Savannah, GA — Better connectivity and access to Georgia ports is the goal for Denver-based logistics solutions company OmniTRAX’s Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub. The 2,700-acre industrial park provides customers access to two Class I railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern. Located just off I-95 near the Port of Savannah, the fastest-growing and fourth-largest port in the nation, the Savannah Gateway is perfectly situated to bolster intermodal transport in the state. As of 2017, intermodal shipments make up one of the largest segments of Georgia’s imports and exports. The development of the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub is an example of how freight rail adapts to accommodate a supply chain that continues to grow and demand increased efficiency.
The Savannah Gateway welcomes its first tenant, A&R Logistics, in November 2020. According to Georgia Ports, A&R Logistics will lease a 1 million square foot facility that will receive shipments of plastic pellets the size of BBs and repackage them for shipment overseas. Plastic pellets are used to manufacture products ranging from car parts and medical devices to eyeglass rims.
Kevin Shuba, OmniTRAX CEO, in an interview with American Journal of Transportation said, “It is a very efficient way to get this product exported. It’s trans-loading on steroids. One million square feet is a heck of a big building.” And it is expected to help take 70 truck trips a day to and from the port off roads during peak traffic hours.
The ambitious facility would not be possible without local partnerships in Georgia that recognize the importance of multi-modal shipping and services. The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (ECIDA) along with Colliers International, a Canada-based global commercial real estate organization, is working with OmniTRAX to develop more than a dozen rail-served properties at the site. “This is a true partnership for Effingham County that will bring thousands of high-quality jobs and economic growth to the community. OmniTRAX has a proven track record from several other locations around the country for creating the infrastructure required to attract great companies to our site,” says Brandt Herndon, CEO of ECIDA.
The Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub represents a coming together of local industry pioneers, national transportation leaders, and global property partnerships to support the economy in Georgia. This project will help lay the groundwork for efficient, comprehensive, multi-modal transportation partnerships to keep American production moving forward.
