Major trucking company says it's done transporting firearms

Major trucking company Saia has announced it will no longer transport firearms amid a renewed national debate on gun control., Freight Waves reported on Monday.

The Georgia-based logistics and shipping giant reportedly announced a new "rules tariff" last week in the wake of several recent mass shootings including ones in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

The tariff discontinues the shipment of firearms — including handguns and rifles — both assembled and disassembled, meaning it also covers the shipment of parts that could be assembled into a firearm once the carton was opened.

Freight Waves noted Saia will continue to transport individual firearm parts such as gun barrels and grips, along with ammunition, which is a separate commodity classification, under its hazardous materials rules.

The outlet added that LTL (less than truckload) carriers like Saia have always had a fraught relationship with gun manufacturers, in part because of the potential for dangerous theft and the supposed negative image.

"Even before the latest spate of shootings, carriers have distanced themselves from the commodity," Freight Waves said. "Today, it is easy to make the case for shedding the business due to negative optics, a general lack of comfort in hauling the product, greater liability and the risk of theft."

"That last issue is potentially serious given the multiple handoffs involved with LTL shipments and the number of people handling the product from pickup to delivery," it explained.

LTL carriers, in contracts to FTL (full truckload) carriers, transport products or goods for customers that don't take up an entire truck.

"I would feel safe to say that most LTL companies today would shy away from the commodity due to the risk," said Rex Oliver, director of operations at Atlantic Logistics, in an email to Freight Waves.

Reporting on the news, Business Insider noted that despite mounting pressure from gun control advocates, few national companies have issued public statements or made drastic changes to their policies regarding guns.

It should be noted that Saia did not provide a specific reason for its firearm ban in either the rules tariff or in a similarly-dated press release.

TheBlaze reached out to the trucking company seeking comment on the matter but did not receive a response in time for publication. This article will be updated if a response is given.