Illinois Coverage Area

Shippers moving freight through Illinois have access to service points across the state and to international destinations. ArcBest^® has multiple service centers throughout Illinois and can offer a wide range of transportation and logistics services to solve virtually any challenge. Call 800-610-5544 to learn more about our options.

State Facts

• Population — 12.8 million as of 2014
• Sales tax — 6.25 percent
• Unemployment rate — 6 percent as of 2015
• Income tax rate — 3.75 percent
   

Economic Landscape

The Illinois economy is the fifth largest in the country, and the state is a leader in many economic areas. Thirty-three Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the state, and its most populous city, Chicago, is a major contributor to its economy.

Chicago has the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States and is one of the world’s largest and most diversified economic bases with no single industry employing more than 14 percent of the city’s workforce. In Chicago, tourism and the real estate, insurance and financial sectors are significant economic contributors with manufacturing, printing, publishing and food processing also playing important roles.

Outside of Chicago, the state relies primarily on agriculture and manufacturing for the bulk of its revenue. Primary agriculture output from the state includes corn, soybeans, cattle, dairy products and wheat. Illinois also produces more pumpkins than any other state in the country. Manufactured products include farm machinery, heavy equipment and motor vehicle parts. The state is also a leader in chemical manufacturing, the manufacturing of computer and electronic parts, and the production of fabricated metals and rubber and plastic products.

Freight Shipping in Illinois

Illinois is a heavyweight in the global marketplace because the state has what many businesses desire: access to customers, an abundant workforce and a strong transportation infrastructure.

The state’s central location and proximity to industrial regions in the Rust Belt and Grain Belt make Illinois an ideal location for freight traffic. Whether by road, rail, air or water, Illinois has the infrastructure capable of moving a high volume of freight around the state and throughout the nation.

Road

Illinois has an extensive highway and interstate system with 2,185 miles of interstate, including two coast-to-coast interstates and 15,969 miles of state-maintained highways. On a national level, the state has the third-largest interstate system and the fourth-largest highway system, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Rail

Intermodal traffic is popular in the state, too. There are approximately 9,982 miles of railroad tracks, 7,792 of which are operated by Class I railroads, according to the Department of Transportation. The state rail network is the second largest in the country, and Chicago is the largest U.S. rail gateway.

Air

The state is also a hub for air transportation. Illinois has two major international airports in Chicago — O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport — and both are considered among the busiest airports in the world.

Water

The state has more than 1,000 miles of navigable waterways that provide businesses access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Port of Chicago and the Illinois International Port provide warehousing options and can accommodate lake vessels, barges and ocean traffic. There are 18 additional waterway ports in the state.