Matheson Sets Five-Year Growth Plan To Expand Utilization Capacity 60 Percent

MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Matheson Flight Extenders Division President Glen Gates announced today at the Air Cargo America Conference that the company has established a five-year strategic plan beginning in 2014 designed to grow and diversify the business by more than 60 percent through 2019. The company plan includes acquiring new commercial customers in areas served by its 16-city network of air cargo terminals in the U.S. as well as by expanding existing relationships.

"We have the infrastructure in place today to ramp up operations around the clock at all of our locations, enabling us to potentially triple our current package handling volume and keep pace with expected future demand as business activity continues to increase in a post-recessionary market," Mr. Gates said. "Last year we processed over 600 million pounds of high priority shipments, and we are already seeing an early and steady rise in package traffic this fall." 

To cope with this annual holiday spike, Matheson will hire more than 300 part-time workers during November and December as Priority Mail and commercial package volumes grow through the Christmas shopping season.  At the same time, the company is placing a priority on hiring returning veterans to honor their service and give them a head start back into the workforce.

According to Mr. Gates, "Customer confidence is returning to the market after an extended period of near stagnation. Domestic manufacturing is up, and international shipments have increased.  These and other noteworthy factors are a cause for optimism." 

For example, on July 30, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released June figures showing a 1.2% year-on-year expansion in global air-freight demand. Although weak, IATA said this is an improvement when compared to the 0.9% year-on-year demand growth recorded in May and the 0.1% growth realized over the first half of the year. 

"Given these positive signs down the road, if a commercial firm wants to catch the next wave of industry and economic expansion, now is the time to establish a relationship with a reliable physical distribution company with a track record of on-time performance and the capacity to handle both small or large shipping needs."

Matheson has consistently maintained a 99 percent or above on time performance level (99.9 with USPS, 99.9 percent with DHL, 99.5 percent with Asiana Airlines and 99.4 percent with FedEx).

About the Company

Established in 1972, Matheson Flight Extenders is in a unique position to provide a comprehensive range of ground support and terminal handling services to its customers. With some 500 highly trained and experienced employees, plus 1,500 pieces of rolling stock (trucks and package handling equipment), the company can meet the needs of shippers looking for an established firm to quickly and efficiently load and unload air containers, provide surface drayage, scanning, sorting, handling and weighing packages.

Matheson Flight Extenders has secure on-airport operations in Anchorage, Alaska; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; Billings and Great Falls, Montana; Boise, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Parent company Matheson Trucking, Inc., founded in 1964, offers specialized hauling, time sensitive material handling and transportation, less-than-truckload freight delivery, underwing airport operations, and terminal handling services. Matheson Trucking is a privately-held, family owned and operated company with headquarters in Sacramento, California. The company manages a fleet of over 2,700 tractors, trailers, and aircraft ground support equipment, as well as maintenance facilities across the Western United States. The four company divisions include: Matheson Postal Services (serving the U.S. Postal Service since 1964), Matheson Mail Transportation (transport for USPS in Northern California) and Matheson Environmental Services (MES), as well as Matheson Flight Extenders.

For more information, go to: www.mathesoninc.com or contact Glen Gates via email ([email protected]) or by phone (916-504-4770 office or 916-704-3429 cell) to schedule an appointment or to arrange for a company overview and capabilities presentation.

SOURCE Matheson