Palmer Transport Doubles N.C. Operations

Furniture World News

Specialized furniture carrier Palmer Transport Corp. has expanded its operations in North Carolina and added transportation veteran Rowland Branham to head up its rapidly growing Eastern region. Palmer opened its North Carolina terminal in Archdale last October and added Branham as executive vice president in May. Since then, the company has doubled its North Carolina facility, expanding from 14 doors to 28 doors and from 20,000 to 40,000 square feet. Branham, who has 27 years’ experience in transportation, previously held senior management positions with specialized furniture carriers W&L Motor Lines and Shelba D. Johnson Trucking. Don Palmer, president and owner of Palmer Transport, said the timing was right for the North Carolina expansion. “Despite a downturn in the furniture industry last year, we had a record year, and we’re running about 34% ahead of that for this year,” Palmer said. Palmer noted that the company is the only specialized furniture carrier with company-operated terminals in North Carolina and near the port of Long Beach, Calif. “By having these strategic locations on both coasts, we are able to serve both the domestic and import needs of our growing customer base,” Palmer said. Another important benefit of the expansion, he noted, is that the company also is able to offer manufacturers and retailers on both coasts easy, no-hassle movement for “return to vendor” merchandise. Palmer attributed the company’s growth to its quality personnel and major programs with manufacturers such as Thomasville, Hooker, Lexington and Vaughan-Bassett. “Palmer is an operations-driven company,” he said, “and all managers make sure our employees understand and live by our creed: “Quality, Control, Focus and Execution: The benchmark of our very existence.”’