For the first time since 1995, when FEPCO Container, Inc. was founded by J. Wayne Smith, the company has purchased 15 brand new trailers. Paula Smith, one of only a handful of women at the helm of a national trucking company, became president and CEO in 2010 and developed a plan to upgrade and grow the operation, which included purchasing new trailers that can haul more with greater efficiency and are enabled with global positioning systems (GPS) to improve logistics. Prior to this purchase, FEPCO exclusively purchased used trailers, making the newest trailer seven to eight years old.

FEPCO Container, Inc. is a woman-owned logistics operations company that provides trucking, logistics and warehousing for its customers across the country. FEPCO uses 53-foot dry van trailers, flatbeds, reefers and step decks, and their drivers are HAZMAT and TWIC-certified, and they can handle specialized over-sized loads as well.

“In order to expand the number and type of customers we serve, we needed to upgrade our trailers. We have a plan to replace our entire inventory of older trailers with new models that are constructed with composite materials and equipped with innovative design features to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency,” said Smith. “Ultimately, the goal is to have our family of drivers experience fewer issues while on the road, and allow us to better track our customers’ cargo,” she added.

Smith ordered the new Hyundai composite trailers from Bryan Hammock at Southeast Trailer Mart in Ellenwood, Georgia. The trailers include SkyBitz, a solar-powered data collection device that provides better asset use and cargo visibility through signals that pinpoint speed, miles driven, tire pressure and more. The devices will work even without direct sun exposure for up to 120 days. To see images of the new trailers, click here.

In addition to the new trailers, Smith also rebranded the company’s logo and tagline – a black and red circle with a divided road moving off to the right and the words, “Moving Forward,” atop the circle, to help make the trailers more readily recognizable on the road. The logo has already been added to FEPCO’s new trailers.

When Smith took over the reins in 2010, she not only wanted to update the equipment, but also the company culture. As a seasoned trucking executive, Smith understands that life on the road is challenging, which is why FEPCO works to have its drivers home weekly and provides flexible schedules. In addition, customers access a person, and not an answering machine or voicemail - 24/7/365 days a year.