Flatbed transportation company CRST Flatbed Solutions (CRST) has announced plans to open a new 23,361-square-foot divisional headquarters at Birmingham’s Daniel Payne Industrial Park, a $5.14 million building project that will house the company’s 42 divisional headquarters employees, with room for another 10 new employees to be added.
This facility at Daniel Payne Industrial Park will combine its corporate office in Birmingham and its maintenance operations in St. Clair County into one facility.
“Birmingham’s business-friendly environment made the decision to stay in the city an easy one,” said CRST President and CEO Hugh Ekberg.
Malone Freight Lines was founded in Birmingham in 1928 and was acquired in 1985 by CRST, which has corporate headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“CRST has a longstanding and valued relationship with the Birmingham community and is very proud of the growth and success it has achieved in the business-friendly environment Birmingham offers,” Ekberg said. “Most importantly, CRST appreciates the high-quality people that make up the CRST Flatbed Solutions team that are ultimately responsible for the business success. It was an easy decision to stay in Birmingham and we are thrilled with the additional advantages the new location and facilities will offer for our employees, independent contractors and customers.”
The facility will house training, education and orientation programs, provide safe parking and overnight facilities for drivers while in transit and offer state-of-the art maintenance facilities for both CRST drivers and contractors.
“We are thankful that CRST Flatbed Solutions is choosing to stay, expand and invest in Jefferson County, despite having other opportunities,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons. “Its increasing presence reflects our increasing presence in transportation and logistics.”
CRST has several divisions within its company, and Birmingham will be home to the flatbed division, consolidating all flatbed operations under one roof with the goal of improving employee enhancement and engagement as well as operational efficiencies.
“CRST’s new location in the Daniel Payne Industrial Park brings more than 50 jobs into the city and a significant capital investment in excess of $5 million,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “We welcome CRST Flatbed Solutions as our newest corporate citizen and appreciate the working relationship we have established with this company as our Daniel Payne site became the favored expansion location.”
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) has been working with the company on this project since April 2018, said Mark Brown, vice president of business retention and expansion at the BBA. Brown said the BBA worked with CRST, the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County to identify land for the project and facilitated the site selection process.
“The new jobs and revenues to the City represented by the project are significant, and we are excited to continue our work with the company and support its long-term growth and success,” Brown said. “We recognize the company had other options when choosing a location for this facility, and we are thrilled these steps are being taken to firmly establish a long-lasting relationship with CRST in the city of Birmingham.”
The Birmingham Industrial Development Board approved a 10-year tax abatement for the company on sales and use tax and property tax.