Atlanta. Today, the facility has grown to 140 dock doors and more than 330 associates and is currently located at 4061 Moreland Avenue in Conley, Georgia.
Building a Legacy
To start Southeastern Freight Lines, Cassels Sr. took out a loan for $5,000 for working capital and started with 12 trucks, 20 people and a philosophy about how to run his business.
“Our company has weathered many storms since my grandfather made Southeastern’s first delivery, and I’m proud to carry forward his legacy of building roots in each community where we operate,” said W. Tobin Cassels III, president of Southeastern Freight Lines. “While the trucking industry has evolved in many ways over the past 70 years, along with the changing landscape of technology and infrastructure, the mission of the company remains the same: to meet or exceed the needs of every customer – every single time.”
The company now operates 89 service centers, employing more than 8,211 associates across 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies to provide essential services and support the country’s vital supply chain needs.
Visit the Southeastern Freight Lines YouTube channel to learn more about the founding and history of the company from Chairman W.T. Cassels Jr.
Southeastern Freight Lines Serves 6,200 Hours in 2019
Employees Give Back Through “Southeastern Serves” Program
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Feb. 3, 2020) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its participation in more than 6,200 total hours of community service across 94 projects in 2019 as part of the “Southeastern Serves” program.
Southeastern Serves is a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
“Since the first truck pulled away from a loading dock in 1950, Southeastern has been engrained in the communities it serves. The Southeastern Serves program allows us to pay-it-forward and give back to the communities who support us year after year,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Southeastern Freight Lines. “We are proud of our ongoing commitment to provide quality service not only to our customers but to less fortunate individuals throughout the footprint we serve.”
This year, more than 1,400 participants, including Southeastern associates, friends and family members, volunteered for projects ranging from serving meals to families in need, to volunteering at veteran organizations, homeless shelters and domestic abuse shelters. A few examples across the Southeastern footprint include:
In September 2019, Southeastern team members across the Carolinas and Virginia, worked with Samaritan’s Feet to attend title one schools where 42 salary employees spent 127 hours serving over 400 children, washing their feet, getting to know the children and donating shoes and socks to each child. Samaritan’s Feet believes a new pair of shoes and the act of foot-washing can give children hope and the opportunity for a better life.
In Texas, 19 Southeastern associates and family members from Tyler and Waco, volunteered 92 hours at Hunger for Love’s Christmas Under the Bridge event, helping decorate and serve food and beverages. Tyler associate Robin Kennedy oversaw Santa’s Tent at the event and was able to collect more than 600 donated toys from local businesses and associates, gifted to more than 200 boys and girls. Hunger for Love fosters relationships with the homeless community and under-resourced families in Tyler, where they meet on Saturday mornings for a hot, fresh breakfast, clothing and hygiene distribution, worship and a bagged lunch to take home.
A few months later, the Southeastern sales and marketing associates from Lexington, South Carolina partnered with Providence Home to help give a Christmas devotion, serve desserts and fellowship with residents. They also left gifts for the residents to enjoy on Christmas morning. Providence Home helps stabilize living conditions for dislocated men and encourages self-sufficient living through progressive, spiritually dynamic ministry.
Additionally, Southeastern sent 19 volunteers in Greenville, South Carolina to serve 95 hours at The SonShine Club, preparing and serving food, while also cleaning and providing gift bags for members. The SonShine Club provides special needs adults a safe space to meet with their peers to enjoy music, fitness, games, arts and crafts, bible study and lunch at no charge.
“As we enter our 70th year in business, it is humbling to see the ongoing commitment of Southeastern to support so many deserving organizations and individuals through the Southeastern Serves program. We look forward to honoring that commitment with community service projects throughout 2020 and beyond,” said Heaton.
This is the eighth year for the Southeastern Serves program.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as J.B. Hunt Regional Carrier of the Year
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Dec. 23, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been recognized as the 2019 Regional Carrier of the Year by J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
J.B. Hunt recognizes distinguished LTL carriers who demonstrate transportation excellence throughout the year. The transport services company chooses the “best of the best” in carrier performance and value, based on its defined Metrics of Excellence, including business relationship, customer service, operations, pricing and technology.
"We are honored to be recognized by J.B. Hunt as the Regional Carrier of the Year for 2019," said Austin Miller, national account manager for Southeastern Freight Lines. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work dedicated to providing quality without question service for every customer shipment. We give thanks to J.B. Hunt and everyone in the Southeastern family for making this possible.”
Miller accepted the award from Kevin Housley, LTL carrier relations manager for J.B. Hunt in November 2019.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Greenville Service Center Celebrates 60 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Dec. 16, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 60 years of quality without question service at the Greenville, South Carolina service center.
Originally located inside an old railroad warehouse in the northwest textile region of Greenville, the service center opened for business in 1959, with 10 dock doors and 16 associates.
In 1964, the service center was built where it stands today at 710 Mauldin Road in Greenville and has expanded five times throughout the past 55 years, growing and improving with every addition to its current size of 122 doors with 233 associates.
With continued economic growth in the region, Southeastern recently purchased land in Piedmont, South Carolina and is building a brand-new service center with 200 dock doors. The center will feature the largest educational conference room in the company, a bunk house and an appointment warehouse. The 110-acre property will also allow for future growth.
“Employees from the early days of the service center recall how the old railroad warehouse was built on pole piling with floors made of wood, making it impossible to use a forklift or roll a heavy float across the floor. Everything had to be moved by hand trucks or floats. As one of our oldest facilities, the history behind the Greenville service center is heartwarming and reminds us of who we are and how far we’ve come,” said Southeastern President W.T. “Tobin” Cassels, Southeastern Freight Lines. “As we celebrate this 60-year milestone with our talented team, we look forward to continued growth in the region. Our new service center will provide capacity to our valued customers for many years to come.”
The Greenville service center was the 6th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized as Analytics Achievers in Trimble Ovation Awards
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Oct. 15, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, received the title of Analytics Achievers in the 2019 Trimble Ovation Award Best in Data Utilization category.
Presented at the 2019 in.sight user conference + expo, the Ovation Awards celebrate Trimble customers that have best leveraged technology through innovations in integration, custom-tailored applications, process implementation, training methods and more.
Southeastern was recognized for the streamlined migration of its 3,000-vehicle fleet from automatic on-board recording device (AOBRD) driver logs to electronic logging device (ELD) driver logs.
"We are honored to be recognized by Trimble for the second year in a row," said Michael Owings, vice president of corporate services and support for Southeastern Freight Lines. “With the deadline to migrate to ELD approaching, carriers across the nation have been facing this same undertaking. With our dedicated team closely working with Trimble, we were able to effectively measure resource utilization to ensure a smooth transition.”
Bill Brown, consultant and retired Manager of Fleet Telematics for Southeastern Freight Lines, accepted the award at the conference, held Sept. 15 – 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
“With Bill’s work on the migration, in one three-day period our testing and changes led to a major breakthrough in how we handle malfunction and diagnostics (M&Ds) in our ELD driver logs,” added Owings.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ West Palm Beach Service Center Celebrates 30 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (September 16, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 30 years of quality without question service at its West Palm Beach, Florida, service center.
Originally located at 3250 45th Street, the service center opened for business in the fall of 1989, with seven dock doors and 10 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 92 dock doors and more than 89 associates, with two original employees, and is currently located at 201 Ave P Riviera Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Line Haul Drivers Todd Spencer and Fernando Matthew are also celebrating professional milestones, as they have been at the West Palm Beach service center since its opening in 1989 and remain active with Southeastern today.
“Over the past three decades, Southeastern has been a part of the West Palm Beach community, providing quality without question service to the region,” said Nicholas Crawford, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “We thank our dedicated team members like Todd and Fernando for playing key roles in growing our team and shipments year-over-year. From when we first opened this service center to today, our goal has always been the same: to meet or exceed the needs of every customer – every single time.”
The West Palm Beach service center was the 25th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Miami Service Center Celebrates 30 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (August 13, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 30 years of quality without question service at its Miami, Florida, service center.
Originally located at 8900 Northwest 79th Avenue in Medley, Florida, the service center opened for business in the summer of 1989, with 20 dock doors and 39 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 103 dock doors and over 143 associates, with two original employees, and is currently located at 5875 Northwest 72nd Avenue in Miami, Florida.
Line Haul Driver Anthony Davis and Pickup and Delivery Driver Tony Garcia also celebrate professional milestones, as they have been at the Miami service center since its opening in 1989 and remain active with Southeastern today.
“Dedicated team members like Anthony and Tony play an important role in the growth and development we have experienced in Miami over the last three decades,” said Luis Arias, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “As we celebrate this milestone with our incredibly talented team, we’re thrilled to continue growing in our year-over-year shipments and serving the region for years to come.”
The Miami service center was the 24th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Waynesboro Service Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 3, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 20 years of quality without question service at its Waynesboro service center.
Originally located at 319 Dinwiddie Avenue in Waynesboro, Virginia, the service center opened for business on May 3, 1999, with six dock doors and 8 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 45 dock doors and over 25 associates, with two original employees, and is currently located at 5326 Crowe Drive in Mount Crawford, Virginia.
Line Haul Drivers Bruce Plaster and David Butler also celebrate professional milestones, as they have been at the Waynesboro service center since its opening on May 3, 1999 and remain active with Southeastern today.
"Two decades ago, the Waynesboro service center opened its doors and brought a new culture of trucking to the region," said Jason Martin, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. "Dedicated team members like Bruce and David play a pivotal role in continuing to grow our team and shipments year-over-year for generations to come. We look forward to seeing this testament and commitment to providing quality without question service throughout the region to our current and future customers."
The Waynesboro service center was the 52nd service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Fredericksburg Service Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (April 16, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 20 years of quality without question service at its Fredericksburg, Virginia, service center.
Originally located at 8717 Jefferson Davis Highway in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the service center opened for business in the spring of 1999, with 12 dock doors and 11 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 70 dock doors and over 44 associates, with two original employees, and is currently located at 42 Sage Lane in Falmouth, Virginia.
Line Haul Driver Roy Hazelwood and Inbound Freight Handler Wayne Lloyd are also celebrating professional milestones, as they have been at the Fredericksburg service center since its opening in 1999 and remain active with Southeastern today.
"Dedicated team members like Roy and Wayne play an integral role in the growth we have experienced in Fredericksburg over the last two decades," said Justin Proffitt, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. "As we celebrate this milestone with our incredibly talented team, we’re excited to continue growing in our year-over-year shipments and serving the region for years to come."
The Fredericksburg service center was the 51st service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Receives Home Depot’s 2019 LTL/Carpet Carrier of the Year Award
LEXINGTON, S.C. (February 8, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has received Home Depot’s 2019 LTL/Carpet Carrier of the Year Award. Home Depot recognized Southeastern based on outstanding performance in key metrics, general ease of doing business and responsiveness to special requests and disaster recovery.
The key metrics within this award are based on Home Depot’s ‘Rack and Stack’ metrics which measure adherence to transit time standards, gap time of final delivery and ability to provide electronic status updates within defined time-frames.
"The Home Depot has a very large and sophisticated supply chain and being recognized for this award is truly an honor," said Southeastern Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development Woody Lovelace. "It is not only a testament to our Southeastern team’s commitment to handling their shipments, but also our concern in managing our relationship with sincere care and integrity."
This award was presented to recipients in Atlanta, Georgia during The Home Depot’s annual Executive Carrier Conference on January 25, 2019.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Dalton Service Center Celebrates 35 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (February 5, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 35 years of quality without question service at its Dalton, Georgia, service center.
Located at 180 Cross Plains Boulevard in Dalton, Georgia, the service center opened for business in the winter of 1984, with 12 dock doors and 18 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 168 dock doors and over 200 associates, with one original employee.
Line Haul Driver William (Bill) Darnell is also celebrating a professional milestone, as he has been at the Dalton service center since its opening in 1984 and remains active with Southeastern today.
“As we celebrate this milestone in Dalton, it’s incredible to reflect on the meaningful relationships we’ve built with our customers and that Bill has been able to experience all of this first hand over his 35 years with our Southeastern team,” said Jeff Sittnick, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “We’re excited to continue growing our shipments, serving the region and witnessing the momentum of our great team year-after-year.”
The Dalton service center was the 16th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Serves 3,617 Hours in 2018
LEXINGTON, S.C. (January 22, 2019) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its participation in 3,617 total hours of community service, completing 90 projects, in 2018 as part of the “Southeastern Serves” program.
Southeastern Serves is a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
“We are proud to share our commitment of providing quality service not only to our customers but to less fortunate individuals throughout the communities we serve,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Southeastern Freight Lines. “Through the Southeastern Serves program, we are able to strengthen the communities who support us year after year through giving back.”
This year, 1,065 participants, including Southeastern associates, friends and family members, volunteered for projects ranging from providing Christmas presents and serving meals for children in need, to doing yardwork for elderly community members.
Most recently, the Southeastern team in Laredo, Texas, delivered wrapped toys and celebrated the holidays with a pizza and juice box party for over 80 children at a local at-risk elementary school. After learning that a few second-grade teachers at Jesus A. Kawas Elementary School didn’t have the outcome they were looking for during a holiday plate sale fundraiser, the Laredo team decided to intervene and ensure each student had a gift to open on Christmas.
A few months prior, the Southeastern Finance and Accounting Department served a southern-cooked meal from Hudson’s Smokehouse to the Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter, a group home for children and teens who have faced abuse, abandonment, neglect, and/or homelessness in Columbia, South Carolina.
Additionally, the Southeastern team in Miami, Florida, spent the day cooking and serving breakfast – which ranged from pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and pastries – to the families of children at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.
“The commitment of Southeastern to support so many deserving organizations and individuals through the Southeastern Serves program is humbling. We look forward to the new community service projects that await us in 2019,” said Heaton.
This is the seventh year for the Southeastern Serves program.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognizes Malcom Bryant For 50 Years of Safe Driving
LEXINGTON, S.C. (October 11, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, recognized Malcom Bryant for 50 years driving with no accidents during the company’s annual Safety and Service Awards celebration at its Columbia, South Carolina, Service Center. Bryant’s safety record is an accomplishment that puts him in an elite class.
“According to the American Trucking Association, there are 3.5 million Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers today,” says Phillip Enlow, Southeastern Freight Lines service center manager in Columbia. “Because only a handful of drivers in the United States have been recognized for 50 years of accident-free driving, this is a prestigious honor and we’re proud to recognize Malcom’s contributions to Southeastern.”
Following in his father’s footsteps, Bryant started his career in the trucking industry at Southeastern when he was 17 years old. He drove the 1965 B-Model, one of 26 produced that year, with no power steering, no air conditioning and twin stick shifters.
While the industry has evolved and traffic and congestion have made safe driving more challenging than when Bryant began his career, he remains diligent in his focus to maintain his 50-year impeccable driving record. Bryant’s reputation for quality service even extends to the town of Newberry, South Carolina, where he earned the nickname “Mayor.”
When asked about the secret to his success, Bryant states, “I thank the Lord that He blessed me with good health, the ability, and the alertness. I love Southeastern and that drives the desire to always do well.”
“We’re so proud to recognize Malcom for his many years of loyal and faithful service,” says Southeastern President W.T. “Tobin” Cassels. “He’s created a safety record that speaks to Southeastern’s safety culture, setting the bar high for others by letting them know it can be done.”
Bryant is the first Southeastern driver to reach this threshold of safety.
“Because Malcom is the first within our company to accomplish 50 years of safe driving, we as a company were tasked with thinking through how we could best honor this highly regarded professional milestone,” said Cassels. “Through conversations, Malcom mentioned he’d like to have a truck. While we thought he was referring to a crystal model truck for display in his home, that was far from his mind.”
Bryant, who lives on a farm and occasionally hauls hay, wanted a truck. Apart from using it on the farm, he also wanted to take his extended family for rides from time to time. To honor his career, Southeastern surprised Malcom with a customized and refurbished 2012 Volvo. He was also honored with a shadow box of safety pins from Year One to Year Fifty, a one and only custom-made miniature replica of the 1965 B-Model Mack and a $5,000 check.
“Achieving 50 years of safe driving in a linehaul capacity is difficult,” said Cassels. “But it’s almost impossible to achieve this as a pickup and delivery driver with all of the tight turns and backing required. Malcom has accomplished the impossible.”
Word has gotten out in the industry about Malcom’s accomplishment, including Rick Todd, President and CEO of the South Carolina Trucking Association.
“By all accounts, Mr. Bryant has likely exceeded all expectations and really set the bar high for others. The recognition and gifts he’s received are certainly generous and wonderful, but they can’t be as rewarding as the satisfaction and pride of owning a truly remarkable career and track record like his,” said Todd. “Bryant is a genuine ‘Knight of the Road,’ and for aspiring young professional drivers, what a great role model to look to. All drivers should marvel at the thought of what he’s accomplished and how much discipline he’s developed.”
Southeastern Freight Lines’ West Atlanta Service Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (October 8, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 20 years of quality without question service at its West Atlanta service center.
Located at 750 Aquila Way in Austell, Georgia, the service center opened for business on October 5, 1998, with 123 dock doors. Since then, the facility has grown to 181 dock doors and 413 associates, 52 of which are also celebrating 20 years with the service center.
These 52 original associates include 17 pickup and delivery drivers, 11 fleet services, 10 linehaul drivers, seven freight handlers, two administrative, two pickup and delivery dispatchers, one safety specialist, one inbound dock supervisor and one office manager, all of which have been at the Austell service center since its opening in 1998 and remain active with Southeastern today.
“At Southeastern, we deeply value each associate and know that, as a team, we are the keys to achieving quality without question,” said Jason Hood, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “It’s truly amazing to see how these 52 original associates have exhibited a serving attitude and passion for excellence for 20 years and are continuing to do so daily. We’re thrilled to celebrate this important milestone with the West Atlanta team and look forward to watching our facility continue to expand and exceed the needs of our customers in the coming years.”
The West Atlanta service center was the 50th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized with PeopleNet Ovation Award
LEXINGTON, S.C. (September 25, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, received the 2018 PeopleNet Ovation Award in the Data Master category.
Previously known as the Innovator of the Year awards, the in.sight Ovation Awards celebrate PeopleNet customers who are driving innovation in the transportation industry.
Southeastern was recognized within the Data Master category for the innovative approach the company has taken around data and analytics to achieve tangible improvements in their business.
Using telematics data, provided by PeopleNet, Southeastern is able to:
- improve onboard communications
- identify failing global positioning system antennas, cellular antenna issues and vehicle battery problems
- gain miles per gallon efficiencies
- use fault codes to reduce on-the-road breakdowns by 80 percent
"We could not be more humbled to be recognized by PeopleNet as a Data Master," said Michael Owings, director of corporate planning and development for Southeastern Freight Lines. "Their telematics data not only contributes to reduced maintenance costs for Southeastern, but also reduces freight delays which translates to a positive experience for our customers. We truly value the relationship we have developed with PeopleNet and look forward to upholding the high standards recognized today for many years to come."
About PeopleNet:
PeopleNet provides solutions to help fleets improve safety and compliance and reduce costs. PeopleNet’s network communications, mobility and analytics products are used by more than 2,000 truckload, LTL, private, and energy services fleets throughout North America. PeopleNet was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with an office in Ontario, Canada. PeopleNet is a Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) Company. To learn more about PeopleNet and its products, visit www.peoplenetonline.com or call (888) 399-7110.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Kinston Service Center Celebrates 35 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 12, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 35 years of quality without question service at its Kinston, North Carolina, service center.
The Kinston service center opened for business on June 20, 1983 with eight dock doors and seven associates. Four years after opening, the facility moved to its current location, 159 Highway 11 South in Kinston, North Carolina, and has grown to 48 dock doors and 66 associates.
“As we celebrate this milestone in Kinston, it’s incredible to reflect on not only the impact we’ve had on our customers, but to realize how much our team has grown,” said Steve Kell, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “With the commitment of our employees, we look forward to continue growing our shipments and success year-after-year.”
The Kinston service center was the 15th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Fort Myers Service Center Celebrates 25 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (May 3, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 25 years of quality without question service at its Fort Myers, Florida, service center this month.
Located at 9300 Piper Road in Punta Gorda, Florida, the Fort Myers service center opened for business on May 3, 1993 with 39 dock doors and 41 associates. Since then, the facility has grown to 75 dock doors and 67 associates, with more than half also celebrating 25 years with the service center.
Over 30 associates, including service center manager Ashley Vanderloop, and business development manager Keith McMahon, were hired shortly after the opening of the Fort Myers service center in 1993 and remain active with Southeastern today.
“For over two decades the Fort Myers service center has thrived in this region, experiencing growth as a direct result of our dedication to put customers first,” said Ashley Vanderloop, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Since opening in 1993, we’ve built lasting relationships with our customers and we are thrilled to continue providing quality without question to the region for years to come.”
The Fort Myers service center was the 38th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Receives Echo Global Logistics’ 2017 Regional Carrier Award
LEXINGTON, S.C. (April 3, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has received the 2017 Echo Global Logistics Platinum Award for Outstanding Regional LTL Carriers’ Service. Echo recognized Southeastern as a regional LTL carrier with outstanding service, performance and commitment to their clients and employees.
The award is based on various categories of qualitative and quantitative metrics, covering quality of client communication, invoice accuracy, claims, responsiveness, ecommerce, web capabilities and employee training and development.
The regional carrier award reflects the excellence of Southeastern in the industry and their passion for service which includes a commitment to continuous measurable improvement. Southeastern strives to satisfy every partner completely through measuring all aspects of the business relationship. “Southeastern has a proven process to monitor shipment data and proactively identify and address potential issues in a timely manner,” stated Echo Global Logistics Vice President of LTL Carrier Relations, Mark Redini.
"Being recognized for the seventh consecutive year is a testament to our commitment to serving Echo and all of our third-party logistics clients," said Southeastern Senior Vice President Mike Heaton. "We truly value the relationship we have developed with Echo and look forward to upholding these high standards of customer care for many years to come."
About Echo Global Logistics
Echo Global Logistics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECHO) is a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services. Headquartered in Chicago with more than 30 offices around the country, Echo offers freight brokerage and Managed Transportation solutions for all major modes, including truckload, partial truckload, LTL, intermodal and expedited. Echo maintains a proprietary, web-based technology platform that compiles and analyzes data from its network of over 40,000 transportation providers to serve clients across a wide range of industries and simplify the critical tasks involved in transportation management. For more information on Echo Global Logistics, visit: www.echo.com.
Media Contact:
Hope Torruella
Largemouth Communications (on behalf of Southeastern Freight Lines)
hope@largemouthpr.com
(919) 459-6462
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Asheville Service Center Celebrates 25 Years of Service
Six employees celebrate over 25 years with company
LEXINGTON, S.C. (March 29, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 25 years of quality without question service from its Asheville, North Carolina, service center this spring.
Originally located at 137 ½ Sweeten Creek Road, the Asheville service center opened for business on May 3, 1993 with 13 dock doors and 10 associates. Since then, the facility has moved, now located at 200 Mills Gap Road, and grown to 35 employees and 100 total doors.
The facility is also celebrating the anniversaries of six original team members: Drivers Cris Caswell, Hugh Bridges, Larry Holbert, Michael Hyatt, Richard Lindsey and Rick Hoots. All have been with Southeastern since the service center opening in 1993 and are celebrating more than 25 years with the company.
“As we celebrate this milestone in Asheville, it’s incredible to reflect on the meaningful relationships we’ve cultivated with our customers,” said Cris Barry, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “With our tight-knit work family, we look forward to continued success and serving our customers for years to come.”
The Asheville service center was the 37th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. Since then, the company has expanded to operate 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Serves 5,954 Hours in 2017
Employees Give Back Through “Southeastern Serves” Program
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 29, 2018) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its participation in 5,954 total hours of community service, during 82 total projects, in 2017 as part of the “Southeastern Serves” program.
Southeastern Serves is a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
“We are fortunate enough to share our commitment of providing quality service not only to our customers but to less fortunate individuals throughout the communities we serve,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Southeastern Freight Lines. “Through the Southeastern Serves program, we are able to strengthen the communities who support us year after year through giving back.”
This year, 1,637 participants, including Southeastern associates and their friends and family members, volunteered in Southeastern Serves projects ranging from renovating houses for families in need, collecting food for the homeless, providing pizza parties for foster children and serving meals for victims of domestic abuse.
Most recently, account managers from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky joined Georgia Baptist Children’s Home at their Palmetto, Georgia, campus to provide 12 families a refreshed living space. Across two apartment buildings, the team painted 25 doors and two laundry room floors, planted 30 pieces of shrubbery, pressure washed the exterior and spread mulch across multiple flower beds.
In Greenville, South Carolina, the Southeastern team filled two pickup trucks with food for children and house parents of Miracle Hill Children’s Home.
Meanwhile, the Houston, Texas, sales team served a lunch and provided fellowship, to more than 200 women and children at The Star of Hope Women and Family Development Center.
“The commitment of Southeastern to support so many deserving organizations and individuals through the Southeastern Serves program is humbling. We look forward to the new community service projects that await us in 2018,” said Heaton.
This is the sixth year for the Southeastern Serves program.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Columbus Service Center Celebrates 35 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Nov. 16, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 35 years of quality without question service from its Columbus, Georgia, service center this month.
The Columbus service center opened for business on November 16, 1982, with 16 dock doors. Throughout the more than three decades of service, the Columbus location has relocated due to continued growth and expansion of service offerings in Georgia. It is now located at 3200 Williams Road in Columbus, Georgia, with 32 dock doors and 42 associates.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 35 years with our associates and customers in Columbus,” said Derrick Battle, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see the company grow and provide opportunities for so many people.”
The Columbus service center was the 14th service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 30 Years of Service at its Orlando and Tampa Service Centers
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 20, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services is celebrating 30 years of quality without question service from its service centers in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, this year.
The Orlando service center opened for business on June 15, 1987, with eight dock doors and 27 associates. The location’s business quickly grew and 14 months later moved to a 32 dock door facility. It is now located at 10055 Central Port Drive in Orlando, Florida, with 124 dock doors and 195 associates, three of which are original Orlando employees.
“We are thrilled and humbled as we look back at our past thirty years,” said Steve Burton, Orlando service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Since the opening of the Orlando service center, the impact and growth we’ve experienced is an exciting indicator of what’s to come in the approaching decades.”
The Tampa service center also opened for business that same day with 52 dock doors and 26 associates. Since its inception, the location continues to stand at 12315 Country Road 579 in Thonotosassa, Florida. Growing from its modest roots, the location now features 181 dock doors and employs 265 associates, six of which have been there since the beginning.
“It is truly incredible to be able to say our location has been open for three decades,” said Charles Parkman, Tampa service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Throughout these 30 years, our quality without question culture and commitment has allowed us to build meaningful relationships with our customers and we look forward to serving them for many more years to come.”
Orlando and Tampa were dynamic locations as Southeastern has continued to expand since 1987. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has been recognized by more than 400 quality awards received from customers and associations for high service standards and innovative trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines’ Charlotte Service Center Celebrates 45 Years of Service
LEXINGTON, S.C. (July 11, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, is celebrating 45 years of quality without question service from its Charlotte, North Carolina, service center this month.
Originally located on Woodward Avenue, the Charlotte service center opened for business in July 1, 1972 with five dock doors and 10 associates. Since then, the facility moved to its current location at 4524 Reagan Drive and has grown to 122 dock doors and 218 associates, five of which are celebrating more than 40 years at the Charlotte service center.
Linehaul drivers Francis Rawlinson, Joel Stevens, Bernie Burris and Carroll Ricker and Regional Safety Manager Mike Honeycutt were all hired shortly after the opening of the Charlotte service center in 1972 and remain active with Southeastern today.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 45 years with our associates and customers in Charlotte,” said Taylor Wray, service center manager, Southeastern Freight Lines. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see the company grow and provide opportunities for so many people.”
These opportunities continue to grow, including opening Charlotte’s second service center facility in 2011, located on a 30-acre site at 11700 Steele Creek Road. This location has 123 doors, 201 employees and a full maintenance shop, providing additional transportation capacity for the region. The ability to traffic freight through two locations in areas with heavy traffic congestion helps maintain on-time delivery standards and other measures of efficiency that lead the industry.
The Charlotte service center was the seventh service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Recognized with NASSTRAC Carrier of the Year Award
LEXINGTON, S.C. (June 28, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, was recognized as a 2016 Carrier of the Year by NASSTRAC in the Regional-Southeast LTL category.
NASSTRAC’s award program acknowledges providers’ service using a scale to rate each organization in five key areas, including: customer service, operational excellence, pricing, business relationship, leadership and technology. NASSTRAC, the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council, has been providing advocacy and education for shippers and carriers for more than 50 years.
John Peterson, national account manager for Southeastern Freight Lines, accepted the award during the NASSTRAC Shippers Conference & Transportation Expo this spring.
Southeastern’s service partners were also recognized as winners in their respective region: Dayton Freight Lines (Midwest) and Oak Harbor Freight Lines (West). To ensure excellent transportation outside of its core territory, Southeastern Freight Lines uses a network of excellent service providers.
“We are honored to be recognized by NASSTRAC as a regional Carrier of the Year,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Our mission is to exceed the needs of every customer - every single time. The recognition and acknowledgement reassures us that we are fulfilling our purpose, and it motivates us to continue providing our best to all of our customers.”
The NASSTRAC Carrier of the Year program is co-sponsored by Logistics Management, a leading trade magazine for buyers of logistics services.
Southeastern Receives Lowe's Top Carrier Award for the 10th Straight Year
Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, has been named Lowe's LTL Carrier of the Year for 2016. In addition, Southeastern also received Lowe's Platinum Service Award for 2016, which is the highest award designation possible for the home improvement retailer.
This is the tenth year in a row that Southeastern has earned the prestigious Platinum distinction by exceeding all four service goals set by Lowe's.
Lowe's measures carriers each week on meeting four primary objectives including on-time and claim-free deliveries - two of Southeastern's primary operational objectives. Consistently exceeding all four standards earns the Platinum level recognition.
A continuous quality improvement process is the bedrock of Southeastern's leadership in the industry. Through this framework, Southeastern measures every aspect of its business and strives to satisfy every customer completely, becoming more efficient in the process. Southeastern monitors data through the process every day to recognize any trends that fall outside of the goals, working with customers and the entire supply chain to address issues before they become problems.
We appreciate this honor from Lowe's and value the outstanding relationship we have developed over the years. We absolutely welcome and thrive on being measured by our customers. Exceeding Lowe's standards for ten straight years is a testament to the commitment our employees have in the quality improvement process.
Southeastern Freight Lines Celebrates 65 Years of Service at its Charleston and Savannah Service Centers
Celebrating decades of experience, and many more to come.
LEXINGTON, S.C. (April 20, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services is celebrating 65 years of quality without question service from two of its very first service centers, Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, this year.
The Charleston service center opened for business in 1952, with five dock doors and six associates. Throughout the more than six decades of service, the Charleston location has relocated on three occasions due to continued growth and expansion of service offerings in South Carolina. It is now located at 1140 Business Park Lane in Summerville, South Carolina with 63 dock doors and 80 associates.
The Savannah service center opened for business that same year in what is now the Savannah State Farmer’s Market. The location had one dock door. In the 1970’s the location moved to 1717 Old Dean Forest Road in Pooler, Georgia, where it stands today. Growing from its humble roots, the location now features 58 dock doors and employs 70 associates.
“As we celebrate these incredible milestones in Charleston and Savannah, it’s humbling to look back at the impact and growth we’ve experienced,” said Tobin Cassels, president, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Throughout these 65 years, our quality without question culture and commitment to infrastructure has allowed us to expand and deliver more shipments decade after decade. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers and celebrate more monumental milestones.”
Charleston and Savannah were vital locations as Southeastern expanded to six service centers in the 1960’s. Since then, the company has opened 89 service centers spanning 14 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has been recognized by more than 400 quality awards received from customers and associations for high service standards and innovative trucking technologies.
Southeastern Freight Lines Opens New Service Center in Garland
New Location Enhances Service Throughout Texas
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Feb. 13, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced the opening of a new service center in Garland, Texas. The new facility, located at 3301 W. Miller Road in Garland, features 104 dock doors.
"As the fourth permanent service center location opened in the state within the past 18 months, this opening solidifies Southeastern's continued focus on our customers in the Texas market," said David Turner, regional vice president of operations, Southeastern Freight Lines. "We look forward to providing our 'quality without question' service to even more customers in and around Texas."
To oversee daily operations, Southeastern has promoted Matt Hughes to service center manager in Garland. Hughes has more than 14 years of experience with Southeastern, most recently serving as assistant service center manager in Southeastern's facility in Dallas, Texas.
This is the third service center serving the Dallas Fort-Worth metro area, allowing for earlier deliveries, pick-ups and more flexibility in overall services. It also expands Southeastern's capacity and infrastructure.
The new facility will employ 72 associates from service center managers to pick-up and delivery drivers.
Feeding Children Everywhere Brings Mission to Columbia
Social charity partners with Southeastern Freight Lines to package 40,000 meals.
LEXINGTON, S.C. (January 18, 2017) Today, Orlando-based non-profit, Feeding Children Everywhere shared their mission of empowering and mobilizing volunteers to assemble healthy meals for hungry children to Columbia, South Carolina. Southeastern Freight Lines, a leader in regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, hosted a hunger project, preparing 40,000 meals to be donated to local Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Formed in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Feeding Children Everywhere has grown from a movement conceived around a dining room table to a social charity with a far-reaching impact, mobilizing more than 421,000 volunteers to package 62 million healthy meals for hungry children in 49 countries around the world.
The local hunger project will provide 40,000 healthy meals for hungry children in the community, consisting of lentils, white rice, dehydrated vegetables and pink Himalayan salt. Feeding Children Everywhere works directly with a nutritionist to honor their commitment to provide the healthiest meal possible to children around the world. They provided all of the materials and set up for the hunger project to create an assembly line for volunteers to work together efficiently and make a difference in their community.
“It is truly a dynamic experience to witness,” said Brad Fleming, strategic partnerships manager, Feeding Children Everywhere. “The music is booming, lentils are flying and a sea of Southeastern volunteers in hairnets, transcending across age, race, gender and department are working together to make a tangible difference in the fight against global hunger, with a specific focus on their local community.”
The hunger project was the first “Southeastern Serves” campaign for Southeastern Freight Lines in 2017. The Southeastern Serves program is dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
“Southeastern places a high priority on giving back,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president, Southeastern Freight Lines. “Feeding Children Everywhere allows us the opportunity to serve and engage employees in the cause, providing meals for those at risk in our local community. We encourage other businesses to get involved and make an impact on global hunger.”
In 2016, Southeastern recruited 881 volunteers and logged 2,800 total hours of community service across the Southeast, ranging from volunteering at food drives and soup kitchens, to providing school supplies and doing yard work.
Southeastern Freight Lines Serves 2,800 Hours in 2016
Gives Back Through “Southeastern Serves” Program
LEXINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 17, 2017) Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services, today announced its participation in more than 2,800 total hours of community service in 2016 as part of the “Southeastern Serves” program.
Southeastern Serves is a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the needy.
“We are fortunate enough to share our commitment to providing quality service not only to our customers but to less fortunate individuals throughout the communities we serve,” said Mike Heaton, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Southeastern Freight Lines. “Through the Southeastern Serves program, we are able to give back and strengthen the communities who support us year after year.”
This year, 881 participants, including Southeastern associates and their friends and family members, participated in Southeastern Serves projects ranging from volunteering at food drives and soup kitchens, to providing school supplies and yard work.
Most recently, Southeastern’s Miami service center collected almost 1,700 pounds of food to donate to the Star of the Sea Outreach Mission, serving those in need across 34 locations from Key Largo to Key West, Florida. Additionally, the Greenville, South Carolina service center helped The Pendleton Place revamp their playground this past May, spreading mulch, repairing damaged equipment and creating a barrier so the mulch would not wash away. Over in Texas, 35 volunteers from the El Paso service center cooked a homemade fajita dinner in April for the families living at the local Ronald McDonald House.
“The opportunity Southeastern has to support so many deserving organizations and individuals throughout the year as part of the Southeastern Serves program is humbling. We look forward to the new community service projects that await us in the coming year,” said Heaton.
This is the fifth year for the Southeastern Serves program.
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