Ryder System, Inc., a leader in supply chain, dedicated transportation and commercial fleet management solutions, will invest $44 million in a new high-tech third-party distribution center in Locust Grove, Georgia. The project should create more than 250 jobs.

The 678,000 square foot building will be located at 355 Davis Lake Road in Garner Logistics Park Phase II. The company plans to use the building to accelerate the growth of its e-commerce and multi-tenant warehousing offerings.

“Locust Grove is a growing city in Georgia, so it was a natural choice for our next installation location,” said Steve Sensing, president of supply chain solutions for Ryder. “By increasing our footprint, we improve our customers’ speed to market, which is critical in today’s highly competitive environment. We are grateful for the vision and willingness of the Georgian state and local leaders to work with Ryder to make this project possible.

Ryder currently manages 59 operations and employs more than 2,900 people in the state of Georgia, providing essential supply chain, transportation and fleet management solutions to more than 50,000 customers in the United States, Canada, in Mexico and the UK. The company also manages nearly 235,000 commercial vehicles and operates more than 300 warehouses, covering approximately 64 million square feet.

“In today’s environment, speed to market is critical for businesses of all sizes,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “By leveraging Henry County’s real estate assets with our unmatched workforce training programs and extensive logistics network, Ryder will be able to quickly build their new facility to efficiently meet customer demand.” He added, “A big thank you to Ryder for choosing to invest in Georgia, and congratulations to our partners in Henry County for the long-term benefits this project will bring to the community.”

Global Commerce Senior Project Manager Bob Kosek represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development in the competitive project, along with partners from the Henry County Development Authority, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Quick Start and Georgia Power.

“We are excited to see Ryder’s expansion into Georgia and welcome the new business it will mean for the Port of Savannah,” said Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority. “The company’s expertise in cargo handling makes its new location in Henry County a welcome addition to the state’s private logistics network.”

“We welcome the addition of Locust Grove to Ryder’s already strong presence in Metro Atlanta, a key U.S. logistics hub,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Metro Atlanta Chamber. “Our region is a leading logistics hub with extensive highways and heavy rail, proximity to Atlantic coast ports and home to a major air cargo hub in Hartsfield-Jackson. We congratulate Ryder on this important decision and thank the community partners for their support of this project for Atlanta.