Pallets in Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills has facilities of more than 50 automotive companies, and its offices host 80,000 people on a workday.
What is here
- OEM
- Stellantis North America headquarters
- Suppliers
- BorgWarner, Autoliv, PHINIA and GKN Driveline
- Glass
- Guardian
- ZIPs
- 48309, 48326
Of the Oakland County cities, Auburn Hills has the strongest case for real supplier docks, because its automotive companies run facilities as well as offices. Drivetrain, safety and fuel-system parts leave from here, and so does glass.
The mix of freight
| Product family | What it implies for pallets |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain and driveline (GKN, BorgWarner) | Heavy, dense parts; block pallets and sound Grade B |
| Safety systems (Autoliv) | Light, bulky cartons; standard 48 x 45 or 48 x 40 |
| Fuel systems (PHINIA) | Mid-weight, often with returnable containers |
| Glass (Guardian) | Racks and specialized stillages, plus standard pallets for packing |
Why scheduled pickups work here
A cluster of docks within a short drive of each other is the situation a pallet buyer wants: one truck, several stops, a known set of sizes. Each supplier produces a steady trickle, and none needs a full trailer. Dock programs describes the arrangement.
Questions from Auburn Hills suppliers
We serve more than one automaker. Are our pallets mixed?
Likely. Customers specify different sizes, so a split by size before pickup saves time.
A glass line uses racks, not pallets. Is there still stock?
Yes: the pallets that carry packing materials and spare parts into the building.
Is a headquarters campus a source?
Rarely in volume. The campus buildings receive equipment and supplies, which leave a small, clean pile now and then.
Dense with neighbors
With over fifty automotive companies' facilities in one city, a pickup rarely stops at a single address. Naming the next building over is useful, not a distraction.
Offices full of people
Eighty thousand people work in Auburn Hills offices on a weekday, and each office receives deliveries. The sheer headcount means a steady trickle of pallets of supplies and equipment through the building dock, and that trickle is easy to overlook. A facility manager who counts a week of empties may be surprised.
Alongside the offices, the supplier plants are where the larger counts sit. A request that tells which kind of site it comes from helps a buyer plan the stop.
Parking lots as docks
Some office tenants take deliveries in the parking lot. Say where the pile is, and whether a truck can reach it.
Campuses
Corporate campuses have loading docks off the public roads. Give the dock gate.