Chris Woods News

A Bartlett-based trucking firm is part of the revitalization of the former Mall of Memphis site.

RDX — a freight shipping and trucking company — has plans to build an 11,000-square-foot headquarters and terminal at 4590 American Way next to the TAG Truck Center.

Roumen Denkov, president and co-owner of RDX, said the $9 million development will be built on 41 acres purchased from TAG.

The project was slated to begin in June 2020 but was paused because of COVID-19. Construction is now set to start in April 2021, with a completion in early 2022.

Dee Tchoparov, VP and co-owner of RDX, said the new headquarters is critical because RDX has outgrown its current 5,000-square-foot facility at 7731 Hwy. 70 in Bartlett.

“Our plan is for the next two or three years — in just the office — to add another 15 jobs, which would be a 50% increase,” Tchoparov said.

RDX chose American Way because it will allow them to be closer to the city’s industrial area.

“Our current location is on the northeast side of town,” Denkov said. “Every time drivers need to come to the office and go back to get a load, it takes a lot more time and fuel. With the new location, everything will be a lot closer.”

Denkov and Tchoparov are from Bulgaria, immigrating to the U.S. in the 1990s. The men met, became friends, and later decided to look into starting a trucking company — but had no experience.

To learn the sector, they bought a truck and drove it around the U.S. for four years. RDX was formed in May 2011.

RDX now serves 48 states with a fleet of 90 owner-operator trucks. The firm has 24 office staff and 92 drivers.

At the old Mall of Memphis site, RDX has the option to build on nine more acres to support future growth.

Chris Woods Construction Co., Inc. is serving as the general contractor for this project.