SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority welcomes new trucking customer
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Updegraff Trucking, a full-service motor carrier with common carrier authority in 48 states offering dry bulk, flatbed and box van services, has established a new transload facility at SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) subsidiary Lycoming Valley Railroad’s Newberry Rail Yard in Williamsport, Pa.
Updegraff Trucking was able to expand operations by moving from Dewey Avenue to a new site at 215 Reading Ave., Williamsport, in September 2015 with a 600-foot rail spur for transloading materials for local industries. Products generally come in by rail and leave via truck. “Updegraff Trucking is using a rail spur that otherwise would have remained dormant.,” said JRA Executive Director Jeff Stover.
Frac Tech built the rail spur with assistance from the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber’s Industrial Properties Corp. “With the reduction in rail traffic related to the Marcellus gas industry, the spur had been idle,” said Lycoming Valley Railroad Marketing Director Todd Hunter. “We continued to market the site and suggested it to Updegraff Trucking for its use. We have been working with them for a number of years with other business, but this is the first time they have established their own transload site. This move has enhanced Updegraff Trucking to handle any materials that need to be transloaded between rail cars and trucks.”
Mark Updegraff founded Updegraff Trucking in 1977.1. Updegraff started his company with a single truck, and today has more than 22 power units and 60 trailers that include 10 box vans, 20 pneumatic trailers, and an assortment of flatbed trailers including single and double drop-deck trailers.
SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority includes the Juniata Valley Railroad, Lycoming Valley Railroad, Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad, North Shore Railroad, Shamokin Valley Railroad and White Deer & Reading Railroad.
