By Maggie Stem Jeremy Rayl had long held the dream of building a facility that would help his growing trucking company expand and attract the top personnel in Northeast Ohio. J. Rayl Transport Inc. realized its late chief executive's dream recently when it celebrated the completion of a $2.5 million renovation of its Akron, Ohio, headquarters that will not only help the company recruit and grow, but also anchor an area of its city in desperate need of economic development and renovation. The restoration project involved transforming a long-empty and neglected docking area into a contemporary workstation with high ceilings, natural light and exposed metal girders, among other things. The company repurposed rooms at the former front entry so its drivers can unwind, eat, watch TV, shower, do laundry and change clothes after long stretches on the road. There are separate locker and shower facilities for female drivers. The family-owned firm employs 250 people in Akron, with another 150 working at terminals in Indiana, Virginia, and Texas. The company now has the capacity both inside and outside to increase those figures. The project also secures the facility, at Triplett Boulevard and Arlington Street, as a major commercial anchor in an area of the city that desperately needs more economic development and renovation. The improved amenities and additional space also help the company recruit and keep office staff and drivers at a time when businesses of all types are having difficulty filling positions. J. Rayl, a company founded by two drivers, has always prioritized treating its drivers well. During the pandemic, it boosted salaries and instituted signing and retention bonuses. Drivers typically make between $60,000 and $80,000, with some making more than $100,000. Years of planning for this began under the leadership and vision of Rayl, the company's late chief executive who died in 2017 at the age of 39. The Jeremy M. Rayl Transportation & Logistics Center is named in his honor. Finishing the headquarters is the company's latest effort improve its business and innovate. Click this link to view available driver jobs at JRayl: https://rb.gy/v66lg6