Mayor Greg Ballard joined executives from Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. has announced a major expansion of the company's regional hub in Indianapolis.

Old Dominion will invest nearly $22 million to upgrade and enhance its existing facility at 3915 W. Morris St. and will hire 183 new employees by 2014.

As part of the expansion, Old Dominion will be increasing the Indianapolis Service Center by more than 84,000 square feet ' from 223 doors to 325 doors, making it one of the largest centers in the company's network.

'Old Dominion's decision to expand its regional hub in Indianapolis is a testament to the fact that our superior location coupled with quality our infrastructure and strong labor pool provides an ideal place for logistics companies to thrive,' Ballard said.

Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Thomasville, N.C., Old Dominion is a less-than-truckload motor carrier that provides warehousing and distribution services for companies worldwide. Old Dominion operates 213 service centers nationwide and maintains several major regional hubs, including Indianapolis.

'Indianapolis is an important location for us, and this expanded facility will help us handle the increased freight volumes we've seen from customers,' said David Congdon, Old Dominion's president and CEO. 'As we continue to grow as a company, the expanded Indianapolis service center will play a vital role in how freight moves through the Midwestern region of the country.'

The company in recent quarters has seen a dramatic growth in shipments, including a 14 percent increase in the total tonnage moved during the second quarter of 2011. To handle this growth, the company is planning to spend $100 million to $120 million this year to purchase real estate and expand facilities throughout its network.

'Indiana's supportive business climate and strong logistics infrastructure has attracted the attention of industry leaders throughout the nation,' Gov. Mitch Daniels said. 'We are very pleased to add Old Dominion to a growing list of great companies that are choosing Indianapolis as the right place to expand their business.'

The company will begin hiring workers at an average wage of more than $20 per hour over the next few months to fill a variety of positions.