DHL Express is looking to add around 400 new jobs in the US due to a double-digit increase in volumes compared with last year.
The express company said volumes had "significantly increased" in recent months due to a spike in online shopping as people were stuck at home due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Urgent shipments such as masks, gloves and other PPE also contributed to "Holiday-season-like volumes", which came without the usual preseason
preparation time for the peak.
At the DHL Express Americas Hub (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport), the company is adding about 150 jobs to handle the 30% year-over-year volume increase.
At the company’s gateway at the Miami International Airport about 30 jobs are being added to account for a higher volume than last year, which is expected to increase another 22% with the implementation of a new Hong Kong – Los Angeles – Miami flight in late May.
This new flight from Asia, scheduled to run in-bound five times per week, will add approximately 45 more tons of capacity per flight.
Similarly, DHL Express’ gateway at O'Hare International will require more than 50 permanent employees to respond to a 25% volume increase year-over-year in 2020.
The company "expects shipment volumes to remain high as businesses restock inventory to prepare for re-openings".
The new jobs to be filled in the coming weeks include permanent full- and part-time opportunities in direct management, clearance and gateway operations, pick-up and delivery service, and ramp and sorting operations throughout the US.
“Inbound shipment volume is booming, particularly from Asia,” said Greg Hewitt, chief executive for DHL Express US.
“Our customers are relying on us to deliver their shipments, whether it’s personal protective equipment (PPE) or home necessities, so we must add staff at our hubs, gateways and on the road to continue providing our customers with excellent service.
“Our challenge this year is that we’re seeing peak volumes in the summer, which is a nontraditional time. We normally have time to prep for peak season,” said Hewitt.
