ROAR Logistics Continues Expansion into Southeast with New Florida Operations Center

BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global third-party logistics provider ROAR Logistics Inc. celebrated its 11^th anniversary this week by broadening its geographic reach, dipping farther into the fertile Southeast with the opening of operations in the Tampa Bay area, home of Florida's busiest port.

ROAR's new Florida Operations Center, based in Clearwater, continues a run of strategic acquisitions and expansion that began more than 18 months ago.  The new office provides the company and its customers direct access to myriad shipping opportunities through Port Tampa Bay, which handles nearly 40 percent of all cargo moving in and out of the state of Florida.  Shipments through the sprawling port embrace virtually every imaginable commodity from all corners of the earth.

Founded Oct. 1, 2003, ROAR Logistics offers a full spectrum of Rail, Ocean, Air and Road transportation services to an array of local, national and global customers.  The company is a subsidiary of global food manufacturer Rich Products Corp., headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Tampa Bay-area office gives ROAR its sixth U.S. location.  The new Southeast operation expands the availability of ROAR's comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions for customers around the nation seeking more-responsive, dynamic service offerings.

The Florida opening is the latest of several strategic business developments for ROAR.

In January 2013, ROAR opened its first office on the West Coast in Temecula, Calif., extending its reach into Mexico and positioning the company in proximity to the most-active ports in America, including Los Angeles and Long Beach.

In May 2014, ROAR purchased Phoenix-based Legend Transportation Group (LTG), a full-service, third-party logistics (3PL) provider known for its managed solutions model and online, Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipment solutions.  The acquisition of LTG added a significant new dimension to ROAR's service offerings, while reinforcing the company's presence in the West.

"ROAR lately has enjoyed a burst of growth into new, major markets, a trend we plan to continue," said Bob Rich III, ROAR Logistics' Founder and President.  "These recent moves place us in tremendous, strategic locations and provide new career opportunities for our associates.

"We felt the timing was right to stick our flag in Florida and build that location the way we have in Buffalo, Atlanta, Temecula, Phoenix and elsewhere," Rich continued.  "Being near Port Tampa Bay, we look to replicate the success we've had utilizing the major Southern California ports.  Tampa gives us a very strong port plus increased prospects for domestic inland service, especially for our national customers who already have a presence in Florida."

"Our new operation in Tampa will solidify our footprint within the Southeastern marketplace and present many additional growth opportunities for all our focus areas – intermodal, over-the-road, international and LTL," explained Tony Barnes, ROAR's Vice President of Operations.  "Our associates will have great opportunities to penetrate a large consumer market and focus on expanding an already-existing customer base, as well as developing new opportunities that complement our business around the country."

The new Florida Operations Center reports to Barnes, who is based in Atlanta.

Rich said ROAR will continue to set itself apart from other industry providers by focusing on its distinctive brand of boutique service.  "Our niche is high-quality transportation solutions with personalized customer service," he stated.

"I believe our affiliation with a major food company, Rich Products, gives us an insider's perspective that benefits our ROAR customers," Rich offered.  "We know what it's like to be a manufacturer and we understand the viewpoint of the shipper.  We're not just a transportation company.

"ROAR has all the service capabilities of the larger outfits, but then we outperform through the personal touch that only a customer-focused, family operation can provide.  And as we continue our growth strategy, we'll keep expanding our value-added services for customers."

About ROAR Logistics Inc.
Based in Buffalo, N.Y., ROAR Logistics is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in domestic truckload and intermodal "piggyback" transportation services and international ocean freight forwarding.  True to its name, ROAR delivers Rail, Ocean, Air and Road (truck) transportation and logistics solutions to a diverse clientele.  Through its unwavering commitment to world-class customer service, ROAR has raised the bar for other transportation service providers and captured widespread attention within the industry.

Founded by Bob Rich III on Oct. 1, 2003, as a subsidiary of Rich Products Corporation, ROAR has grown consistently, adding operations in Atlanta, Ga., Peoria, Ill., Temecula, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz., and Clearwater, Fla.  ROAR began with three full-time associates and now has more than 60 associates nationwide.  Its workforce is expected to top 70 professionals entering 2015.

For more information about ROAR Logistics, visit roarlogistics.com, Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE ROAR Logistics