Southeastern Freight Lines

What Southeastern Freight Lines does

Southeastern Freight Lines (SEFL) is a privately held regional less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier founded in 1949 and headquartered in Lexington, South Carolina. The company operates 123+ directly owned service centers across 13 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, employing 5,001–10,000 people, and reports a 99.4% on-time delivery rate in next-day lanes. SEFL extends its footprint nationally through carrier partnerships with A. Duie Pyle, Dayton Freight, Cross Country Freight, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Lynden Transport, and Honolulu Freight Service, and internationally to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii through partner networks.

The company's technology stack centers on a digital platform comprising the MySEFL secure customer portal (rate quotes, bill of lading creation, pickup requests, claims filing, customized reporting), the Web Connect suite of REST APIs (Tracing, Rate Quotes, BOL, Pickup, Claims, Routing Guide, Push Notifications) for system-to-system integration, EDI capabilities for enterprise shippers, and a mobile web application. SEFL partners with Samsara and Fontaine Modification to pre-install AI-enabled dash cams and vehicle gateways on new fleet vehicles. Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based LTL freight transportation billed monthly, supplemented by guaranteed service options (Excelerated), Full Value Insurance, Final Mile delivery, Special Services (carpet, Responsible Care chemical certification, assembly/distribution), and third-party logistics through its Southeastern Logistics Solutions (SLS) subsidiary.

SEFL's go-to-market combines direct regional sales through its service center network with self-service digital channels (MySEFL portal, APIs, EDI) for mid-market and enterprise shippers. The company pursues a horizontal segmentation strategy targeting LTL shippers broadly, with particular emphasis on automotive and industrial manufacturers leveraging nearshoring trends. Channel partnerships with Mexican carriers (Fletes México Carga Express, XCF Transporte de Carga Consolidada, Condesa Freight International) represent an offensive expansion move targeting U.S.-Mexico trade volumes, supported by dedicated cross-border operations teams in Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Customer concentration is moderate, with Home Depot Pro as a named enterprise customer; pricing is quote-based with a U.S. National Average Diesel Fuel Index-linked surcharge applied since 1999.

Name

Southeastern Freight Lines

Legal name

Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc.

Website

https://sefl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Southeastern Freight Lines is a privately held regional less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier operating 123+ service centers across 13 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico since 1949. It serves enterprise and mid-market shippers with regional LTL service, cross-border Mexico partnerships, and API-enabled digital tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Freight Transportation

NAICS

General Freight Trucking (4841), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Next-Day LTL Carriers (TLADAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA), Cross-Border LTL (US-MX/US-CA) (TLADAEAI), LTL High-Value / Secure Freight Carriers (TLADAEAL)

Keywords

• Less-than-truckload freight
• Regional LTL shipping
• Freight transportation services
• Cross-border freight logistics
• Cargo delivery network

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Regional LTL Freight Services: Core less-than-truckload freight transportation services within the regional network spanning 13 U.S. states with service centers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
2. International Services: Cross-border LTL freight services to/from Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii through carrier partnerships.
3. Special Services: Specialized services including carpet, assembly/distribution, pallet decks, responsible care (chemical industry certification), and truckload operations.
4. Guaranteed Service (Excelerated): Time-definite guaranteed service options for shipments requiring guaranteed delivery times.
5. Full Value Insurance: Cargo insurance coverage providing full value protection for shipments, with calculator and billing options available.
6. Logistics Solutions: Additional logistics services under Southeastern Logistics Solutions (SLS) for integrated supply chain management.
7. Final Mile Services: Final mile delivery services for last-leg shipment completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southeastern Freight Lines is a privately held regional less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier that transports goods via its own service-center network across 13 southeastern and south-central U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, and extends coverage nationally and internationally through carrier partnerships. Core revenue comes from regional LTL hauling, augmented by guaranteed time-definite service, final-mile delivery, special commodity handling, third-party logistics, full-value cargo insurance, and cross-border services to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Product overview

Southeastern Freight Lines (SEFL) operates as a regional less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier offering a unified service portfolio centered on its Regional LTL Service. The company provides technology platforms including the MySEFL Secure Website (customer portal for rate quotes, Bill of Lading creation, and reporting), Web Connect Web Services/Internet API (programmatic access to shipment data), SEFL Mobile App (mobile web access), and EDI capabilities for enterprise integration. Service enhancements include Excelerated Guaranteed Service for time-critical shipments, Full Value Insurance for cargo protection, Final Mile delivery, Special Services (carpet, assembly/distribution, chemical industry certification), and Southeastern Logistics Solutions for third-party logistics. The National Partnership Network extends coverage nationally through partnerships with A. Duie Pyle, Dayton Freight, Honolulu Freight Service, Lynden Transport, Cross Country Freight, and Oak Harbor Freight Lines. The company also provides comprehensive shipping tools including online Claims Filing, Tracing/Tracking, Routing Guide, and Rate Quotes. International services cover Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MySEFL: Secure online customer portal for shipping tools including rate quotes, bill of lading creation, pickup requests, and shipment tracking.
• SEFL Mobile App

Products and services

• Regional LTL Service Core less-than-truckload freight transportation across the southeastern and south-central U.S. with a reported 99.4% on-time delivery rate in next-day lanes. Serves businesses shipping partial-truckload freight regionally.
• Excelerated Guaranteed Service Time-definite guaranteed LTL delivery service for shipments requiring expedited, assured delivery times. Aimed at shippers where on-time performance is critical.
• Full Value Insurance Cargo insurance coverage providing full-value protection for LTL shipments, with an online calculator and Bill of Lading form for quoting and applying coverage.
• Southeastern Logistics Solutions (SLS) Third-party logistics (3PL) and integrated supply chain management services offered under the Southeastern Logistics Solutions brand, beyond core LTL transportation.
• Final Mile Last-mile delivery service extending standard terminal-to-terminal LTL service to shippers' final destinations such as homes or businesses.
• Special Services Specialized LTL handling services including carpet shipping, assembly and distribution, pallet decks, Responsible Care (chemical industry certification), and truckload operations for shipments with specialized handling needs.
• National Partnership Network Extended U.S. LTL coverage beyond SEFL's direct 13-state service area through partnerships with A. Duie Pyle, Dayton Freight, Honolulu Freight Service, Lynden Transport, Cross Country Freight, and Oak Harbor Freight Lines, integrated with seamless tracking.
• International Services (Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii) Cross-border LTL services to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii, supported by dedicated cross-border carrier partnerships, customs clearance support, and documentation services.
• Web Connect Web Services/Internet API Developer-facing suite of REST/Web Service APIs (Tracing/Tracking, Pickup, Claims, Document Retrieval, Routing Guide, Rate Quotes, Get Pro, Bill of Lading, Tracing Push Notifications) with Basic HTTP Authorization enabling customer systems to programmatically pull shipment data from SEFL.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.4% on-time delivery in next-day lanes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• XCF Transporte de Carga ConsolidadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 January 2026Cross-border partnership for U.S.-Mexico freight services, providing seamless LTL coverage across the border as part of SEFL's expanding international network.
• Condesa Freight InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 January 2026Cross-border partnership for U.S.-Mexico freight services, providing international LTL capabilities as part of SEFL's partnership network.
• Fletes México Carga ExpresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 January 2026Strategic cross-border partnership to expand less-than-truckload (LTL) service between the United States and Mexico. Provides end-to-end visibility, single PRO number tracking, real-time rate quoting via API connectivity, and dedicated teams at Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas to streamline customs clearance. This is SEFL's third cross-border partnership following arrangements with XCF Transporte de Carga Consolidada and Condesa Freight International.
• A. Duie PylecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational carrier partnership providing extended LTL coverage through connected network with seamless tracking capabilities from pickup through delivery.
• Dayton FreightcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational carrier partnership providing extended LTL coverage through network partnership with seamless tracking and service capabilities.
• Honolulu Freight ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partnership providing LTL service to Hawaii, integrated through network partnerships for seamless service.
• Lynden TransportminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational partnership providing LTL and specialized freight services to Alaska, connected via computer access with seamless tracking capabilities.
• Cross Country FreightminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational carrier partnership providing extended LTL coverage through partnership network with integrated tracking.
• Oak Harbor Freight LinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational carrier partnership providing extended LTL coverage through partnership network with integrated tracking.
• SamsaracoreTechnology or IntegrationFleet management technology partnership using Samsara's Pre-Delivery Installation program with Fontaine Modification. New fleet vehicles are pre-equipped with Samsara Vehicle Gateways and AI Dash Cams, eliminating the need for technician installation and enabling faster vehicle deployment.
• Fontaine ModificationcoreTechnology or IntegrationPre-delivery vehicle modification partner enabling installation of Samsara fleet management hardware (Vehicle Gateways and AI Dash Cams) during vehicle preparation, before vehicles reach SEFL service.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• PITT OHIO: Privately held regional LTL carrier serving the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast. Comparable business model, customer base, and operational focus to SEFL.
• Estes Express Lines: Privately held LTL carrier with similar regional-network service model and direct terminal footprint in the Eastern and Southeastern US. A direct peer in scale, ownership structure, and customer segments.
• R+L Carriers: Privately held LTL carrier with broad US footprint and similar cross-border and international service capabilities. Competes with SEFL for regional and national LTL volumes.
• Dayton Freight Lines: Regional LTL carrier serving the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic with a similar privately held operating model. A direct peer and one of SEFL's national coverage partners, indicating product and market alignment.
• AAA Cooper Transportation: Regional LTL carrier with overlapping Southeast US service geography and similar direct-service, multi-state network model. Closest direct comparable in scale, footprint, and product offering to SEFL.

Broad incumbents

• TForce Freight (TFI International): LTL subsidiary of TFI International, one of the largest LTL networks in North America. Competes with SEFL across multiple lanes and offers similar next-day and interregional services.
• ArcBest (ABF Freight): Asset-based LTL carrier (ABF Freight) within ArcBest's integrated logistics platform. Directly comparable LTL line-haul service across the Southeast with broader multimodal exposure.
• Old Dominion Freight Line: Largest less-than-truckload carrier in the United States with national service center network. A broad incumbent LTL competitor that overlaps with SEFL in the Southeast but operates at materially greater scale.
• Saia Inc. National LTL carrier with comparable next-day service orientation and technology platform investments. A broader incumbent peer competing for similar regional and national LTL volume.
• XPO Inc. Major North American LTL carrier operating a dense network of terminals. Competes with SEFL on national LTL freight, particularly for inter-regional and longer-haul shipments that touch the Southeast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SoutheasternFreight
• Facebookfacebook.com/southeasternfreight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeastern-freight-lines
• Instagraminstagram.com/sefreightlines
• Xx.com/sefreightlines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southeastern Freight Lines