Tennessee company to open facility in Lehigh Valley

Tennessee-based Forward Air Corp., an asset-light freight and logistics company, plans to open a facility in Lehigh Valley to serve the East Coast.

The company has leased 37,718-square-feet of land in the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII in Bethlehem.

Previous success working with a local partner for its less-than-truckload (LTL) business was Forward’s motivation for selecting the Lehigh Valley. LTL freight refers to goods that do not require an entire trailer because of the smaller parcel size.

“As we continue to expand our service offering beyond our current airport-to-airport footprint, Bethlehem is a strategic location that supports future growth,” Tom Schmitt, Forward chairman, president and CEO, said. “At the same time, we can support our Philadelphia operations and increase our coverage in Pennsylvania.”

Local sales and operational support will allow the company to serve customers better, Schmitt said.

The Bethlehem market also will connect the company’s nationwide network and portfolio of premium freight management services, the company said.

According to J.G. Petrucci, construction should be completed next month, the developer handling the project, with the facility operational in March or April.

Forward’s nationwide network covers 98 percent of Americans, Schmitt said, which will significantly improve freight options for Lehigh Valley businesses.