DHL opens up new service center in South Florida

Express delivery and logistics services provider DHL announced this week it has opened up a new Miami Gardens, Fla.-based Express Service Center, to further boost its South Florida footprint, which it noted serves as the United States gateway to Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The company said it is investing $10.6 million into this facility, with a focus on increasing shipping capacity and also enabling faster package processing as well.

DHL officials said that the opening of this new location is driven by B2C and B2B e-commerce shipment volume continuing “to drive unprecedented growth in South Florida and across the U.S.,” adding that the new facility addresses growing demand by splitting shipping volume with the company’s facility in Doral (near Miami), ultimately boosting service for customers in both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and enabling first deliveries to go out for delivery 30 minutes earlier.

“The company’s expansion in Miami Gardens is a direct reflection of international shipment growth.  Just in time for peak holiday season, it allows us to improve efficiencies and provide even faster delivery services,” said Richard Saavedra, VP and General Manager, Southeast U.S. for DHL Express, in a statement. “We are strategically investing in South Florida because we anticipate the demand for e-commerce will continue to surge, and we want to ensure our customers are consistently receiving the highest level of service.”  

A company spokesman told LM that prior to opening up this new location, DHL operated from its facility in Miami (Doral), and continues to operate from this facility, along with its new facility in Miami Gardens, near the Fort Lauderdale airport.

The new facility is comprised of 55,000 square feet of warehousing and office space and a new conveyor sort system with room for up to 70 vehicle loading positions around the belt. And it also handles U.S. domestic and time-definite international shipments to and from the 220 countries and territories served by DHL. DHL added that its advanced material handling system can process up to 3,000 pieces per hour (PPH) and that this location is also supported by 65 dedicated couriers and 21 operational personnel.