Family-owned Decker Truck Line Inc. of Fort Dodge, Iowa, confirmed that it has permanently closed its terminal in Missoula, Montana, citing findings from a radical review of its operations and freight network because the primary reason for the closure.
“This decision was not made calmly, but it surely is needed because of the changing freight network patterns and the associated costs of operating a full terminal that shouldn’t be being utilized sufficiently,” CEO Dale Decker said in a press release Tuesday in regards to the closure.
As many as 18 positions were eliminated on the Missoula terminal, in accordance with NBC Montana.
Decker said a small group of drivers was also affected by the closure but added that the corporate will proceed to utilize truck drivers in Montana to haul freight.
The trucking company said it plans to work with employees of the now-shuttered terminal to “explore relocation options” in the event that they want to stick with Decker Truck Line.
“As our business continues to grow, our focus will shift more towards core regions. This strategy goals to boost density in our well-established areas,” Decker said. “Nevertheless, we’ll proceed to require drivers residing within the Montana area, but we now not consider it a strategic advantage for having a terminal in Missoula together with the associated overhead costs.”
The 94-year-old trucking company has around 790 company drivers and the identical variety of power units. It hauls general freight, refrigerated food and constructing materials, in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER website.
Besides its home terminal in Fort Dodge, which has roughly 190 employees, Decker Truck Line operates terminals in Mediapolis, Iowa; Bessemer, Alabama; and Hammond, Indiana, in addition to a maintenance facility in Des Moines, in accordance with the company’s website.
“Although this location now not offers sufficient value to warrant a terminal, expansion in other regions may prompt latest investments in areas that do provide clear profit to our network,” Decker said.
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