DHL Express invests in the Americas
22 / 11 / 2016
DHL Express, the world’s leading express shipping and logistics provider, has confirmed that it intends to maintain the ongoing investment in its footprint and capability in the US and the wider Americas region while growth there continues to “meet expectations”.
It said that the $185m investment it has earmarked for the 2016-17 period in the US is focused on the infrastructure, technology and people of its express operations there.
As well as investing in its operations in the US, DHL Express is also committing another $105m to support growth in other countries in the region during that two-year period, nations including Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Peru.
US expansion
“DHL Express is continuing its strong progress in the US,” observed Ken Allen, member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post AG and CEO of DHL Express.
“As part of our focus on international express shipping and our commitment to continually improving customer service, we are directing our investments toward upgrading our facilities, expanding our staff and providing them with the technology they need to enhance productivity and to be more efficient.”
As part of its investment strategy, DHL has already completed part of the $108m upgrade of its Americas Hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
The facility’s North Ramp expansion, which opened in early November, is built on 45 acres of land and provides parking space for 16 additional aircraft each night.
The recent upgrade at the North Ramp also added new storage and warehouse space for ramp equipment and shipping containers.
Plus, DHL Express is spending $20m in the coming two years to upgrade and expand its ground fleet, adding more fuel-efficient vehicles such as fully electric vans and electric forklifts at its JFK facility.
Next year, the company will focus on replacing trucks and tractor-trailer combinations with more efficient models as part of the company’s overall GoGreen strategy to reduce carbon emissions and its impact on the environment.
To cater to growing shipping volumes, DHL Express is spending nearly $60m to expand and add facilities as well as provide technology and security equipment and process upgrades. It has added three new service centres in New York City, Chicago, and Seattle as well as expanded another three this year.
Furthermore, DHL Express upgraded its Los Angeles gateway in 2016 and plans to add a new gateway in Chicago and refurbish its JFK gateway in 2017, adding a new, improved automated sort system that will facilitate earlier morning deliveries in the New York market.