By George Berkheimer, for The Bedford Gazette
Smith Transport, LLC. was established in 1982, though founder, Barry F. Smith; started his long-haul career as an independent contractor and managed a small fleet of trucks for his father several decades prior. It’s now a national carrier that serves the world’s largest retailers and manufacturers.
In addition to its trucking operations, the company also branched out into full service warehousing and logistics and quickly grew to dominate that space as well. Since 1998, Smith Transport Warehouse has been serving Bedford County, the surrounding region, and customers across the United States from its Bedford location near Cessna. Grove Dixon currently serves as Smith Transport Warehouse’s President.
Q: How did Smith Transport Warehouse begin operations?
Dixon: Our warehouse company started in 1982 in Roaring Spring. From 1997 through 2022 we built an additional 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space, which now includes the 300,000 square foot warehouse in Bedford built in 1998.
Q: How big are your operations there?
Dixon: We have 12 employees. Our capabilities are fairly straightforward, we provide storage, inbound and outbound loading capabilities, and local shuttle moves that support local manufacturers and other businesses throughout Bedford County and the local region.
Q: How has technology changed what you do?
Dixon: On the technology side, we have a robust Warehouse Management System that allows tracking of inventory by item and lot, and supports all types of inventory rotation including First-In, First-Out management for non-perishable goods, and First-Expired, First-Out management that allows more stringent controls for perishable items that prevents waste and ensures freshness. We also use multiple forms of electronic order tenders and product recall tracking software, and we have a web portal that allows our customers to see their inventory live. Additionally, we communicate all transactions through a wireless RF (radio frequency) environment, which improves efficiency.
Q: What major industries do you serve?
Dixon: We primarily serve manufacturing and online retail. Our territory is national, but with more focus on the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. Our customer base is very stable with an average tenure of 14 years. However, we tend to add a new customer annually.
Q: What benefit does your location provide?
Dixon: It’s always beneficial to be located near an Interstate intersection such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, which are both less than a mile away from our warehouse. The location is also very close to the Bedford Business Parks, where a lot of our local customers are located. We have easy access to all compass directions from here.
Q: Has this location helped you with access and marketing?
Dixon: The Bedford location offers next day service to the Carolinas, New England and the Chicago market, while providing a lower cost environment than the I-81 and I-95 corridors.
Q: What did it take to develop Smith Transport’s reputation, and how do you work to maintain that?
Dixon: Barry Smith is still the driving force behind the company. He uses his entrepreneur skills, business instincts and a willingness to take risks to guide the company. He has always insisted that his equipment and facilities be first class and doesn’t compromise. His approach was the same with the people he hired, and he expected a “can-do” attitude toward servicing our customers. Our job is as simple as being a solutions provider for our customer and being easy to do business with.
Q: What do you see in terms of the commercial and industry strengths in Bedford County?
Dixon: Bedford County offers a good location for market access, and a quality workforce. It is easy to see why many quality companies, both homegrown and national, have chosen to locate and grow their businesses in Bedford County.
Q: Is there anything that’s missing?
Dixon: The only obstacle we see from a warehouse/logistics perspective is the lack of rail service, but that doesn’t prevent us from giving our customers the best service possible, meeting their needs, and continuing to grow and improve our operations