El Paso Trucking Firm Opens $3 Million Terminal

An East El Paso trucking company opened its new, $3.1 million office facility and truck terminal July 14.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and other government officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Erives Enterprises' new, 10-acre terminal at 7180 Chino Drive, not far from its previous location at 1034 Humble, according to a news release issued by the city, county and Borderplex Alliance, a regional economic development organization.

The company will receive city and county property-tax rebates and other incentives over five years for building the new facility, which includes a 16,000-square-foot office facility. The terminal yard can hold 270 trailers and 140 trucks.

In return, it is to retain its 34 jobs in El Paso and add another 41 jobs over the next five years, the news release said. The company employs another 40 people in other locations.

Jose Erives, 38, who started the company in 2008 with one driver and one truck, said he considered putting the new terminal in Santa Teresa.

The incentives helped keep the facility in El Paso, he said.

The company, which has a lot of its business tied to the maquiladoras, or factories, in Mexico, will need to hire 20 to 30 qualified over-the-road truck drivers in the next few months and also needs diesel mechanics, Erives said. Drivers are paid 34 to 36 cents per mile, he said.

Leeser, in a statement, said his priority since taking office three years ago is to "support the retention and expansion of local businesses."

This expansion "is evidence that home-grown companies help grow our local economy while continuing to encourage our community's mobility," he said.