Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) celebrated the grand opening of its new Redistribution Center (RDC) in Whitestown, Ind., last week.
Spanning over 605,000 sq.-ft., DTNA says this build-to-suit facility will replenish DTNA’s ten Parts Distribution Centers (PDC) across the U.S. and Canada with efficient and timely truck parts availability.
The addition of the RDC to DTNA’s Parts Distribution Network is in line with DTNA’s Aftermarket parts growth initiatives to increase customer uptime, the company says. The purpose of the RDC is to efficiently replenish parts across the regional PDCs, expanding DTNA’s overall Parts Distribution Network to almost four million square feet in footprint.
DTNA says the RDC becomes the largest centralized consolidation space in DTNA’s Parts Distribution Network. This enables DTNA to reduce safety stock in regional PDC facilities leading to space optimization and operational efficiencies for large bulk and strategic parts storage, including unique storage space for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
[RELATED: SAF-Holland opens aftermarket PDC]
"We are excited to introduce the Whitestown RDC as an integral part of our Parts Distribution Network," says Brian Lewallen, president of Detroit Reman and general manager, aftermarket solutions, DTNA. "This investment not only strengthens our capabilities to efficiently manage inventory across our network, but also demonstrates our commitment to our parts growth strategy and prepares us for new product lines for our customers.”
Proximity is key when getting parts on the road to DTNA’s ten PDCs and ultimately into the hands of dealers and customers, DTNA says. Being strategically placed in the “Crossroads of America” state, Indiana, and Indianapolis specifically, presented itself as a centralized connection point to major interstates and logistics hubs, the company adds.
“By implementing a centralized approach to inventory management, DTNA aims to ensure that the right parts are in the right place at the right time for maximizing customer uptime,” says Todd Biggs, director, aftermarket parts distribution. “The goal is to set the benchmark for parts availability across our PDC network and ultimately for our customers.”
The RDC will play a vital role in effectively managing seasonal and sales fluctuations, providing the necessary capacity to meet PDC demand and promoting customer uptime. It also serves as a linchpin in helping DTNA to achieve its goal of delivering approximately 90% of parts ordered by the next day. DTNA adds the facility offers the flexibility required for strategic parts storage ensuring the RDC remains at the forefront of the industry and drives parts availability through continuous replenishing of stock supporting DTNA’s brand portfolio: Detroit, FCCC, Freightliner, Thomas Built Buses, and Western Star.
