Penske Logistics is taking steps to expand its freight brokerage operations

Reading, Pa.-based third-party logistics services provider Penske Logistics announced this week it is taking steps to expand its freight brokerage services offerings.

The company said that it is adding staff associates and opening up new locations in Chicago, Illinois and Edison, New Jersey. Penske said the 9,000 square-feet Chicago location is located 500 W. Madison Street, which will be comprised of 80 associates there over the location’s first 12 months of operations, according to company estimates. Those 80 associates will handle various tasks, including: sales; account management; operations; and customer success.

And the 5,000 square-foot Edison location, at 110 Fieldcrest Ave., will be comprised of 25-to-30 associates over the next year, according to company estimates, with those associates handling operations, customer success, and logistics coordination responsibilities.

“We are opening these new offices to support our freight brokerage expansion goals and to be closer to population centers that feature a wealth of supply chain talent,” stated Jeff Bullard, senior vice president of operations–freight management, Penske Logistics, in a statement. “While many of our new hires will be based in Chicago, we will also add new associates to existing locations in Beachwood, Ohio, Reading, Pennsylvania, and Corona, California.”  

Brian Kenney, vice president of brokerage, Penske Logistics, added that growth of Penske’s freight brokerage offerings will provide its customers with increased access to additional capacity and flexible solutions, which he said are sorely needed in this unpredictable economic environment.”

Kenney told LM that Penske has been evaluating expansion plans over the last several years to meet the ever-changing business needs of its clients.

“Chicago and Edison were both natural locations, given the readily available logistic talent and customer operating footprints,” he said. He also noted that, at these locations, its customers “can access talent, subject matter expertise, and comprehensive supply chain solutions leveraging our best-in-class technology.”

As for the key growth drivers for Penske’s freight brokerage operations, he said that Penske is focused on leveraging its integrated capacity solutions to offer its contracted customers and carriers a competitive advantage to reduce operational friction and cost in an asset-light model.

Looking ahead, Kenney said Penske Logistics is exploring new locations in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Austin, Texas; Phoenix, and other locations.