NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 19, 2002)—Bridgestone/Firestone is building a new distribution facility in Lebanon, Tenn., that will become the company's primary distribution center for customers in the mid-south states as well as the sole center for large truck tire distribution to customers east of the Rocky Mountains.
The 750,000-square-foot warehouse will have capacity for more than 1 million tires ranging from passenger sizes to large off-the-road tires. It will employ more than 200.
BFS will relocate its Memhis, Tenn., distribution to the new facility, once it is completed, the company said.
The new building will be located on state Highway 109, near Interstates 840 and 40.
“By moving the distribution from our smaller Memphis facility, we can centralize our systems within the state and the region,” said Nelson Miller, director of distribution.
All BFS employees and the majority of contractors in Memphis will be offered jobs at the new distribution center along with a relocation package., BFS said. Those who chose not to move will receive a severance package. The 400,0000-sq.-ft. Memphis facility employs 40 BFS workers and 30 third-party contractors.
The Memphis facility will be phased out as the Lebanon location opens, a BFS spokeswoman said. BFS owns that building and the spokeswoman said the company is looking at options as to what to do with it.