XPO to nearly double last-mile delivery network

Transport and logistics giant XPO Logistics Inc. plans to nearly double its current last-mile delivery network to 85 service hubs by the end of next year, the company said yesterday.

The expansion, which is currently underway, will position XPO's last-mile network within approximately 90 percent of the U.S. population, thus further reducing transit times, according to the Greenwich, Conn.-based company. In an interview in May, Chairman and CEO Brad Jacobs said XPO plans to execute last-mile deliveries of heavier consignments in one to two days by the end of the decade. The current benchmark for last-mile deliveries is 5 to 6 days./p>

XPO said it expects to open its next hubs in Birmingham, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles; Milwaukee, Wis.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Washington, D.C.

XPO handles nearly 13 million home and commercial deliveries a year, most of which involve the installation and assembly of appliances, large electronics, furniture, and other hard-to-handle items. Consumers are increasingly buying these products online, leading to the rapid growth of last-mile deliveries to the residence.