Burnsed Trucking Swerves Trump Tariffs with a Seafood Power Play

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction: Tariffs Hit, Burnsed Hits Back

With Trump back in office and bringing a fresh wave of tariffs like it’s 2018 all over again, the trucking industry is bracing for impact. A sweeping 25% tariff on foreign-made autos, plus new restrictions on light-duty trucks and imports from 57 countries, has folks scrambling. Most are worried. Some are frozen in place. But Burnsed Trucking? They're shifting lanes.

Instead of whining or waiting, Burnsed Trucking did what any scrappy, survival-minded fleet would do — they pivoted. Hard. And not just anywhere. They leaned into something many wouldn’t expect: seafood imports. 🦐

Sounds fishy? It’s not. It’s smart. Here’s why…

What Burnsed Is Doing Differently

When tariffs messed up the flow of imported autos, Burnsed didn’t sit on their haulers hoping things would bounce back. They pulled out the calculator and went hunting for freight with:

High demand

Stable lanes

Decent rates

Less political chaos

And they found it in seafood.

🧊 Reefer-Focused Freight: The company is investing in refrigerated trailers (reefers), prepping for fragile but high-value hauls. Seafood is perishable, so speed and temperature control are everything — perfect for fleets that know how to stay sharp.

🌐 Strategic Port Shifts: With ports like Long Beach and Seattle under pressure from Asian tariffs and logistics drama, Burnsed is redirecting efforts to Gulf and Southeastern ports — think Savannah, Mobile, and New Orleans — where seafood imports stay steady.

⚖️ Freight Mix Adjustments: Burnsed isn’t going all-in on seafood, but they’re diversifying. That’s how smart carriers survive: not dropping old clients, but adding new verticals before things crash.

What This Means for Drivers

Drivers know: when the freight shifts, your life shifts too. Burnsed’s pivot means changes behind the wheel.

💸 Reefer Rates = Better Pay? In many cases, reefer loads pay more — especially when speed matters. That’s good news if you’re on top of your game.

📍 New Routes, New Rhythm: Expect shorter, more regional runs near seafood hubs. That can mean more home time, but also tighter deadlines.

❄️ Higher Standards: Hauling seafood ain’t like dragging dry van. Temps must be managed precisely, and late deliveries mean spoiled cargo — and someone eating the loss. (Hint: it might be you.)

🔄 Less Auto Work: If you were hauling vehicles, buckle up. That freight may slow down hard until tariff tensions settle.

Industry Voices – What Are Others Saying?

Here’s how different folks are reacting to Burnsed’s strategic seafood shuffle:

👴 Old-School Haulers: “Seafood? We haul steel, not shrimp!”
Yeah, but those shrimp are paying. And they don’t weigh 44,000 pounds.

🧠 Logistics Strategists: “It’s a brilliant shift. Short shelf life means premium urgency. They’ll earn more per mile — if they execute.”

📈 Brokers & Shippers: Already seeing the ripple effect. They’re shifting contracts and lanes toward cold chain cargo, and Burnsed is ahead of the curve.

🚛 Independent Drivers: Some are watching. Some are jumping in. Others are waiting to see if this trend lasts longer than an election cycle.

Why Seafood? Why Now?

The truth is: seafood doesn’t stop. America imports more than $20 billion in seafood every year. Even when folks tighten their belts, they still want lobster on Valentine’s Day and shrimp for the holidays. It’s steady freight.

Plus, seafood is mostly exempt from the new auto-based tariffs. That makes it a smart lane with fewer surprises.

It’s not just shrimp and salmon — the seafood industry includes frozen fish, specialty Asian imports, crab, squid, and everything you see on sushi menus. And every one of those items has to move fast… and cold.

What Truckers Should Learn from This

This ain’t just about Burnsed. It’s about mindset.

If you’re still hoping 2019 rates come back, you’re already behind. The trucking world is shifting fast, and only those who pivot on purpose are gonna thrive.

Want to survive a market shakeup? Watch companies like Burnsed and take notes.

Diversify your freight

Invest in tools (like reefers or skill upgrades)

Get close to stable industries

Think smaller, faster, tighter runs

Bottom Line

Tariffs are back. The freight market is unpredictable. But Burnsed Trucking just showed us how it’s done — they pivoted to seafood and are now riding a fresh wave of reefer work while others are parked waiting for answers.

Smart fleets adapt. Smart drivers follow opportunity. If you don’t adjust now, you might end up on the wrong side of the market before summer hits.

🧠

CALL TO ACTION

Don’t wait until your lane dries up.

👉 Learn new skills. Explore new freight. Build an exit plan while you’re still rolling.
Whether it’s hauling seafood or building income online, your future needs options.
🔥 Hit up RetireFromTrucking.com and get the roadmap to freedom — before the next tariff or shutdown catches you off guard.