CRST Flatbed Solutions, a transportation company focused on flatbed trucking, announced Wednesday that it is creating a new headquarters in Birmingham that will employ 52 people.
The relocation involves the construction of a 23,361 square foot building that represents a $5.14 million investment by CRST. The headquarters will be located in Birmingham’s Daniel Payne Industrial Park.
Moving to the new Birmingham headquarters will be 42 current CRST employees, including many who currently work at the business’ current Alabama locations. The company also plans to add 10 new positions to fill out their staff at the site.
CRST’s new HQ “will house training, education and orientation programs, provide safe parking and overnight facilities for drivers while in transit and offer state-of-the-art maintenance facilities for both CRST drivers and contractors,” per a release.
Some of the employees being moved to the new Birmingham location currently work at a CRST maintenance facility in St. Clair County. The employees at the company’s corporate office in Birmingham will also work out of the new Daniel Payne site when it is completed.
“We welcome CRST Flatbed Solutions as our newest corporate citizen and appreciate the working relationship we have established with this company as our Daniel Payne site became the favored expansion location,” remarked Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin in a statement provided by the Birmingham Business Alliance.
CRST has a long history in the Magic City area. Its predecessor, Malone Freight Lines, was founded there in 1928 before being acquired by CRST in 1985. The national headquarters of CRST is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons believes the CRST decision reflects Jefferson County’s “increasing presence in transportation and logistics.”
Work has been ongoing on the CRST expansion and relocation since 2018. A 10-year abatement on sales and use tax and property tax, approved by the Birmingham Industrial Development Board, is part of the company’s decision to stay in Alabama and expand.
“It was an easy decision to stay in Birmingham,” stated CRST President and CEO Hugh Ekberg, adding, “we are thrilled with the additional advantages the new location and facilities will offer for our employees, independent contractors and customers.”
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
