ODFL heralds upgrades for six service centers

Thomasville, N.C.-based Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), the number three less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier by revenue, said today that it has made upgrades to six of its 233 national service centers so far this quarter.

The company said that this growth reflects its ongoing United States growth strategy on the heels of what was a record-setting financial performance for the company in the second half of this year. And it added that the six service center upgrades-in Birdsboro, Pa., Milton, Vt., Knoxville, Tenn., Commerce City, Colo., Abilene, Texas and Anaheim, Calif. – were done in response to customer demand, with the upgrades completed this summer.   

ODFL officials said these service center upgrades include best-in-class logistics technology, coupled with being strategically located to reduce shipping times, increase delivery flexibility, maximize daily volume, and anticipate future growth based on demand.

“As earnings this year have demonstrated, demand for our premium service remains high,” said Terry Hutchins, ODFL vice president of field services and real estate, in a statement. “Our customers expect a carrier that can channel their inventory,” “We have to be everywhere to help our customers keep their promises. So, this expansion reflects our strategy of measured continuous growth, building more efficiency in our network and increasing freight density and yield in order to exceed customer expectations. Many locations are built with an eye on future expansions and hiring as markets grow. While we can’t predict the future, we remain optimistic and plan for multiple outcomes. Our network allows us to quickly respond to customers’ needs, and is critical for us to maintain our industry-leading claims ratio and on-time delivery rate.”

Specific upgrades to the six aforementioned ODFL facilities include:

• Birdsboro, Pa. –Based in Cumru Township, the new, 82-door service center opened in June and provides quick access to Interstate 176 and U.S. 422, boosting the company’s eastern Pennsylvania presence. In addition to Birdsboro, the 15.9-acre facility’s service area encompasses Downingtown, Elverson, Leesport, Montgomeryville, Morganton, Norristown, North Wales, Pottsville, Reading and Schuylkill Haven;
• Milton, Vt. – Old Dominion’s Vermont facility relocated, and now includes 40 doors and 7.1 acres, adding 22 doors and expanding the company’s reach across the state and East New York, around Lake Champlain. Positioned near Interstate 89, a major statewide logistics artery, OD can more efficiently access customers in Burlington, Colchester, Montpelier, Newport, Rutland and South Burlington as well as Champlain, Plattsburgh, and Rouses Point in New York;
• Knoxville, Tenn. – Old Dominion has operated in East Tennessee since 1985, and its new 102-door service center allows the company to handle increasing demand in the region. After opening in August, the 48-acre complex sits at a critical junction of Interstates 75 and 40, providing OD faster access to customers in Alcoa, Athens, Clinton, Gatlinburg, Harriman, Lafollette, Lenoir City, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Pigeon Forge, Rutledge, Sevierville, Stearns, Sweetwater and Vonore. This is OD’s seventh service center in Tennessee;
• Commerce City, Colo. – With 213 doors on more than 40 acres, the Commerce City location is the largest of three Old Dominion service centers in the state and an important component of the company’s regional operations. After two decades in the market, OD remodeled its facility, adding 62 doors to better serve its customers in Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Castle Rock, Denver, Fort Collins, Golden, Greely, Longmont, Loveland, Sterling and West Minster. It is located near Interstate 270 and Interstate 70.
• Abilene, Texas. – Old Dominion has a significant presence in Texas with 20 service centers across the state. The Abilene service center relocated to a new, 24-door and 7.5-acre facility beside Interstate 20, increasing capacity by 12 doors. It services customers in Abilene, Big Spring, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Coleman, Comanche, Hamlin, Roscoe, San Angelo and Sweetwater; and
• Anaheim, Calif. – A new 40-door service center puts Old Dominion closer to its customers in Anaheim, Artesia, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Fullerton, La Habra, La Mirada, Norwalk, Placentia and Whittier. Officially open since July, OD positioned its 3.04-acre site near Interstate 5 and U.S. 91 to shorten delivery response times. The carrier has operated in California for more than three decades and has 16 service centers across the state

Looking ahead, ODFL said that it plans additional openings in the fourth quarter, adding it will “assess” the logistics landscape for 2019, too.