Distribution centers and 3PLs on I-85 and I-77 receive single-trip boxes with inbound freight and keep a few dozen for returns and internal moves. Clear the surplus through one request; keep what you need.
Logistics is the region's engine
About 89,000 people work in logistics and distribution in the Charlotte region, including 27,000 in warehousing (source). The region is served by two major railroads and four major interstates, and Norfolk Southern's 200-acre intermodal terminal at Charlotte Douglas was designed for 200,000 lifts a year (source). All that freight arrives in boxes, and some of the boxes are gaylords.
What a DC does with them
A distribution center unloads inbound freight and ends up with empties. Some are single trip boxes: dry, square and rated. Some are stacked at the dock for weeks. The common mistake is to bale all of them. Most of them are still containers. A DC also keeps a stock of boxes for returns, internal moves and damaged-freight handling, and some of that stock can come from the same stack.
Sort at the dock
Type
Keep
Sell
Bale
Grade A, dry
Some for returns
Surplus
No
Grade B
Some for internal moves
Surplus
No
Grade C
For one-way use
Surplus
If crushed
Wet or torn
No
No
OCC
Footprints
Most DC freight comes on 48 x 40 pallets, and the boxes match. Others are 48 x 48. Group by footprint so the count is clear. Mixed stacks are fine, as long as they are described by footprint and wall count in the request.
The sell request
The sell hub lists what to send. For a steady weekly flow, say so; for a one-time clean-out, say that. If part of the stack is OCC, the recycling page shows how to flag it.
The buy request
Some DCs need boxes too: for returns, for ship-outs, for customers who ask for a specific footprint. Ask for the footprint and the wall count on the used boxes page.
Where this plays out
Concord and Kannapolis sit on I-85 in Cabarrus County, and Statesville is where I-40 and I-77 meet. Cabarrus County lists logistics and distribution first among its industries.
Start
Send your ZIP, the count and the footprint.
Where this lane runs
The plan for this site names these places as running logistics and distribution. Each links to its own page, with ZIPs and neighbors.
CharlotteTransportation and logistics. The I-85 and I-77 junction; Norfolk Southern's 200-acre intermodal terminal at Charlotte Douglas replaced a 40-acre downtown yard. Send your ZIP.
ConcordShipping and transportation, food distribution. Employers named include Celgard, Sysco, S&D Coffee, Shoe Show and Roush Fenway Racing. ZIP 28025, 28026, 28027.
SalisburyGrocery distribution, pet food fulfillment. Food Lion's headquarters; Chewy announced a 700,000 square foot facility in 2019. ZIP 28144, 28146, 28147.
MooresvilleHome improvement retail headquarters. More than 60 NASCAR teams and racing businesses; Lowe's corporate headquarters. ZIP 28115, 28117.
StatesvilleLogistics and distribution, food distribution. I-40 and I-77 intersect in the northeast of the city. ZIP 28625, 28677, 28687.
HickoryThird-party logistics, data centers. Forty percent of the world's fiber-optic cable is made in the Hickory area; Shurtape, CommScope and Corning are employers. ZIP 28601, 28602, 28603.
Rock HillRetail. Hyosung, 3D Systems and Atlas Copco have headquarters or North American headquarters here. ZIP 29730, 29731, 29732, 29733, 29734.
Fort MillEquipment rental. Area businesses include Domtar, Schaeffler, Sunbelt Rentals and Daimler Trucks North America. ZIP 29715, 29716, 29708.
CloverDistribution and electronic commerce. York County town near Lake Wylie and the Gaston County line. ZIP 29710.
Mecklenburg CountyTransportation and logistics. The county the region's labor and freight revolve around; Norfolk Southern's intermodal terminal sits inside Charlotte Douglas airport between two runways. Send your ZIP.
Cabarrus CountyLogistics and distribution. I-85 county northeast of Charlotte; major employers named by the regional partnership include Amazon, Corning, Lilly, FedEx and Hendrick Motorsports. ZIP 28025, 28026, 28027, 28081, 28082, 28083, 28075.
Rowan CountyFood and beverage processing and distribution. Further up I-85; Food Lion's headquarters is in Salisbury and Daimler Truck North America is a major county employer. ZIP 28144, 28146, 28147.
Iredell CountyLogistics and distribution. Where I-77 meets I-40; employers listed include Cheney Brothers, Denso, Doosan, Kewaunee, NGK, Sherwin Williams and Trane Technologies. ZIP 28115, 28117, 28625, 28677, 28687.
York County, SCDistribution and electronic commerce. South Carolina side of I-77; logistics and transportation is 7.7% of employment and production 6.8%, per the regional partnership. ZIP 29730, 29731, 29732, 29733, 29734, 29715, 29716, 29708, 29745, 29710.
Questions from the dock
Can a distribution center sell its single-trip boxes?
Yes. Single trip boxes that stayed dry keep most of their value. Describe them in the sell request.
Do you take mixed stacks?
Yes, described by footprint and wall count. Say which part is reusable and which is OCC.
How do I describe a weekly flow?
Say the count per week and the footprint. A steady flow is easier to match than a one-time pile.
Request gaylords or a pickup
Count, footprint and wall count are enough to start.