Detroit, MI - W.F. Whelan Company (Detroit, Head Office)
W.F. Whelan Company, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, has a long-standing history dating back to its founding in 1974 by its namesake president. What began as a modest customs brokerage firm serving the automotive sector has evolved into a full-service third-party logistics provider with a robust footprint across North America. The company emphasizes its roots as a family-owned business, maintaining Michigan-based values while expanding its global reach to support a diverse range of industries and customers.
The organization highlights its ISO 9001:2015 certification and C-TPAT status, underscoring its commitment to quality management and secure, compliant logistics operations. W.F. Whelan operates with a substantial warehousing presence—over 1.5 million square feet—designed to support a variety of logistics needs, including foreign-trade zones (FTZ), bonded container freight station activities, consolidation, and general warehousing. Its capabilities extend to NVOCC services, JIT distribution, light assembly, and quality inspection and containment, reflecting a broad spectrum of value-added offerings suitable for automotive suppliers, importers, and exporters alike.
As one of the larger 3PL providers in the Detroit metropolitan area, W.F. Whelan emphasizes its global reach through worldwide facilities and operations. The company maintains strong relationships with carriers and partners, aiming to reduce total landed costs for importers and exporters while delivering reliable customs clearance and freight forwarding services. Their historical focus on the automotive industry remains a core competency, yet the organization positions itself as a versatile logistics partner across sectors by providing customized distribution and supply chain solutions.
W.F. Whelan stresses its family-oriented culture and Michigan-based roots as foundational elements of its service philosophy. The firm points to a workforce equipped with modern tools, training, and a safety-focused work environment as critical to achieving accurate, efficient operations and world-class customer service. The company’s portfolio includes services that support complex supply chains, including FTZ operations, bonded facilities, warehousing, and distribution—capabilities that are aligned with manufacturers, parts suppliers, and third-party logistics users seeking reliable, compliant, and scalable logistics solutions.
Clients evaluate W.F. Whelan on a track record spanning more than four decades, with claims of competitive pricing, responsive customer service, and a broad network of national and international partners. The firm highlights its status as a trusted member of multiple industry associations and its ongoing commitment to high standards of quality and security within the logistics ecosystem. Overall, W.F. Whelan positions itself as a North American 3PL partner capable of handling import and export processing, customs brokerage, warehousing, materials management, and distribution needs through a consolidated, full-service platform.
