By Jason Wiest
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - Two Arkansas trucking companies will stretch out in the country's central and southern regions to offer faster deliveries, despite a possible industry downturn in 2007.
USA Truck Inc. announced Tuesday it will open its third regional operations center in Spartanburg, S.C., to provide an operational base for the company's short-to-medium haul dry van truckload services in the southeastern part of the country.
Robert M. Powell, chairman of Van Buren-based USA Truck said deeper regional market penetration because of the center will expand long-term revenue growth prospects.
Increased business volume in the regional truckload market also was cited by ABF Freight Systems Inc. in its decision to expand its regional transportation network to include the central and southern U.S. The expansion is expected to increase next-day and second-day service to two-thirds of its North American service centers, the company said.
"The enthusiastic feedback we've received confirms shippers are searching for a carrier offering reliability and convenience for all of their shipments," said Bob Davidson, president of Fort Smith-based ABF.
