Look inside Home Depot's massive new distribution center, which can hold up to 75 flatbed trucks

Áine Cain

Feb 16, 2020, 20:21 IST

Look inside Home Depot's massive new distribution center, which can hold up to 75 flatbed trucks

Home Depot opened up a flatbed distribution center in Dallas in January.
The Dallas Morning News' Maria Halkias was first to report on the new center and what it means for the home improvement retailer's supply chain strategy.
Home Depot provided Business Insider with pictures from inside the sprawling center.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Home Depot opened a 800,000-square-foot flatbed distribution center in Dallas as part of its ongoing supply chain overhaul.

"The Dallas region is a key hub for Home Depot's supply chain and our national delivery strategy," a Home Depot spokesperson told Business Insider. "This new type of center is key to helping us reach our goal of same day/next day delivery to 90% of the US."

The Dallas Morning News' Maria Halkias was first to report from within the new center on January 28. Home Depot subsequently shared more pictures of the new center with Business Insider.

A Home Depot spokesperson told Business Insider that the center will employ around 90 workers. Photos from within the space show a massive warehouse filled with pallets of materials and large flatbed trucks. The spokesperson said that the company plans on opening over 20 more such centers over the next few years.

"The new [flatbed distribution centers] help us serve our pros with fast and reliable delivery directly to their job sites," the spokesperson said. "They also help us improve the customer experience across the board, as we are able to alleviate pressure from the stores by delivering bulk items from our FDCs instead of from stores."

Take a look inside Home Depot's new distribution center:

The Dallas Morning News reported that the new center is a crucial part of Home Depot's strategy of investing $1.2 billion into its supply chain over the next five years.

Home Depot SVP of supply chain Stephanie Smith told The Dallas Morning News that the new center provides the company with the opportunity to own its entire supply chain.

The new distribution center takes up nearly 800,000 square feet, according to a Home Depot spokesperson.

The Dallas Morning News reported that the new center features a rail line and can fit up to 10 rail cars inside ...

... as well as 65 to 75 flatbed trucks. A Home Depot spokesperson said the space is "big enough to simultaneously load and unload up to 32 flatbed trucks indoors."

A Home Depot spokesperson said that the center will predominantly distribute "building supplies, lumber, and job completers – think big, bulky items like lumber, concrete blocks, and pavers."

Smith told The Dallas Morning News that the new center is primarily focused on helping the company meet the needs of consumers — especially pro customers.

"Customer expectations are definitely rising, and pros want speed and reliable service," Smith told the Dallas newspaper.

A Home Depot spokesperson confirmed that pros make up only 4% of the company's customer base, but account for 45% of its annual sales.

But the distribution center won't be the only Home Depot hub in the area for long.

An additional 1.6-million-square-foot online fulfillment center is in the works next door.

"We're investing to provide customers with the fastest, most efficient delivery in home improvement," a Home Depot spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider.

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