Dive Brief:
- Shipping and logistics giant Maersk has opened a new ground freight hub to speed deliveries in and out of Southern California, the company announced in a press release.
- The 165,000-square-foot facility in Fontana, California, features 22 doors as well as a fleet of 18 vehicles, per the release. The company said its location within the Inland Empire logistics hub allows it to provide more reliable service for shippers.
- “It’s a strategic step that supports our customers’ growth and Maersk’s vision for integrated logistics,” Bob Livingston, head of Maersk ground freight operations, said in the Jan. 28 release.
Dive Insight:
Maersk’s new Fontana hub adds to its network of more than 65 ground freight facilities across North America, including those in major California cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Its expansion reduces the complexity of logistics with a single point of contact from door to door, the company said.
Maersk said its new Fontana site accelerates turnaround times by up to five hours. It also gives shippers faster regional and interstate connections and access to Maersk’s existing Inland Empire assets for expanded warehousing and distribution services, the company said.
Despite a prolonged freight downturn, many carriers continue to add density in anticipation of an eventual market recovery.
Companies who have added doors in recent years include Estes Express Lines, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings and A. Duie Pyle.
Webb Estes, president and COO of Estes, in discussing the carrier’s network expansion, said the company’s 13,200 doors represents a 32% increase over the past five years.
“Every new terminal represents progress—more capacity, more reliability, and more opportunities for our people and customers,” he said.
