TLD Logistics came to Crossville in 2010. Since that time, the company, based in Knoxville, TN, has seen its presence in Crossville continue to grow, adding new jobs and increasing its business. “We started with a small building next to Dave Kirk Automotive and, within two months, were out of space,” said David Jones, president.
TLD Logistics Services is a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho America, Inc., (TAI) which is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Manufacturing. Toyota Tsusho is a world-wide company serving every continent. TLD Logistics was formed four years ago to expand TAI’s assets in transportation. The company began with revenues of $35 million. This past year the company recorded revenues of $100 million. Over the next three years, the company hopes to double its business. “We have a great relationship with Toyota and handle a lot of Toyota manufacturing and supplier business,” Jones said. “Wherever there is a Toyota manufacturing plant, we’re there.”
The company has locations in Georgetown and Owensboro, KY; San Antonio, TX; Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; and Houston, TX; and employs more than 380 employees. But the Crossville location is set to become the company’s largest terminal, Jones said, and the location is a perfect fit for the company’s goal of diversifying its transportation business. “We were so dependent on automotive transportation that we redirected our focus into other non-automotive areas, such as the food industry,” Jones said.
Jones said the company has set a target of 50 percent automotive business and 50 percent from other industries. That’s what first brought the company to Crossville in 2010, when it received a contract with Flowers Foods for shipping its products. “We’re trying to grow and grow. We looked at the business attached to our different locations and Crossville just kept coming back,” Jones said. That’s because there is a variety of manufacturing industries within a 30-mile radius of Crossville. Also, the terminal has easy access to Interstate 40 and to Interstate 75 to the east and Interstate 65 in the west. “We try to go after companies that will be a good partner with us,” Jones said. “Crossville is lucky to have so many long-term industries. They’re not going anywhere. We seek those companies out.” Safety is another priority for the company and Jones said it looks to do business with companies that share that value, pointing to the robust safety programs in place at companies such as Flowers Bakery and CoLinx. “Those are the kind of people we want to do business with,” Jones said.