Page 8 - World Trade Center - 2024

“Delaware is a small state in a great
location — it is right in the middle of
two of the biggest markets in the
United States without being in the
middle of their congestion.”
– Finn Roden, President, AutoPort
Another established business is
AutoPort, Inc., which has been processing
vehicles for shipping by original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) or private owners for
43 years. AutoPort also handles construc-
tion equipment, agriculture machinery and
breakbulk cargos carried on car/truck roll-
on/roll-off vessels. The company has moved
military cargo for U.S.-flagged vessels calling
at the Port of Wilmington as well.
“Basically, AutoPort is the reason the Port
of Wilmington has car/truck roll-on/roll-off
vessel calls and any OEM vehicle cargos,”
said Finn Roden, president of AutoPort.
“Our primary business has been in shipping
vehicles and roll-on/roll-off cargos to the
Middle East and Africa markets. Vehicles
are then shipped to their destination by
ocean carriers” such as Hoegh Autoliners
and Grimaldi.
Approximately 95% of AutoPort’s busi-
ness is export, but there is some domestic
distribution that is handled via AutoPort’s
privately owned rail spurs served exclu-
sively by Norfolk Southern.
A good deal of AutoPort’s success is due
to its longstanding reputation for quality,
Roden said. “It is our people and it is our
processes that define us. Also, there is defi-
nitely a higher level of customer service here
JAMES SNELL
Business Manager
TOM REDDEN
Financial Sec. - Treasurer
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WORLD TRADE CENTER® DELAWARE 2024 | WTCDE.ORG
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUTO PORT INC.
because we are a smaller port.”
That small size is also an advantage
in terms of communicating with partners
in government. “We can send a message
to [the state capital of] Dover and get
a response very quickly,” Roden said.
“Delaware is a small state in a great
location — it is right in the middle of
two of the biggest markets in the United
States without being in the middle of their
congestion.” «