FedEx Ground has expanded its presence in the greater Chicago area with the recent addition of a new distribution hub in the city
, as part of an ongoing national growth plan. The new $125 million, 430,000 square-foot facility is based in Bedford Park, next to the company's original Chicago hub.

The new location is nearly double in size to accommodate increased processing rates of up to 30,000 packages per hour, more load and unload doors and additional scan tunnels and sorters. As part of the opening, FedEx will hire an additional 30 employees, increasing the hub's workforce from 860 to nearly 900.

"Enhancing our distribution capability in the central region is an important step in our ongoing efforts to increase the size, speed and efficiency of our network," said Jim Primm, vice president of the central division of FedEx Ground. "This new facility demonstrates the region's ongoing importance as a major distribution and logistics center, and will help us meet the increasing demand of local shippers as we transport shipments within the Chicago area and across the country."



FedEx Ground has been working on nationwide expansion to increase daily package volume capacity and enhance its speed and service capabilities. Since the program was launched in 2002, the carrier has opened seven new hubs and relocated or expanded more than 500 local facilities.

So far, the expansion initiative has increased ground service delivery by one day or more in more than half of the U.S. Average daily package volumes have also boosted by more than 50 percent from 2.1 million in 2003 to more than 3.4 million today.