Kansas Coverage Area

With multiple service centers throughout Kansas, ArcBest^® offers transportation and logistics services across the state and nationwide through our ABF Freight^® network. Call 800-610-5544 to learn more about the about how these solutions can improve your supply chain.

Five Facts

• Population — 2.9 million in 2016
• Unemployment rate — 4.1 percent in 2016
• Sales tax rate — 6.5 percent
• Kansas eliminated its franchise tax in 2011
• Interstates 70 and 35 cross the state and connect with I-29 — part of the North American Free Trade Agreement corridor
   

Kansas Business Incentives

Due to its low cost of business and strong infrastructure, Kansas offers one of the best business climates in the United States. Cost of living is among the lowest in the country, at 11 percent below the national average, according to Forbes. Most small businesses pay no income tax, and the low corporate tax rate of 7 percent is attractive to many larger businesses. With a diverse economy, a skilled workforce and a transportation system with access to major regional, national and global markets, Kansas is a good location for businesses to call home.

Important Economic Factors

Kansas, much like many historically agriculture-dependent states, has evolved its economy to develop an economic base that includes a blend of industries. Some of the state’s major industries include agriculture, manufacturing, mining and bioscience.

Agriculture

As one of the country’s most prolific agricultural states, Kansas produces a high volume of wheat, sorghum, corn and soybeans. Cattle, dairy products, and hogs and pork products are also produced in the state. The industry contributes nearly $46 billion annually and supports more than 126,000 jobs, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Manufacturing

Wichita — known as The Air Capital of the World — is considered a hub for aircraft production and produces more than 30 percent of the world’s general aircraft. Six large aircraft corporations operate out of the city, and the state’s economy is heavily influenced by the aviation and aerospace industry, which accounts for $7 billion annually and supports more than 47,000 jobs. Aerospace manufacturing accounts for the overwhelming majority of aviation-related economic activity in the state, responsible for 82 percent of total output. The state’s other important manufacturing areas include food processing and the production of medical devices, scientific instruments and agricultural machines/equipment.

Mining and Renewable Resource Production

The state’s abundant natural resources provide an economic boost. Petroleum and natural gas are the most important mining resources, and Kansas ranks eighth in the country for oil production. The state is also a popular spot for wind turbine manufacturing. Wind farms in the state have helped reduce energy costs and have created more than 12,000 jobs.

Bioscience and Research

Bioscience and research is one of the state’s growing industries, with more than 16,000 residents employed in the field. Researchers develop agriculture feedstock, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and conduct other scientific research activities.

Moving Freight in Kansas

Transportation is a vital sector in most American economies and that is no different in Kansas. Businesses in the state rely on roads and rail as well as air and water options to ship freight. The state’s central location puts it within 500 miles of large domestic markets in Denver, Dallas, Kansas City and Chicago, and trucks leaving Kansas can quickly reach international ports in Mexico and Canada.

Roads

As is the case in most inland states, Kansas businesses rely heavily on the road system to get shipments to customers. Kansas has the third-largest highway system in the country, and the state is served by two interstate highways, totaling 874 miles. There are 140,654 miles of roads, streets and highways in the state, with an average daily travel count, as of 2015, of more than 85 million vehicle-miles, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Railroads and River

Shipping freight by rail is another popular option. The state has 13 freight railroads, including four Class I railways, and 4,855 miles of track — the sixth most in the country. Nearly 344 million tons of intermodal freight pass through the state each year. Businesses also take advantage of the more than 120 miles of inland waterway available in Kansas. The state’s waterways and ports support more than 8,000 jobs and contribute $1.4 billion to the state’s economy.

Air Travel

While the state has only one major commercial airport within its borders — the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport — businesses have access to international markets nearby, with the Manhattan Regional Airport providing direct flights to Dallas and Chicago. Global-bound freight may also travel to international airports along the states borders, including the Kansas City International Airport in the northeast, the Tulsa International Airport in the southeast and the Denver International Airport in the far western part of the state.