Ascend LLC announces acquisition of new Georgia-based terminal

Earlier this week, Ascend LLC, an Atlanta-based dry van, full truckload carrier offering middle-mile supply chain services, said it has acquired a McDonough, Ga.-based terminal.

Company officials said that acquiring this terminal is in line with Ascend’s strategy geared towards augmenting customer service, as well as supporting the needs of its customers and drivers. And they added that the secure, nearly seven-acre gated facility will serve up more tractor-trailer parking, driver support, dispatch, and maintenance capacity. The terminal is in close proximity to Interstate 75 and various major distribution hubs, too, which allow Ascend to “more effectively serve” its customers in the Atlanta metro area and other companies located throughout Georgia.

What’s more, the company said this new terminal is comprised of parking for 100 units, 30 personal vehicles, and several maintenance bays that will operate around the clock to support all Ascend-owned equipment, with additional planning, dispatching, safety, and driver support staff also based at the terminal.

“The new facility will serve as an additional terminal for our operations and allow us to more rapidly respond to our local customer’s needs,” said Brad Heisterkamp, President of Asset Operations at Ascend, in a statement. “It will also provide greater convenience and flexibility for our Georgia-domiciled drivers. Ascend continues to grow and find new ways to better serve our customers.”

Heisterkamp told LM that there were various factors that drove the need for Ascend to acquire this terminal.

“The location was ideal—it positioned us to meet the growing demands of our existing local customers while also providing flexibility within our network optimization plan for the Southeast region,” he said. “Our significant driver base in the greater Atlanta area also stood to benefit from the additional maintenance support, secure personal vehicle parking, and on-site operations personnel.”  

As for the biggest benefits of this new terminal for Ascend’s customers, Heisterkamp cited flexibility in capacity and in the timing of that capacity as the most significant benefits Ascend expects for its customers.   

“Having access to ample secure yard space nearby allows Ascend nbsp;to remove friction from a customer’s operation in a variety of ways, including greater capabilities to handle peak volumes, stage freight as needed for more efficient routing, or by simply limiting unnecessary congestion at their facilities,” he said. “A terminal strategically placed outside of a metro area allows for significant elimination of dwell-time. Taking back control of such a critically important piece of the business as time management is an absolute competitive advantage. Our intended use for the terminal also supports the need for a variety of driving roles ranging from local to regional to over-the-road, furthering our commitment to being an employer of choice.”