When USF Holland sought more energy-efficient lighting for its 53 terminals, it chose Orion Energy Systems, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient retrofit lighting platforms. The partnership with USF Holland solidifies Orion’s position as the leading expert in lighting solutions for the freight industry, having delivered improvements in safety, productivity and energy savings for 10 of the top 15 largest firms.

USF Holland Properties Manager Adam Rowe had previously selected Orion fixtures for several retrofit projects while employed at another national freight carrier. Given the strong return on investment, superior light quality and excellent customer service he experienced on those projects, Rowe again sought out Orion in his new role at USF Holland, the nation’s largest regional freight carrier operating in 15 Midwestern states.

A terminal in USF Holland retrofitted with Orion Energy LED lights. (Orion Energy/ LEDinside)

“When I joined Holland, I definitely saw the opportunity in our facilities that we could easily have a great return, not only in saving money, but also ensuring the safety of our employees and doing our part for the environment. We all need lights, so why not put the highest-efficiency lights in your facility? At USF Holland, that means Orion,” said Adam Rowe, Properties Manager, USF Holland.

To date, USF Holland has completed lighting upgrade projects at a dozen terminal sites. In just a few months, the trucking and logistics firm reduced its energy consumption by more than 30 percent and estimates it will save at least $330,000 annually.

“Our partnership with USF Holland is a great example of how Orion’s deep knowledge of the freight industry influences product designed specifically for these types of transportation environments, as well as shipping and staging to maximize ROI – in this case one third of a million dollars of energy savings already reinvested back into the business,” said John Scribante, Chief Executive Officer, Orion Energy Systems. “Orion has earned a reputation in the freight industry for fast delivery and responsive, reliable service, and that track record makes us a great match for these companies who share the same expectations from their own customers. We look forward to continuing our partnership to take more cost out of these buildings, and at the same time provide improvements in energy savings, safety and productivity which will serve the company and its employees for many years to come.”

Together, USF Holland and Orion analyzed not only the energy savings from upgrading to new fixtures, but also determined which terminals to target and the right mix of products to use to maximize Holland’s return on investment. Rowe selected Detroit for the first project, and Holland officers immediately gave positive feedback on the new lighting. Eleven terminals have now been upgraded to Orion lighting, featuring a combination of LED Troffer Retrofit fixtures for commercial offices, enclosed fixtures on docks, plus APOLLO® and ISON™ LED Exterior fixtures and controls.

“Before Orion, many of our sites had metal halide and high pressure sodium fixtures that made everything look dingy and yellow.” continued Rowe. “We have had a transformation in safety and morale since the Orion installation. The improvement of the overall quality and illumination of the docks and offices really brightened up the place. Our people comment on how it feels like we are bringing more natural light into the warehouses.”

In addition to the lighting retrofit projects, USF Holland also constructed a new 48,790 square-foot terminal on 23 acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where a combination of Orion LED and fluorescent fixtures were installed throughout the 110 dock door facility and an additional 16,000 square-foot maintenance building.