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	Fleetguard's Western Distribution Center is Officially Open
	24 MAR 04 -- Fleetguard officially began shipping from its new Salt Lake City, Utah Western Distribution Center on Monday - processing approximately a third of its ultimate volume. All Western U.S. customers will be served by the new facility by March 29. Since late 2003, Fleetguard logistics employees have been transitioning operations from the Reno, Nevada warehouse and preparing for the official start-up of warehouse operations including: building preparation, installation of racking and equipment, receiving inventory, intensive employee training and mock shipment exercises. The transition from Fleetguard's Nevada center to the Utah facility provides Fleetguard with two major warehouse sites on both sides of the continent to serve U.S. customers more effectively. Fleetguard's Eastern Distribution Center in Hebron, Kentucky serves the eastern two-thirds of the United States, and the new Western Distribution Center in Salt Lake City, Utah is located central to the western one-third of the United States. The final day of shipping from the Reno warehouse is March 29, at which point the new Salt Lake City warehouse will fully stock to serve ongoing customer demand for the western region, explained Gloria Hoselton, Executive Director -- Logistics for Fleetguard. "We are using the same processes for planning, replenishment and control as in the Nevada facility," Hoselton said. "Our Logistics Inventory Planning team will send product to Salt Lake City based on demand to keep stock levels flowing in a timely and efficient manner. We are very pleased that the new operation is going to greatly enhance service to our customers in this region." The first inventory was received into the Salt Lake City Distribution Center on March 8, with all employees trained through mock exercises to receive, pick and ship product. "All receipts and product moves were audited for quality assurance and inventory integrity, and will continue to be monitored," Hoselton said. "Mock orders were picked by the shipping area and then restocked by receiving employees for three consecutive days before actual shipping gets underway." "We are grateful to our Reno employees for 15 years of dedicated service," Hoselton added. "Their commitment to our customers has been exemplary, and we appreciate all of their help in the transition to Salt Lake City." Roger Rasmussen is manager of the new Salt Lake City Distribution Center, which has 19 employees.