Area start-up partners with major truck firm

Workers pour concrete in BX Solutions facility at Toledo Express. The renovations are to transform BAX Global, the cargo hub that shut down Sept. 1, to fit the new business geared to trucked freight. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Transformation of the former BAX Global Inc., cargo hub at Toledo Express Airport from a facility geared toward air cargo into one primarily for trucked freight and packages was well under way Thursday when the head of its new tenant, BX Solutions, announced a partnership with a major trucking company.

The transportation services agreement with J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., will provide the local start-up with access to that company's "expertise in trucking and intermodal" and broaden the range of services BX can offer to its customers when it starts operating at Toledo Express, Christopher Marshall, president and chief executive officer, said during a media tour at the hub Thursday morning.

As he spoke, a concrete mixer rumbled through the middle of the 279,000-square-foot main building on its way to one of 11 cargo-handling bays, where concrete floors are replacing castor decks across which air-freight containers were rolled into position to be emptied and reloaded during BAX's operations.

Contractors have cut truck ramps outside at five of six loading docks on the building's south side, while on the north side, ramps are under construction for truck docking. One bay on the south side, ill-suited for truck docking, will remain fitted for air cargo equipment.

Todd Hines, BX's vice president for organizational development and leadership, said the north side -- closer to the airfield -- is being done so some bays could be converted back to use for air freight, should that market rebound.

But for the foreseeable future, BX Solutions expects most of its business to arrive and depart on the roads.

A new fence separates the hub building from the Toledo Express airfield, putting the hub outside of the airport's security zone, while a guarded gate in that fence will be the portal for any air freight BX handles.

While BX plans to pursue whatever opportunities it sees in air freight -- particularly, international cargo -- ground transport is "where the market seems to be the most stable," Mr. Marshall said.

The agreement with Hunt, he said, gives the start-up company immediate access to rail intermodal as well.

During the 1990s, J.B. Hunt was a pioneer in shifting its long-haul trucking to rail transport and replaced many of its trailers with freight containers that ride either on truck chassis or stacked two-high on railroad flatcars. Mr. Marshall said the company recently surpassed United Parcel Service as the largest user of rail intermodal service.

BX Solutions could have approached the railroads on its own to seek space on intermodal trains, he said, "but we'd be 5,000th in line" instead of at the head of the line with J.B. Hunt.

Ragan Hensley, a marketing manager for Hunt, confirmed Thursday afternoon that "we are working with BX Solutions" but declined to elaborate.

Jerry Chabler, chairman of the port authority's airport committee, said BX Solutions' arrangement with J.B. Hunt enhances the start-up company's marketplace credentials.

"It is a very savvy business decision to hook up with a giant like J.B. Hunt and speaks volumes about the business acumen of [BX Solutions'] executive team," Mr. Chabler said.

The hub's refitting is expected to take an additional week or two to complete, after which employee training and other preparations will continue toward a goal of starting freight handling operations by year's end, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Hines said.

BAX's Sept. 1 shutdown, directed by corporate parent DB Schenker as it withdrew from the domestic air freight business, cost 700 employees their jobs.

So far, Mr. Marshall said, BX Solutions has made job offers to about 190 package handlers and "50 to 60" managers, the vast majority of whom are former BAX employees.

Documents associated with BX's hub lease from the port authority forecast hiring about 350 part-time and 200 full-time workers, and Mr. Marshall said company leaders "expect to hit our growth expectations."

The port authority is paying for the facility's modifications using an $2.8 million Ohio Department of Development loan that will convert to a grant if BX's operations generate at least 100 full-time and 400 part-time jobs within 18 months.

Contact David Patch at: dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.