DHL Expands in Virginia With New, Larger Facility

• New $7.3M facility increases capacity and improves delivery services.
• Serves Norfolk and surrounding areas.

DHL, the world’s leading provider of international express shipping services, has expanded its operations in Norfolk by relocating to a facility more than double the size. Now a full-service operation, it processes shipments and also serves customers directly at its new retail ServicePoint counter. The $7.3M investment increases shipment capacity and enables faster processing, resulting in later pickup cutoff times for shippers in the eastern Virginia area.

The new service center facility at 2551 Almeda Avenue serves Norfolk and the surrounding areas for local pickup and delivery, from the Shipyards in Chesapeake to Kitty Hawk and the Outer Banks. It connects to the global DHL network through its daily dedicated 737 flight between Richmond International Airport and DHL’s global hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), in addition to trucking service to and from the DHL JFK Gateway. With 25,200 square feet of warehousing and office space, the facility features state-of-the-art material handling equipment, as well as nearly triple the load positions it had previously – up to 30 - for loading and unloading freight around its conveyor system.

“Through this new facility, DHL is thrilled to expand and improve its capabilities for international shippers within one of the nation’s largest export markets and continue to help customers – both large and small – capitalize on business growth opportunities beyond our borders,” said Nemer Abohasen, VP, and General Manager of DHL Express.

With more than 30 operations and management staff, the new service center can process up to 2,000 pieces per hour, handling both U.S. domestic as well as time-definite international shipments to and from the 225 countries and territories served by DHL Express. Local package delivery growth has been driven by B2B and B2C e-commerce shipping, as well as companies that provide services for federal contractors and other organizations associated with the U.S. government.

The facility is also equipped with charging stations as it will soon introduce fully electric pickup and delivery vehicles. This supports DHL Group’s sustainability roadmap, targeting 60% of its global delivery fleet to be electrically powered by 2030.