Cargo Business Newswire

Wednesday October 1, 2014

Port of Savannah doubles Toyota export business

The Port of Savannah has doubled its Toyota export business, now that the company is shipping Highlander SUVs to Australia and New Zealand through the port’s Ocean Terminal, according to the Georgia Ports Authority.

"The efficiency and world-class customer service at our roll-on/roll-off facilities in Savannah and Brunswick have made GPA a trusted name in the movement of vehicles and heavy equipment," said Curtis Foltz, GPA executive director. "Combined, our terminals moved more than 700,000 cars, trucks and tractors last fiscal year, and we’re on track to beat that record in FY2015."

Toyota started exporting Venza crossovers through the Port of Brunswick to Eastern Europe a year and a half ago, the statement said.

"The collaboration among the GPA, WWL, Vehicle Services Americas, and Norfolk Southern with Toyota made this move from concept to reality within an incredibly abbreviated time frame," aid Corinne Akahoshi, national manager of marine logistics operations at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "We had great confidence that with the GPA as a partner, the project would get done."

The port authority said the Highlander vehicles will arrive in Savannah via Norfolk Southern, and staged at Ocean Terminal prior to export. The GPA recently completed paving an additional five acres at the terminal, bringing the total terminal space for roll-on/roll-off cargo to 40 acres. Craig Kessler, director of breakbulk and bulk operations, said four to 10 acres would be devoted to Toyota staging, depending on shipping schedules.

More Newswire stories

Con-way Freight to boost driver wages

Port of Seattle and Corps of Engineers split $3M dredging study cost

MSC alliance to save Maersk $350M annually

Update: Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd ship collision delays Suez traffic

Today's Cargo News Archives