Southeastern Freight Lines is celebrating 60 years of quality without question service from its Florence, S.C. service center this September.
Originally opened in September of 1953, the Florence service center, located at 1421 West Darlington St., features more than 3,500 square feet of office space and almost 16,000 square feet of dock space including 43 dock doors.
Over its 60-year history, the center has consistently employed 60 associates, 10 of which are celebrating anniversaries of 30 years or more this year. Its longest employee was hired just 15 years after the service center's opening and is celebrating his 45-year anniversary with the company.
The Florence service center will celebrate 60 years of service with its employees, customers and their families on Sept. 7with an anniversary barbeque event. The celebration will include a display of Southeastern trucks, a selection of barbecue styles, and fun family activities including inflatable bounce houses, dunking booths and corn hole.
"When Southeastern made its first delivery from Florence 60 years ago, the mission of that driver was exactly the same as it is for each associate today, to meet or exceed the needs of every customer every single time," said Scott Young, service center manager for Southeastern in Florence. "Since that day, Southeastern has gained more than 30 percent of the freight industry market share in the Florence market, building loyal relationships with our customers over 60 years of operation."
The Florence service center was the fifth service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950, largely operating with three tractor-trailers. One of those tractors was driven by Bill Cassels, now chairman and CEO of Southeastern. Since then, the company has opened more than 80 new centers spanning 12 states and Puerto Rico and undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
