Old Dominion established a new dominion in an old FedEx facility, holding an open house to celebrate the occasion, complete with a barbecue lunch for those attending. The building, located at 1501 LE Gilliland, just down the street from their old facility, flew an American flag in the breeze, against a blue sky blotted with gray clouds.
"We've grown so much as a company," said Adam Watkins, service center manager. "Locally, we sit on a major transportation network and our business is expanding. We needed the space to accommodate increasing business. This place is just what we need."
This new service center, a former FedEx facility that was renovated at a cost of $4.5 million, allows for future growth, including additional doors and employees as customer needs increase. It opened this month and employs 35.
The renovation project began as soon as Old Dominion bought the place several months ago, marking its expansion and business growth in the area.
Watkins, in his role as service center manager, tracks the comings and goings of trucks and drivers serving the region.
"We have 12 local pickup and delivery drivers, 12 line haul drivers and multiple drivers from Memphis, Dallas and Houston that meet here every night. Our transportation services serve a wide range of national clients," he said.
"We have 35 trucks moving in any moving in any given 24-hour period," said Johnny Stricklin, regional vice president. "We service the I-20 and I-30 corridor, from east to west coast."
"The transition to the new facilities was seamless, as the company had the place completely renovated. The day came where we just packed up and moved into the new place," he said.
Strategically located along state borders, the new 36-door service center broadens opportunity in cities across Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.
The facility is also unique in that its location offers on-site fueling stations.
Old Dominion is a family-owned trucking company that was established in 1934. A national company, its headquarters is in Thomasville, N.C.