DHL Supply Chain, a division of shipping and logistics giant DHL, plans to permanently close its warehouse at 1613 Hatton Drive in Carrollton, according to a plant closure notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission.
The facility, which is located in a sprawling industrial park between Interstate 35 and the George Bush Expressway and also houses an Amazon warehouse, will close on September 14. The closure will affect 95 ground crew members, including forklift operators and hourly workers, as well as more than 100 other employees, including supervisors, managers and supervisors, none of whom are union members.
“The company said in a filing with TWC:[s] The majority of employees will be transitioning to a new employer who will take over their operational responsibilities.”
DHL Supply Chain said in an email that the closures were due to “a customer's decision to transition their business to a new provider” and that “affected employees will be offered the opportunity to consider employment with the new provider.” The company did not provide details about customers switching providers from DHL Supply Chain.
The company also said it was “common” for new entrants in the logistics industry to recruit staff from departing players.
DHL and its various branches are one of the most prominent logistics companies in the world and in North Texas. The company recently opened a 1.4 million square foot warehouse in North Fort Worth in late 2022 and relocated its distribution offices to a 220,000 square foot, $57.5 million facility near DFW Airport in June of this year, employing more than 150 employees. The company operates numerous facilities in Garland, Dallas and Lancaster, including warehouses, smaller express service points and e-commerce hubs.
Because DHL Supply Chain has a strong presence in the D-FW region, former Carrollton employees who want to remain with DHL “will be given the opportunity to do so,” the company said.
Shipping companies have become important economic engines, driven in part by globalization and increased demand for e-commerce after the pandemic. DHL's U.S.-based competitors, such as UPS and FedEx, have reported strong profit growth in recent years, with the former forecast to post profits of $6.7 billion and the latter $4.3 billion in 2023. Germany-based DHL has reported revenue of 20 billion euros ($21.7 billion) and operating profit of $1.4 billion for the first quarter of 2024.
