CCJ

March 2017

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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commercial carrier journal | march 2017 43 INNOVATORS SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES Lexington, S.C. e Lexington, S.C.-based company is proud to boast its 99.35-percent on- time service in next-day lanes, attribut- ing that success rate to a dedication to service quality and a continuous quality improvement process that began in 1985 and has been recognized by more than 400 quality awards received from customers and associations. In addition, its Southeastern Lo- gistics Solutions subsidiary provides expedited service and multimodal transportation services across the nation through strategic capacity partnerships. Giving back Five years ago, as part of its com- munity involvement e orts, SEFL introduced its "Southeastern Serves" initiative. e program is dedicated to giving back to communities across the company's footprint by having associates at all levels get involved with programs providing for the needy. In 2015, SEFL participated in more than 2,590 total hours of community service as part of Southeastern Serves, and the program continues to grow. Last year, the company contributed more than 2,800 hours of service. "We are fortunate enough to share our commitment to providing quality service not only to our customers but to less fortunate individuals through- out the communities we serve," said Mike Heaton, SEFL's senior vice presi- dent of sales and marketing. " rough the Southeastern Serves program, we are able to give back and strengthen Southeastern Freight Lines employees find that giving time can be rewarding BY DEAN SMALLWOOD C ompanies across a wide variety of industries have come to realize over the years that it pays to invest in corporate giving and employee volun- teering, and they understand how those community involvement e orts connect with their overall business strategy. A 2014 study conducted by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizen- ship explored this trend. Key research ndings revealed that community involve- ment contributes to several key business goals, including an improved reputation in the community and with customers, as well as the attraction and retention of employees – a critical factor for trucking eets, considering their continuing driver recruitment and retention e orts. According to the study of 236 U.S.-based medium and large companies, nearly 90 percent of the rms surveyed that measured the connection between volunteer participation and employee engagement found a positive correlation between participation and engagement scores. at's why, the study found, companies increasingly are tying their community involvement e orts to their business strategy and prioritizing social goals that are most relevant to their operating contexts. Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 27) has embraced this philosophy. e privately owned regional less-than-truckload company specializes in next-day service in the Southeast and Southwest and operates 87 service centers in 14 states and Puerto Rico.SEFL has a network of service partners to facilitate transportation services in the remaining 36 states, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico. Associates at all levels of the less-than-truckload hauler are providing for the needy.

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