DHL sets up shop in a new San Diego location

Express delivery and logistics services provider DHL said this week it has relocated its San Diego-based facility to a new location, which the company said more than doubles the size of its former San Diego location.

Company officials said DHL invested $22 million into this new location, adding that the new location increases shipment capacity, enables faster shipment processing, and provides earlier customer deliveries.

“Situated within the Pacific Rim and near the U.S.-Mexico border, San Diego continues to be an attractive area for international business opportunities—and our continued growth in international package volume reflects that,” said Aaron Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager of Western U.S. for DHL Express, in a statement. “This significant investment in San Diego ensures we can successfully grow with our import and export customers, enabling them to receive the highest level of service as they expand their businesses within the international marketplace.”

The new San Diego location is based at 655 Gateway Center, with DHL noting it is in close proximity to the San Diego International Airport and is DHL’s third largest United States-based pickup and delivery facility. And it is comprised of more than 86,000 square-feet of warehousing and office space, coupled with newly upgraded material handling equipment, as well as more than double the number of available courier load positions—from 33 to 85—around two conveyor belts.

DHL explained that this not only gives the operation the space needed to grow, but it also improves first-stop delivery times for its delivery services by at least 40 minutes in the local market.

DHL said that the new San Diego-based location includes and provides the following:

• it handles U.S. domestic as well as time-definite international shipments to and from the 220 countries and territories served by DHL;
• its advanced material handling system can process up to 6,000 pieces per hour (PPH);
• the San Diego service center is planning to introduce electric pickup and delivery vehicles, and has installed advanced EV charging systems throughout the warehouse; and 
• the facility is also on its way toward LEED certification, which provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings, which is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability roadmap, with its mission of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050

A DHL spokesman told LM that a major driver for the new location was that international shipment growth required the company to move to a much larger facility that could manage the increased volumes, while maintaining great service quality for its customers.

“Shipments are being delivered earlier, and customers have a much better location to drop off and pick up shipments, with better parking, and a more spacious front lobby,” he said.