With its strategic location on the Atlantic coast and its bustling Port of Savannah, Savannah, Georgia is an optimal place for companies to set up cross docking and warehousing operations. Cross docking, which involves moving freight directly from an incoming truck to an outgoing truck without extra storage in between, is efficient and cost-effective. Warehousing provides storage space for inventory. Companies in and around Savannah take advantage of both to maximize logistics.
The Port of Savannah: A Major Asset
The Port of Savannah is one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States. It handles millions of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year of containerized cargo shipped around the world. The port’s Garden City Terminal has been undergoing major expansions over the last decade to accommodate more cargo volume. This growth is expected to continue as more manufacturing and distribution centers open in the region.
In addition, the Port of Savannah has excellent rail and interstate access. Multiple rail lines serve the port’s terminals. Two interstate highways, I-95 and I-16, connect the port to the national highway system. Trucks can quickly transport imports inland from Savannah and exports outbound to the port. This multimodal infrastructure makes cross docking efficient.
Benefits of Cross Docking and Warehousing in Savannah
Companies located in Savannah can take advantage of the area’s business-friendly environment, transportation networks, and proximity to one of the busiest ports in the nation to optimize their supply chain operations. Some key benefits include:
- Cost Savings
Cross docking minimizes storage expenses. Goods spend less time sitting in warehouses when they transfer rapidly from inbound to outbound trucks. Warehousing is also cost-effective around Savannah compared to other regions.
- Speed
Cross docking accelerates deliveries by eliminating extra dwell time. Products shipped globally can clear customs at the Port of Savannah then move immediately via truck or rail to their next destination without delay.
- Convenience
The Savannah metro area provides easy access to major highways, railways, and the Port of Savannah. Hundreds of warehouses, distribution centers and logistics-related businesses operate locally to offer cross docking and storage space.
- Efficiency
Companies can streamline operations by coordinating inbound freight receipt, cross dock transfers, warehousing, order processing and outbound shipping all from the same strategic coastal Georgia location.
Flexibility for Industries
Cross docking and warehousing apply across industries – from retail and consumer goods to automotive parts, chemicals, packaging materials and beyond. If your business imports or exports products or has U.S. customers located far from your manufacturing facilities, consider Savannah. This bustling Southeast logistics hub likely has facilities to fulfill your warehousing and cross docking needs.
Retailers and consumer product companies commonly use cross docking to replenish store inventory around regions. For example, a big box retail chain brings pallets of goods to an intermediate warehouse where they quickly get transferred to trucks bound for outlets in specific cities or states. Perishable foods and beverages often cross dock rapidly to get to store shelves faster.
Manufacturers use local warehousing and cross docking to assemble components imported from diverse suppliers before final assembly and distribution. All the parts converge at the dock, transfer to outgoing trucks headed to their final manufacturing plant destination.
Finding Cross Docking and Warehousing Space in Savannah
With so much freight flowing through the Port of Savannah, there is no shortage of logistics facilities in the region. Savannah has a well-established industrial real estate market with developers continuously building more warehouses to meet demand. There exist options across the size spectrum – from small private warehouses to massive public distribution centers occupying over 1 million square feet.
Facilities offer amenities like cross docking, transloading, rail access, expedited truck loading, foreign trade zone status, e-commerce fulfillment capabilities, and more. Rates often cost significantly less than warehouse space in other major U.S. port cities.
Transportation infrastructure investments in roads, rail and the Port of Savannah itself continue rising too. Agreements were recently signed to deepen Savannah’s shipping channel to accommodate more cargo volume. Currently ranked as the fourth busiest U.S. container port, Savannah will likely move up in the top port rankings over this decade.
Companies seeking cross docking or warehousing space have an abundance of sites and brokers to choose from locally. However, it helps to narrow down exactly what you need regarding location, facility size, features, budget and timeline before contacting specific brokers or listings.
Ready to Find the Right Savannah Warehouse?
If your business wants to tap into Savannah’s prime southeast U.S. location and logistics infrastructure, now is an opportune time. The region offers affordable, state-of-the-art warehousing and efficient cross docking operations to optimize your supply chain.
Click here to find a warehouse that offers transloading in Savannah, GA today. You can view listings complete with descriptions, specs and contact information. Whether you need short-term storage or long-term industrial space, let us help you find and compare the many options.