Southern yellow pine has a good rep if you maintain it. I don't like decks for that reason, but they make sense at a lot of houses.
Another thought. Look for some used lumber. You have a sturdy truck so get a stout rack. Then buy a planer and go to work. Sure, you can buy reclaimed lumber but you pay as much or more than new. So, let's say you find enough SYP in 2 x 6 and you make your own 5/4. One side and dress the corners with a router and you'll have a great seasoned deck. Just needs some kind of renewable finish.
AFA planers go, they sell for around 200 here in good shape. I'm talking about Makita, Detla, DeWalt and the like. NO HF crap. 30 bucks for new blades and you're all set. Or, HSS blades and you sharpen them (which is recommended for old lumber). You'll need a decent magnet to locate nails, etc. These tools are good to have around anyway.
You could look at HD for a rental planer. IDK if your local has them. But if you can't run the lumber in a day, then cheaper to buy in the long run (no pun intended).
Edit: there is a disassembled
cedar deck in Marietta on CL.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mat/d/marietta-cedar-lumber-boards-2x6-posts/6869016512.html