JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville-based maritime company just secured two major new contracts — including a $2.2 billion Navy deal — and the work could shape both the local economy and U.S. military readiness for years to come.
TOTE Services LLC, which stands for Totem Ocean Trailer Express, was selected by the U.S. Navy and awarded the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) contract. The award covers up to eight Medium Landing Ships and names TOTE Services as the vessel construction manager (VCM). A separate company will handle the physical construction of the ships in Philadelphia.
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From Alaska to Jacksonville — and now the Navy
TOTE started in Seattle, Washington and Alaska before expanding its footprint to Jacksonville, Puerto Rico and the military sector. Today, the company also operates TOTE Logistics and TOTE Terminals at JAXPORT.
Beyond the new Navy contract, TOTE already moves 3.6 billion pounds of goods between Puerto Rico and Jacksonville every year — a round-trip operation that keeps supply chains running around the clock.
A ‘pretty exciting week’ seven years in the making
Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services LLC and a former U.S. Coast Guard captain, said the back-to-back contract wins were the result of years of preparation.
“Last week was a pretty exciting week,” Dixon said.
Dixon described the company’s culture as a key ingredient in its growth. “I think TOTE is an employer of choice — a company of integrity that genuinely cares about its people,” he said.
A Florida native, Dixon said working in the maritime industry while supporting the military branch he once served gives him a unique sense of purpose.
Jacksonville’s role in a growing U.S. maritime industry
Dixon said the contracts are more than a business milestone — they reflect a broader national trend.
“The U.S. maritime industry is growing leaps and bounds, and that’s an amazing story. Tremendous opportunity,” Dixon said.
Giving back to the Jacksonville community
TOTE’s impact stretches beyond the waterfront. The company supports several local organizations, including Hugs St. Johns, Blessings in a Backpack, Lend a Wing at UNF and school supply drives for students at Pickett Elementary.