FedEx Trade Networks opens up new Chicago ‘gateway’ location

FedEx Trade Networks, a subsidiary of FedEx and the company’s global trade arm, said this week it has opened up a new air and ocean gateway in Chicago.

Company officials said the new 104,000 square-foot location, with more than 85,000 square-feet for distribution, provides shippers with expanded service offerings, including freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and distribution services. They added that this new location, which is twice the size of its former Chicago office where it had a presence for 17 years, is in close proximity to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and intermodal rail facilities.

FedEx Trade Networks President and CEO Fred Schardt told LM that Chicago serves as one of the great commercial centers of the world and having a presence there is basically a must-have and ties into what FedEx Trade Networks is doing on a global basis.

“We started our global expansion in 2008 and since then we have opened up 33 offices outside of the U.S. and Canada in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America,” said Schardt. “The strengthening of our U.S. network and enhancing our Chicago network, which is a key center, are really part of the overall strategy we developed two years ago. We need strength in the U.S. to compliment our strength overseas. It is all part of a strategic plan to make us one of the world’s leading freight forwarders.”

In terms of customer benefits, Schardt said FedEx is now fully equipped to offer Midwest U.S. shippers a full suite of ocean and air freight forwarding services on an inbound and outbound basis, customs brokerage, and distribution services.

The new location currently has about 80 employees and is expanding with the capacity for more staff. Types of positions at this location include import and export, warehousing, distribution, management, and sales teams.

“Being part of FedEx, FedExTrade Networks has access to the FedEx customer base on top of our 25,000 customers,” said Schardt. “One of the unique advantages we have is being affiliated with the FedEx portfolio and it helps greatly with customer credibility. This new location is twice as big as the previous one and has more capabilities of what we can do to serve our customers.”

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