FleetPride, Irving, Texas, opened a new 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution center in Elgin, Ill., replacing its existing facility in Bolingbrook, Ill. It will soon be followed by a 256,000-square-foot distribution center currently under construction in Lilburn, Ga., which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020.

“These new distribution centers are safe, efficient and equipped with the latest technology, including a 3-tier automated mezzanine with sorting conveyors and a robust, effective warehouse management system from JDA,” says Juan Guerrero, senior vice president of supply chain.

The new Elgin facility will provide overnight replenishment to more than 45 branches, and is part of FleetPride’s broader network of regional distribution centers.

“After opening our new facilities in Elgin and Lilburn, the next phase of our supply chain master plan involves an optimization study of our distribution footprint,” says Guerrero. “With our location count increasing, we are planning for where we need to be in the future. At the same time, ramping up overnight delivery five days a week to more branches creates a competitive advantage for our employees on the front lines. It is all about speed to customer.”

“Executing on our growth strategy includes adding capacity to our operations and significantly investing in our ability to have the right parts in the right place at the right time,” says Mike Harris, senior vice president of sales and operations. “We are laser focused on speed to customer. Upgrading our supply chain capabilities puts the customer at the center of our strategy.  It also creates an advantage for our employees, who will have more products on the shelves to keep customers up and running.”