Alabama Coverage Area

With five fully staffed service centers located across the state, ArcBest^® offers logistics solutions to or from almost any point in Alabama. For information about our transportation and logistics services or to book a shipment, call ArcBest customer support at 800-610-5544.

Key Facts about Alabama

• Population — 4,858,990 in 2015
• Unemployment rate — 5.8 percent in 2015
• Sales tax rate — 4 percent
• Corporate income tax rate — 6.5 percent
• Income tax rate — From 2 to 5 percent, based on filing status
   

Commercial History

As the state where the Wright Brothers established the country’s first civilian flight school, Alabama continues to be known for flight. Over 400 companies related to aviation and aeronautics conduct business in the state. These industries not only provide manufacturing jobs, but educational opportunities as well, including a first-class flight school and a four-year degree at Auburn University.

Along with aviation, Alabama has a rich history with many other industries. Mining, agriculture, auto manufacturing and tourism are all vital to the state. With a diverse industrial base and a major seaport, Alabama is a beneficial connection point for industries all over the globe.

State Economic Growth

Farming and agriculture contribute significantly to business in Alabama. A little more than 80 percent of the state’s annual agriculture production comes through livestock products such as cattle and poultry. The state is also leader in the production of other agricultural products like cotton, plant nursery items, peanuts, cotton, corn, vegetables, milk, soybeans and peaches.

Though much of Alabama is dedicated to farming and agriculture, manufacturing facilities account for a large portion of the state’s jobs and revenue. The expanded automotive manufacturing industry, for example, has provided a boost to the state’s economic growth and has generated more than 67,800 new jobs in the state since the early 1990s.

With more than 20 million visitors to the state each year due to beach and tourist traffic, lodging and tourism is also important to Alabama’s economy. The state’s top tourist attraction, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and other attractions like white-sand beaches, college football, the USS Alabama and the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham, keep Alabama consistently ranked among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Mining also produces some revenue for the state, with Alabama being a leading producer of bauxite and marble. Coal, natural gas and limestone are other key mining products. Additionally, iron and steel production and commercial fishing are significant contributors to the state’s economy.

Business Incentives

With low federal, state and local taxes, and low property and corporate tax rates, Alabama ranks as one of the least tax-burdened states in the country. It has been recognized each year as one of the top states in which to do business.

Alabama has a lower cost of living compared to the rest of the United States and has a healthy home and commercial real estate market. Considering those factors, along with the state not assessing an inventory tax on goods, Alabama is an attractive location for businesses.

Transportation Options

Alabama’s infrastructure offers thousands of miles of roadways, along with plenty of air and water access. The state has two international airports — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Huntsville International Airport — six interstate highways, and 19 federal highways that total nearly 5,000 miles. There are also five Class I railways, a daily Amtrak passenger train that makes stops in Anniston, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and a large port system that includes the Port of Mobile, which is the only deep-water port in the state.