DHL's growth looking ship-shape as it expands locally

Citing rapidly accelerating growth on Florida’s Gulf Coast, global logistics giant DHL recently opened a new, $5 million service center in Tampa.

At 4539 Oak Fair Blvd., DHL’s new Tampa headquarters is 35,000 square feet — double the size of its predecessor, which will be vacated and returned to the lessor.

“Tampa has been growing at about a 15% rate year-over-year,” DHL Executive Vice President Chet Paul tells Coffee Talk. “It’s ahead of the growth rate for the entire U.S. Southeast and the [Caribbean] islands.”

Paul says a massive uptick in e-commerce from small- and medium-sized businesses along the Gulf Coast has been driving revenues for the German company, which first entered the U.S. market in 1969 in San Francisco.

“This is our first expansion in Tampa in about 15 years,” Paul says, “and it’s a brand new, built-to-suit facility, which is a reflection of some really significant growth. The beauty of this Tampa expansion is that it allows us to deliver to customers earlier in the day. Our trucks will get on the road earlier, and pickups will be more efficient. Our customers’ pickup window will be expanded, which is great for small businesses or people running side businesses out of their house.”

Paul explains the expanded hours are made possible by the facility being outfitted with the latest in efficient parcel-handling technology and equipment that “runs on sensors and scanners … it’s also very ergonomic.”

Paul expects some additional staff to come aboard but didn’t specify a number or timeline. He says about a dozen people were recently hired, increasing the service center’s workforce to more than 70 people. 

DHL held a grand opening for the new service center April 23. The event included an appearance by IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, whose primary sponsor is DHL.