ROUNDUP T RU C K I N G I N D U S T RY
tion. After Just a little over four and-a-half years in business, ASF has grown from what started as a two-location company based only in the southeast to a regional intermodal and domestic carrier with 16 locations (domestic and intermodal) throughout the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States. ASF Intermodal president Michael Smith gives credit to what he describes as his company’s “amazing team” for the organization’s rapid growth. He states, “Every ASF Intermodal employee and contractor played a role in making this happen, and the team that deserves the credit. We’ve created a team that has a common goal and that enjoys creating opportunities for people while also providing great service for our customers. Our growth started strong and has continued year over year.” During 2015, the company opened four new locations, adding terminals in Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana and Columbus, Ohio. ASF Intermodal has received numer-
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ous awards recently, including being named to the 2015 Inc. 5000, being designated one of the 2015 Best Companies to Work for in Alabama and being recognized as the October 2015 Small Business of the Month by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (the company is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama). As the company moves toward celebrating its five-year anniversary in February of 2016 and beyond, additional growth is likely. Smith states, “We are continuing to expand, and we expect to continue having great news to share.”
Senate puts brakes on longer twin-trailer rigs on highways In November, the U.S. Senate removed a proposal for longer twin-trailer cargo rigs to be allowed on interstate highways from a funding bill for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Industry groups pushed to raise the length of double-trailer rigs from the current 28 ft. to 33 ft., arguing that doing so would make shipments more efficient and
create safer roads due to less truck traffic. But anti-trucking groups argued that a vehicle length change is too dangerous, and also forces states that have made longer trucks illegal to accept the longer rigs on their roads. The American Trucking Associations, however, said it was disappointed by the Senate’s move, calling an increase in the twin trailer limit a “common sense productivity” measure for the trucking industry. “It is unfortunate the Senate has chosen to give up on what could be a very beneficial change in policy,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “This modest increase in tandem trailer length would reduce the number of truck trips needed to move an increasing amount of freight while making better use of a dwindling pool of drivers.” The Department of Transportation recommended against changes to current rules on truck weight and length pending further study. Driver, labor and owner-operator groups have opposed the measure since it was first floated earlier this year. Meanwhile, industry groups pledged to continue the push for longer twin-trailer cargo rigs, despite last month’s setback.
A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015