• Focus remains on infrastructure, people to provide highest quality service
• Expansion plan for DHL Americas Hub at Cincinnati nears completion, driving increased efficiency and capacity
• Holiday volume expected to jump 12 percent this year

DHL Express today said it is continuing its investment plan for the United States and the Americas as growth in the region meets expectations. The $185 million1 investment earmarked for 2016 and 2017 is focused on infrastructure, technology, and people - creating some 900 new jobs in 2016 alone - in order to continue to provide the highest quality service and superior customer experiences. Besides investing in its operations in the U.S., DHL Express is also committing another $105 million to support its growth plan in key countries in the region including Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Peru, totaling $290 million over the two-year period.

"DHL Express is continuing its strong progress in the U.S.," explains Ken Allen, member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post AG, and CEO, DHL Express. "As part of our focus on international express shipping and our commitment to continually improving customer service, we are directing our investments toward upgrading our facilities, expanding our staff and providing them with the technology they need to enhance productivity and to be more efficient."  For instance, DHL Express has rolled out new 'smart' scanners for its couriers, which are faster, lighter and equipped with voice and GPS capabilities and allow for the addition of new features such as stop-by-stop sequencing as well as turn-by-turn navigation so they can improve their efficiency while on the road.

DHL has already completed a portion of the $108 million investment project at its Americas Hub, located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, which was announced last year. The North Ramp expansion, which opened just two weeks ago, is built on 45 acres of land and provides parking space for 16 additional planes each night and adds new storage and warehouse space for ramp equipment and shipping containers. Coming next year will be additional automated sorting capability and 40 new reload positions that will enhance the hub's efficiency to handle the growing e-commerce volume seen in the U.S. and the Americas.

Focus on vehicles and facilities to handle greater volume

DHL Express is spending $20 million in these two years to upgrade and expand its ground fleet, adding more fuel-efficient vehicles including fully electric vans and electric forklifts at its JFK facility. Next year, the company will focus on replacing trucks and tractor-trailer combinations with more efficient models as part of the company's overall GoGreen strategy to reduce carbon emissions and its impact on the environment.

To deal with growing shipping volumes, DHL Express is applying an additional amount of nearly $60 million to expand and add facilities as well as provide technology/security upgrades and new equipment such as the new courier scanners. It has added three new service centers in New York City, Chicago, and Seattle as well as expanded another three this year. It upgraded its Los Angeles gateway in 2016 and plans to add a new gateway in Chicago and refurbish its JFK gateway in 2017, adding a new, improved automated sort system that will facilitate earlier morning deliveries in the New York market.

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Source: Deutsche Post DHL