FedEx brings jobs to Troutdale

FedEx Ground's new $100 million distribution center in Troutdale is said to employ over 700 workers, with hopes of reaching 1,000 in the future.

The part of the story that is being un-reported is how this expansion is being driven by a change in major retailers operations and how they supply their stores.

With using high-tech systems retailers are now able to track exactly what their stores are selling and then quickly re-supply those items from central warehouses rather than keeping large back-rooms loaded with inventory that in most part is not selling.

That brings us to the question of the retailers needing open highways and free flowing traffic that will allow the needed just-in-time delivery of those products consumers are wanting to buy.

And that brings us to the question of Oregon's antiquated roadways and the congestion they create and that problem being compounded with multi-hour road closing Traffic Accident Reconstruction Investigations that do little more than help Pubic Servant Investigators generate over-time incomes.

I guess we should not be surprised when we see more reports of continued decline in Oregon's economic condition.