Kenco Logistics plans to nearly triple its staff over the next year after the freight broker continued to grow and beat company projections this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite a drop in shipping volumes in April when many manufacturers shut down plants and distribution facilities, Kenco’s freight brokerage business has rebounded strongly this summer and fall as the company has capitalized on managing more freight shipments. In August, September, and October, Kenco said its Chattanooga-based freight brokerage team exceeded its sales goals by 44%, 11%, and 32%, respectively, continually breaking its own records.
“This has undoubtedly been a difficult year, but I’m incredibly proud of the immense growth our team has achieved in spite of the unprecedented challenges,” said Dallas Walker, vice president of freight logistics at Kenco. “As we look to expand our team and welcome new employees, we aspire to continue this momentum and cultivate a culture of accountability, integrity, teamwork, and diversity.”
By the end of 2021, Kenco Logistics wants to grow its existing 15-employee staff to 42 employees, Walker said. All of those freight brokers now work out of the corporate headquarters of Kenco, which is one of the largest warehouse, distribution and logistics companies in the United States. In the future, company officials said Kenco plans to add other brokerage offices around the country.
Kenco, which began in Chattanooga as Cherokee Warehouses in 1950, added its freight brokerage business in 1979 as one of the first of what has grown into nearly two dozen freight broker companies with operations now in Chattanooga.