Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Old Dominion Freight adds new service center
Facility brings 73 jobs to the area
Responding to ongoing customer demand, Old Dominion Freight Line continues to expand its network of more than 230 locations.
On Thursday, the company hosted an open house to publicly unveil its newest service center in Cumru, Berks County. The Berks County location is one of six newly opened or remodeled centers the company will dedicate this fall.
The 82-door service center, located on 15.9-acres at 9 Poplar Neck Road in Cumru, is just off of Route 724 near the junction with I-176. The location gives the company easy access to those roadways and boosts the company’s eastern Pennsylvania presence.
The facility has brought 73 new jobs to the region. According to a spokeswoman for the company, many of the jobs were new positions. Officially opening in June, the location took about eight months to be built.
Old Dominion Freight, based in North Carolina, is a “dry carrier,” meaning that it picks up and delivers only dry goods — nothing refrigerated — across North America.
Demand for the company’s service remains high, according to Terry Hutchins, vice president of field services and real estate for Old Dominion.
“Our customers expect a carrier that can channel their inventory. We have to be everywhere to help our customers keep their promises,” he said. “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.”
The Berks County center is one of eight the company operates in Pennsylvania, and is expected to allow the company to keep pace with increasing statewide and regional shipping demand.
“We placed this one here to better service our customers,” said Theresa Thomas, office manager for the new facility. “We want to be centered to better serve customers so if someone needs an urgent pickup in an hour, we can be there — instead of being 100 miles away and not able to do it.”
In addition to serving the Reading area, the facility’s service area encompasses Downingtown, Elverson, Leesport, Montgomeryville, Morgantown, Norristown, North Wales, Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven.
Outfitted with best-in-class logistics technology, Old Dominion service centers are strategically located to reduce shipping times, increase delivery flexibility and maximize daily volume. They are also designed to anticipate future growth based on customer demand.
Among the guests at Thursday’s open house was Cumru Township Manager Jeanne Johnston. She said that the I-176, Route 422 has been a focus of the township’s efforts to promote business and industry, “because of the obvious trans-
portation advantages.”
She said the township is happy Old Dominion has located in Cumru.
“We’re happy not only for the increase in the real estate value of the land but because they’re bringing in jobs,” she said. “Jobs help not only to bring in earned income tax money, but they bring vitality to the community.
“They bring in vibrancy to the community and that is how communities thrive. It helps renew the community.”
According to Thomas, Old Dominion’s operation runs 24-hours during the week, closing at about 11 p.m. on Fridays and reopening Sunday evening to begin preparing for Monday morning.
Trailers arrive at the Cumru facility where goods are then unloaded and prepared for delivery to customers. In addition, freight is picked up by drivers and brought back to the facility to then be sent to other terminals and delivered, Thomas added.
“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,” Hutchins added. “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.”
Marty Diamond is the regional director of sales for Old Dominion. He said the new location has room to grow, “right here at this spot. We are set up for future expansion and for growth,” he said.
The other new service center locations to be dedicated this fall are: Milton, Vt.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Commerce City, Colo.; Abilene, Texas and Anaheim, Calif.
“Jobs help not only to bring in earned income tax money, but they bring vitality to the community. They bring in vibrancy to the community and that is how communities thrive. It helps renew the community.” — Jeanne Johnston, Cumru Township manager
For more information about Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., visit www.odfl.com.
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