Southeastern Freight Lines expands service line with launch of Southeastern Logistics Services

Regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services provider Southeastern Freight Lines (SEFL) said this week it is rolling out a new subsidiary focused on providing expedited service and multi-modal transportation services throughout the U.S.

The new subsidiary, entitled Southeastern Logistics Solutions (SLS) will center on strategic capacity partnerships, with company officials saying it will first home in on various truckload services, including dry van, temperature controlled reefer, flatbed, and intermodal/rail, as well as oversee and manage all expedited products requiring partnership capacity outside of the company’s LTL network. In the future, SLS will also offer other services, including cartage, drayage, air freight, residential delivery, and import distribution.

SLS President Mike Moss told LM a main driver for this new service was based on feedback from shippers that expressed an interest in a trusted partner who has the ability to provide all modes of transportation.

And as part of this expansion to offer myriad transportation services Southeastern Freight Lines acquired Compass LLC in November 2009 to provide a presence in the truckload market, with Compass having a strong presence in pure truckload brokerage services. Throughout 2010, SFL was focused on “building a true logistics solutions strategy,” according to Moss, and the Compass name is now retired with the launch of SLS.

“Our new services provide customers with a partner who is always positioned to say ‘yes’ to their transportation needs, regardless of service type, from a trusted partner with a demonstrated and unwavering commitment to quality over the past 60 years,” said Moss.

The SLS operations and administration office, based in West Columbia, South Carolina, has 11 employees to provide day to day operations and administrative support of all transactions, and its sales, IT and other back office needs are supported by its parent company, SEFL.

Moss said that SLS will offer myriad service benefits for shippers.

“Our customers already know their local LTL account managers and can now work with them for all their needs,” he said. “We are able to leverage our strong presence across the Southeast and capacity partnerships to provide customers with services for all modes of transportation throughout the nation.”