HISTORY

Co-owners, Jim Smith and Arthur Parker, spent 20 years in the regulated LTL business. After deregulation they saw an opportunity in the truckload business. In 1984 Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. was launched. Due to deregulation the trucking industry was rapidly changing and the demand for high quality service became evident. Georgia Southern’s first customers were retailers who saw an opportunity to provide their stores with a cost effective way to deliver vendor to DC to store service with shortened transit times that were unheard of at that time.

During this time, management worked diligently to develop a business model which continues to serve the company well. Through the years, this model was expanded to include industries other than retail but the overall goal, to tailor service based on the needs of each individual shipper, remains unchanged. In addition, Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. continues to provide rapid response to the changing needs of its customers. It is this model that sets Georgia Southern Transportation apart from its competitors. Georgia Southern is proud of its long career of providing exceptional service to its customers as demonstrated by its receipt of service awards from General Electric, Macys, SECO, and others.

PROFILE

The general office of Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. is located in Cartersville, Georgia. It is staffed by a dedicated group of individuals whose experience in the transportation business ranges from 10 to 45 years. This location houses all administrative, finance, safety, maintenance, and dispatch activities. Dispatchers are on duty 24 hours per day Monday through Friday. Additionally, a supervisor is on duty 24 hours each day, seven days a week, a responsibility that rotates among staff.

Drop lots are located in Atlanta, Georgia. Power is domiciled in various cities in the southeast. Shipments are handled by an experienced staff of company drivers, hired only after demonstrating a minimum of three years successful over the road experience.

EQUIPMENT

In order to serve customers’ needs, Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. operates a fleet of late model equipment. The fleet consists of 60 company owned tractors, each equipped with GPS tracking and In-Cab communication. The average age is 38 months. New equipment is added regularly.

The company’s trailer fleet consists of 200 dry vans (53’), 24 pup trailers (28’), and one dry bulk trailer available to meet specific customer needs.

TECHNOLOGY

Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. provides customers with communication services that keep pace with the industry. The company’s TMS system provides operations staff with up to the minute information which allows staff to react quickly to any unforeseen circumstances. EDI communications are sent and received by Georgia Southern Transportation’s customers. Drivers have the capability to send 214 shipment status updates from the truck which automatically updates the internal TMS system and generates a transmission to the customer. Technical suppliers remain on retainer to assist as the need arises.

FUTURE

The third generation now serves in the responsible capacities of the company and remains dedicated to continuing the established tradition of service to its customers. Georgia Southern Transportation, Inc. is committed to a future of serving its customers for mutual success.