DHL establishes new international gateway in Southern California
International Flight to Speed Deliveries of DHL Asia-Pacific Shipments
DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics company, said it will open its new international gateway in Southern California today, to enhance service quality and meet the growing needs of DHL customers shipping to and from Asia-Pacific and the Western United States.
To establish the new International Gateway operation, DHL has invested nearly USD 3 million at its West Coast Distribution Facility in Riverside, Calif., adding on-site offices specifically for providing customs-processing and clearance functions related to DHL international shipments upon arrival. The newly expanded operation will come fully online with the arrival on Tuesday, March 27 of a flight from DHL's Central Asia SuperHub in Hong Kong into the facility.
DHL's Riverside ground and air hub personnel will process letters and packages as they are off loaded from the Asia-Pacific flight and channeled directly into the DHL West Coast distribution network, making for faster door-to-door delivery of DHL customer shipments from Asia-Pacific to the Western U.S.
"Customers doing business in the world's fastest-growing markets need an efficient, reliable network that allows them to grow their shipments in the active U.S.-Asia Pacific trade lane. This new gateway will provide opportunities for continued growth between West Coast and Asian markets,"said John Cameron, executive vice president of Operations for DHL. "DHL is pleased to be able to leverage the resources of our network to provide West Coast customers with practical benefits in door-to-door service," Cameron added.
DHL began operations at its West Coast Distribution Facility in 2005, following a USD 70 million investment in the lease and development of a new facility on the site of the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside. The facility is strategically located to offer greater connectivity within DHL's extensive domestic pickup and delivery network, for both DHL ground and air express services. According to regional trade policy experts, California's Inland Empire area has witnessed a profound increase in business with the Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia-Pacific flight marks the first international flight for DHL's West Coast Distribution Facility. A total of seven domestic daily flights and one international flight are now part of the air operations schedule at the Riverside facility.
The opening of DHL's sixth U.S. International Gateway will be the company's third in California. In addition to the new international gateway operation in Riverside, DHL maintains five other U.S. gateways operations in Wilmington, Ohio; Miami; New York; Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Processing customer imports or exports shipments at the Riverside facility will provide an additional 90 minutes to transport shipments through the DHL U.S. domestic network, and will enable DHL to facilitate additional air cargo connections to other parts of Asia through a network of international flights established last year into JFK International Airport. These additions include two flights daily from DHL's Central Asia SuperHub in Hong Kong, and once-daily flights from DHL hubs in Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore and Taipei, Taiwan.
DHL's USD 3 million investment in a new International Gateway at DHL's West Coast Distribution Facility is one of many initiatives DHL has undertaken to improve U.S. network efficiencies and connectivity system-wide. DHL's network investment program has also included an expanded primary air and ground hub in Wilmington, Ohio, seven new Regional Sort Centers, and the development of a USD 120 million new, state-of-the-art East Coast Distribution Facility in Allentown, Pa.
About DHL
At DHL, Customer Service is back in shipping. Our mission is to provide the most flexible, personable and enjoyable experience in the shipping industry for our customers.
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, and contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide with over 285,000 employees dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.
Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand.
For more information on DHL, please visit www.dhl.com.
