By Reginald Tucker
Xpress Global Systems (XGS), a leader in the transportation arena and a specialist in providing logistics, is evolving into more than just a floor covering carrier.
“We’re still looked at as an LTL (less-than-truckload) carrier, but there are a lot of people out there who do not know we have more than a million square feet of warehouse space nationwide and we are able to inventory products the way we can,” said Derek Bartley, vice president, process improvement for XGS. “What we’re offering is a true end-to-end solution. Meaning, we’ll pick it up for you, consolidate if necessary and take it to one of over 30 destination facilities that best fits your final delivery point. If you need a warehousing solution, we can warehouse and offer pick-and-pack options.”
XGS offers solutions to help manufacturers focus on their core competency, which is manufacturing. At the same time, floor covering retailers stand to benefit from XGS’ services as well, thanks to the company’s national network. “It’s an alternative to the existing mill-to-retailer distribution model,” Bartley said.
With its vast warehousing space, XGS is able to reliably store product for retailers in sites that are close to their respective markets. This translates into reduced lead times for orders, which means shoppers—the retailers’ customers—can get their products installed faster. “It also helps free up retailers’ footprint in terms of their warehousing space,” Bartley explained. “Many retailers have little to no space for warehousing. So, if they can spend more time on point-of-sale displays and have larger showrooms and worry less about warehousing and inventory, that helps them as well.”
More importantly, retailers stand to benefit from XGS’ ability to consolidate shipments from multiple manufacturers. In other words, they only have to track one delivery as opposed to fretting over multiple shipments from numerous carriers. “So instead of four or five trucks showing up throughout the week or different times of the day—tying up their valuable resources trying to do other things—they only have to worry about one truck showing up with a consolidated load within a specified timeframe,” Bartley explained.
XGS is in a position to service all manner of retailers—large or small, aligned or unaligned. “We are targeting all different kinds of retailers, and we also are partnered with buying groups as their premier carrier,” Bartley stated. Another bonus: Retailers enrolled in buying groups can enjoy discounts on shipping when they utilize Xpress Global for transportation services.
Movin’ on up
More retailers around the country could soon enjoy the benefits that Xpress Global Systems offers as it expands its footprint in key markets. The company is in the midst of opening new, state-of-the-art distribution and warehousing facilities. At the same time, it has grown its fleet and with it its reach across the U.S. For instance, in the past three months alone XGS (headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn.) announced the relocation of its largest flagship facility from Anaheim to Chino, Calif. The upgraded, 175,000-square-foot warehouse serves as the largest storage, custom-cutting and distribution center in the company’s vast network.
“The new Chino facility allows us to handle increased customer demand with better service and efficiency,” said Darrel Harris, XGS CEO. “Expanding our footprint in the Southern California area is another strategic decision to improve our overall service to the floor covering industry.”
That wasn’t the only major move. Since October of last year, the company has announced expansions into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. At the same time, XGS has invested in almost 400 newer trailers across the nation while implementing advanced route planning software.
It’s a growth strategy that ties into the evolution of how product is moved across the country. “Our growth strategy has really been, to this point, a response from our customers in the marketplace,” Bartley stated. “It made sense for us to expand in the Midwest, and we needed to grow our presence on the West Coast. So word is getting around. We are responding to our customers’ needs, and we’ve put a lot of effort into improving our safety, our quality and our service to meet those needs.”
