An employee works at an Amazon distribution center in Fernley, Nev.
Contributed PhotoFIRST SHIPMENTAmazon’s Chattanooga center sent a printer cartridge to a customer in California as its first shipment.BY THE NUMBERS• $10.88 billion – third quarter net sales• 44 percent – third quarter net sales jump from year ago• $79 million – third quarter operating incomeSource: Amazon
Jeff Wardeberg of U.S. Xpress Enterprises says its freight business with Amazon has surged by more than 300 percent in the year since the Internet retailer unveiled plans for two Chattanooga-area facilities.
“They’ve moved into our top 10 accounts,” said Wardeberg, the local trucking firm’s chief operating officer. “The opening of the Chattanooga distribution center allowed us to expand our portfolio with Amazon.”
The online retailing giant is gearing up its new Chattanooga and Charleston, Tenn., fulfillment centers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas.
Scores of trucks from U.S. Xpress, Covenant Transportation Group, UPS, FedEx and other companies go in and out of the centers as they deliver and take out freight for the two Amazon facilities.