COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE
Barnhart Transportation credits its operational success to its team members. The business employs 60 company drivers and 70 employees and has 110 independent contractors.
Family Owned Company Drives Innovative Transportation, Logistics Solutions Whether it’s helping to provide supplies to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering essential parts for area manufacturers or shipping priceless pieces of art for one of America’s wealthiest businessmen, Barnhart Transportation is a third-party logistics and transportation provider on the move. Headquartered at 9251 West Main Road in North East, Pennsylvania, just off Route 20, the family owned and operated business services customers not only in the United States, but also around the globe. Since 2003, brothers Bryan and Tim Barnhart have steered the company in the right direction by reinvesting in their operations and by staying focused on the road ahead. Their approach is putting them in the driver’s seat as the demand for the logistics industry is expected to rise $2.734 billion in 2020 to $3.215 billion by 2021. ‘Driven by You’
The Barnharts have pushed the limits of the competitive logistics and transportation industry by diversifying and expanding their services as much as possible. Today, the brothers own and operate seven standalone entities including Barnhart Transportation, their transportation and logistics firm with a fleet of 150 trucks; brokerage service Lakeshore Logistics; import/export freight forwarding service Lake Shore Global Solutions; warehousing service Lakeshore Warehousing; warehousing service Jet Park Warehousing; truck and trailer repair service Barnhart Fleet Maintenance; and, newest addition, the Route 20 Tank Wash.
The Barnharts also have a 25,000-square-foot warehouse and office facility near the Port of Charleston in South Carolina, one of the most historic seaports and busy centers of trade in the United States. Soon, the Barnharts will open a newly renovated 117,000-square-foot warehouse, office space and laydown yard on 28 acres there. The $5 million investment is expected to be a game-changer with a rail spur that will allow the operation to expand its customer service at all levels. “The drayage opportunities, transloading and port opportunities are growing substantially down there,” says Tim, the company’s chief financial officer, “and we’re trying to poise ourselves to be able to tackle and grow in that market.” In North East, Pennsylvania, the Barnharts are opening the new Route 20 Tank Wash, a commercial tank wash service, to the public this fall. With the number of food-grade and non-food grade processers in the NWPA area, the addition will meet the needs of their own operation and the demand in the region. The nearest tank washes are located 100 miles away or more. “Our whole goal with setting up all these businesses was to fill a need for our customers,” notes Tim, “but every one is logistics based or services the logistics industry — and there’s always a need.” The diversification of services has allowed the company to grow in its offerings and customer base, as well. The Barnharts service companies of nearly every size and industry, providing a vertical
The Barnharts have invested not only in NWPA, but also in highgrowth customer markets, particularly in the South and Southwest. For example, Texas hub Lake Shore Global Solutions services the company’s international business door to door anywhere in the world. It’s a licensed NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier) and ocean and air freight forwarder.
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SEPTEMBER 2020 • mbabizmag.com
Barnhart Transportation in North East, Pennsylvania, is one of seven logistics, transportation and warehousing operations operated by brothers Tim and Bryan Barnhart. The headquarters is located at 9251 West Main Road along the east-west Route 20 corridor.
