Con-way Freight announced a major expansion for central Texas and surrounding communities with plans to build a new, 48-door, 18,870-square-foot freight service center in the city of Robinson.

The new $3.7 million facility will serve as the local hub from which the less-than-truckload will provide daily freight pickup and delivery services, connecting central Texas and the Greater Waco metropolitan area with one-, two- and three-day service points in Con-way Freight's nationwide network, as well as Mexico and Canada.

The company has selected a 12-acre property in the Robinson Industrial Park for the new facility. A major factor for its selection was the convenient access to the Sun Valley exit off Interstate 35.

The new freight facility in Robinson will replace an existing 22-door service center in neighboring Waco, where the company has been for more than 20 years. Once completed, the expanded facility is expected to provide additional capacity, operating efficiencies and flexibility. The company expects to hire an additional 15 workers in jobs such as driver sales representatives, operations support, sales, customer service and administration. Con-way Freight currently employs 52 at its existing Waco location.

"The central Texas market and its surrounding communities have experienced significant business growth over the past several years," said Greg Lehmkuhl, president of Con-way Freight. "This new facility will allow us to better manage current business levels, and positions us with capacity to grow and deliver to our customers the velocity, dependability and consistent on-time service that provides competitive advantage."

Scheduled to open in April 2014, the project represents extensive collaboration between Con-way Freight and the developer, SCRG, Ltd., the Gummelt family, broker Jon Spelman, Pearson Construction and the city of Robinson.

Con-way Freight currently operates a fleet of 24 commercial truck-tractors and 80 freight trailers from its facility in Waco, and expects to expand its local fleet once the new facility is open.