ABF Freight System Expands In Asia

Trucking company ABF Freight System opened offices in 12 additional Asian nations, expanding its overseas reach from Japan to India.

The new offices are part of an international expansion and shift toward contractual, supply chain business by the nation’s fifth-largest less-than-truckload carrier.

The new offices in Asia will help Fort Smith, Ark.-based ABF capture more less-than-containerload and full containerload freight bound for the United States.

ABF’s services now extend “from the Asian manufacturer’s floor” to domestic door delivery, said Roy Slagle, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

That reflects a trend toward greater diversification among LTL carriers and a step away from the traditional, transaction-based LTL service model.

Rather than shipping one pallet or container, customers want to transportation suppliers to move hundreds or thousands of boxes under contract, ABF said.

In addition to being an LTL carrier, ABF is a non-vessel operating common carrier, a global logistics service provider and an intermodal carrier, Slagle said.

The new offices are located in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka.

ABF already has offices on China’s mainland, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The LTL carrier launched its global supply chain services division in 2008. It had an $8.2 million operating profit in the second quarter on $498.6 million in sales.

Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc