Growth expands Freightways site to twice its size

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American Freightways is planning to nearly double the size of its Springfield operation. |ret||ret||tab|

The scheduled, for-hire carrier of less-than-truckload general commodities shipments plans to add 40 doors for loading and unloading freight to its current 56 doors, said Frank Hurst, customer center manager for the Springfield site.|ret||ret||tab|

American Freightways, based in Harrison, Ark., has 238 customer centers in the country, and Springfield's is ranked among the 20 largest American Freightways centers, Hurst said. The company ships commodities for "almost anybody," and serves an 80-mile radius around Springfield from its Springfield site, Hurst added.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've shipped everything from bird seed to fishing lures to food products for a variety of companies. We ship pallets of commodities, larger freight than a Federal Express or UPS, which primarily serve the residential customer, and less than a truckload carrier, which will have several pallets in a load while we will have probably two or three," Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

The expansion in Springfield reflects overall expansion in the company, Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

"It reflects our growth here, but also our growth as a system. American Freightways has seen substantial growth throughout its system, and we've had our share of that growth in this center," Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

Founded in 1982 by Sheridan Garrison, with assistance from other members of his family, including his brother Ben A. Garrison, American Freightways went public in 1989, though the Garrisons continue to hold positions in the company. In 1998, American Freightways reported revenues of $986 million, according to an American Freightways fact sheet.|ret||ret||tab|

The Springfield expansion will add 20,240 square feet to the dock area and 3,800 square feet to the shop area of the site. This is the fourth expansion in Springfield and the largest so far, Hurst said. |ret||ret||tab|

The company has nearly 34,000 square feet under roof now. The job is set to be complete in May. American Freightways sits on 29 acres on North Lurvey Road and added 6.6 acres to its yard six months ago, Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

The cost of the expansion is $2 million, Hurst said. American Freightways employs 156 people full time, and that includes its drivers, who are considered employees, Hurst said. Another 50 people work on its docks at night, helping to load and unload freight. The number of employees working on the docks could expand to up to 200 when the expansion is complete, Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

It is not only the Springfield drivers who use the docks here to load and unload, Hurst said. Other small cities in a five-state area surrounding Springfield also use the center.|ret||ret||tab|

"The expansion will really affect the entire system; 21 customer centers in the area use our dock area," Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

American Freightways ships only dry good commodities; it has no refrigerated trucks, Hurst said. The company has more than 300 pieces of revenue equipment, which includes tractors, trailers, forklifts and dollies, at the Springfield site. Hurst said 95 percent of American Freightways business is in overnight or two-day delivery of goods to locations across the country. |ret||ret||tab|

"Our main focus has been on both our local growth and on developing a more consistent and expedient service for our customers," Hurst said.|ret||ret||tab|

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