Warehousing, High-Bay & Inventory Staging
Warehousing is the strategic anchor of modern supply chains, holding $2+ trillion of U.S. business inventory at any given moment. AFL Logistics operates over 3.2 million square feet of Class-A distribution space across West Michigan, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, the Inland Empire, and Harrisburg — totaling more than 450,000 pallet positions. Whether you require overflow storage during peak automotive runs or long-term finished-goods staging, every AFL facility operates under a computerized warehouse management system (WMS) with real-time barcode inventory control, lot tracking, and FIFO/FEFO rotation.
The Market Behind the Service
Understanding the forces shaping this segment is the first step to engineering a better supply chain.
The U.S. warehousing market exceeded $25 billion in 2023 and continues to grow as e-commerce, nearshoring, and supply chain resilience strategies drive demand for flexible storage. Industrial vacancy rates have tightened to historic lows in major markets, making contracted capacity increasingly valuable.
Modern warehouse management systems (WMS) integrate with ERP and TMS platforms via EDI and APIs, enabling real-time inventory visibility, automated putaway logic, and wave-based order fulfillment. AFL's WMS supports full EDI 940/943/945 transaction sets.
Food-grade and pharmaceutical storage require specialized certifications — AIB International sanitation standards, FSMA compliance, and temperature mapping — that most general warehouses cannot provide. AFL's food-grade facilities are AIB-certified across all relevant hubs.
Core Capabilities
What AFL Delivers
High-Bay Pallet Racking
Selective, push-back, and drive-in racking systems engineered for dense storage of 450,000+ pallet positions with narrow-aisle reach truck access.
Food-Grade & AIB Certified Storage
AIB International certified sanitation, pest control, and allergen segregation for FDA-regulated food, beverage, and ingredient storage.
Pick, Pack & Kitting
Full eCommerce fulfillment with UPC labeling, custom kitting, promotional assembly, and direct-to-consumer or B2B order shipping.
Inventory Staging & JIT Sequencing
Just-in-time staging for automotive and industrial manufacturing, with sequenced line-feed delivery to assembly plants within tight time windows.
Bonded & Hazmat Storage
Customs-bonded warehousing for in-bond import storage and HAZMAT-compliant segregation for flammable, corrosive, and regulated materials.
Operational Specifications
- Over 450,000 Pallet Positions in West MI, Chicago, Dallas & Atlanta
- AIB International Food-Grade Certified Sanitation
- High-Density Push-Back and Drive-In Pallet Racking
- Custom Kitting, Pick & Pack, and UPC Labeling
- 24/7 Security Video Surveillance & Access Control
- WMS with Real-Time Barcode Inventory & Lot Tracking
- FIFO/FEFO/LIFO Inventory Rotation Logic
- EDI 940 (Warehouse Shipping Order) & 945 (Warehouse Shipping Advice)
Equipment & Assets
How It Works
The AFL Service Process
Inbound Receiving & Inspection
Trailers are unloaded, pallets are counted against the ASN (EDI 856), inspected for damage, and scanned into the WMS with lot/date capture.
Putaway & Slotting
The WMS directs putaway to optimal slots based on velocity, temperature zone, and hazmat segregation, with barcode confirmation at each location.
Inventory Management
Real-time cycle counts, FIFO/FEFO rotation, lot tracking, and automated reorder alerts keep inventory accurate and compliant.
Pick, Pack & Outbound
Orders release as waves, with pick-path optimization, packing, UPC labeling, and outbound shipping via EDI 945 to your TMS/ERP.
Why AFL Stands Out
3.2M+ sq. ft. of owned and operated facilities — not subcontracted third-party space — gives you contracted capacity even in tight markets.
AIB food-grade certification at multiple hubs means one provider handles ambient, refrigerated, and food-grade storage under one contract.
Real-time WMS with EDI 940/943/945 integration means your ERP sees inventory the moment it moves, not on a nightly batch.
JIT sequencing for automotive and industrial accounts — AFL stages and sequences parts to feed assembly lines within minute-level windows.
Compliance & Certifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Warehousing & Storage FAQs
What types of goods can AFL store?
How is inventory tracked?
Do you offer food-grade storage?
Can you handle JIT manufacturing staging?
Is my inventory secure?
Related Services & Solutions
Explore More AFL Capabilities
Pair Warehousing & Storage with complementary freight, storage, and fulfillment services to build a unified, end-to-end supply chain under a single master services agreement.
Full Truckload (FTL) & Dedicated Fleet
High-capacity point-to-point transit across all 48 states, Canada, and Mexico corridors.
Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) & Volume LTL
Optimized pallet shipping with consolidated pricing and zero re-handling.
Cross-Docking & Transloading Hubs
Eliminate warehouse holding costs with direct dock-to-dock sorting.
Cold Chain & Refrigerated Logistics
Continuous -20°F to 65°F climate maintenance for food & perishables.
Intermodal Rail Freight & Rail Spurs
Cost-effective, sustainable long-haul freight linking Midwest manufacturing.
Ready to Engineer Your Warehousing & Storage?
Talk directly with our senior freight engineers in West Michigan.