Trucking news and briefs for Friday, June 27, 2025:
Southeastern Freight Lines opens new Pensacola, Florida, service center
Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 29) has announced the opening of a relocated service center in Pensacola, Florida.
The new Pensacola service center, located at 6650 N. W Street, consists of 60 associates and 85 dock doors. With a new bunk house, fuel bay, propane filling site, elevated driver rest facility, expanded conference space and spacious break rooms, the facility reflects Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to supporting its customers’ evolving needs, investing in its associates’ well-being and professional growth, and innovating operational efficiency, the company said.
“The relocation and expansion of our Pensacola service center will significantly enhance operations and customer service in the coming years,” said Derrick Battle, service center manager. “With these upgrades, we’re not just growing – we're expanding our capacity, improving driver accommodations and optimizing efficiency to meet the increasing demand for reliable, next-day freight solutions, the bread and butter of Southeastern Freight Lines.”
Previously located at 141 Industrial Boulevard, the Pensacola service center opened for business in 1990 with 15 associates and 47 dock doors.
Trucking activity saw slight dip in May
Trucking activity in the United States slipped slightly in May as the freight market remained choppy.
ATA's Truck Tonnage Index declined slightly in May from April.ATA
Specifically, truck freight tonnage decreased 0.1% after gaining 0.5% in April, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
“The seesaw freight demand pattern continued in April, making it difficult to discern any clear pattern in the market,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Excluding the services economy – the largest part of economic activity – the goods market is all over the map, thus impacting freight levels. Construction is soft, manufacturing is up and down, and consumers are cautious.”
In May, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 113.8, down from 113.9 in April. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, was down 1.3% from the same month last year, the first year-over-year decrease in 2025. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2024, tonnage was up 0.1%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 116.2 in May, 2.9% above April’s reading of 112.9.
ATRI updates state-level idling, sustainable practices guides
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) this week released updated versions of its Sustainability and Idling Regulations Compendiums.
For 20 years, ATRI has provided an online compendium of the various state- and local-level idling regulations that limit how long commercial vehicles can idle. ATRI continues to monitor the development of idling regulations across the country and provides the compendium as a free service to help trucking companies and truck drivers comply with the myriad state and local idling regulations.
The ATRI Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium first launched in 2014 to serve as a one-stop shop for information on sustainable freight practices that can be implemented by motor carriers and their drivers. The compendium also identifies how public sector practices such as congestion mitigation, research and testing, and the use of incentives can advance sustainable freight goals. ATRI has now updated all three sections of its Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium -- Driver, Vehicle, and Public Sector -- with the latest research and data.
“ATRI’s Sustainable Freight Practices and Idling Regulations Compendiums continue to be among the most frequently accessed pages on the ATRI website, underscoring the industry’s commitment to proactively reducing its environmental footprint,” said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster.
Over-dimensional haulers reminded to keep HOS exemption in trucks
Following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s provisional renewal of an hours-of-service for certain oversize/overweight haulers, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) is reminding its members to keep updated documentation on board for all moves.
The HOS waiver renewal exempts drivers working for specialized carriers transporting loads that exceed normal weight and dimensional limits and require a permit issued by a state or local government agency from the 30-minute break requirement.
SC&RA said with the provisional exemption being effective from June 17-Dec. 17, carriers wishing to take advantage of it should keep a copy of the appropriate documentation in the trucks being used for the exemption and remove any copies of the previous exemption.
SC&RA members can access a members-only FMCSA Exemption packet through the organization’s website.
