Maryland Coverage Area

Located along the Atlantic Ocean near Washington D.C., and close to major distribution routes on the East Coast, Maryland gives shippers easy access to major American markets as well as international locations. With service centers located in Elkridge and Hagerstown, ArcBest^® can provide solutions to your supply chain challenges. Call 800-610-5544 to learn more.

Maryland State Facts

• Population — 6 million as of 2015
• Sales tax rate — 6 percent
• Income tax rate — Up to 5.75 percent
• Unemployment rate — 4.0% December, 2017
• Projected job growth — 1.8 percent as of 2016
   

Economic Profile

Maryland is a small but densely populated state with a highly diversified economy incorporating a variety of fields. Because of its close proximity to the nation’s capital, Maryland is a major center for life sciences, research and development. Many residents work in advanced technology fields, including aerospace and defense, information technology, research and others. Several federal research- and technology-based institutions are located in the state, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Department of Defense operations. Maryland is home to 18 of the country’s top 25 aerospace companies, 70 of the top 100 defense contractors and more than 20 military facilities. The high-tech and research field supports more than 182,000 jobs in the state, as of 2016, according to state research.

Agriculture’s Impact

Agriculture is a crucial element to Maryland’s economy. Livestock and dairy products, broiler chickens, corn, tobacco, tomatoes and apples comprise the state’s most popular agricultural commodities. A University of Maryland study shows the economic impact of agriculture amounts to more than $8 billion a year and the industry supports 45,600 jobs.

Commercial Fishing

The state’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean provides a lucrative opportunity for commercial fishing. Maryland is a leader in the production of blue crabs, clams and oysters, and the seafood industry adds nearly $600 million to the state’s economy, with over 4,500 commercial watermen working there.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is also important to the state’s economy. Maryland manufacturers produce goods such as computer and electronics products, fabricated metals, chemicals, plastic and rubber products, food, beverage and tobacco products. In 2016, manufacturing added $20.6 billion to Maryland’s gross domestic product.

Freight Shipping in Maryland

Maryland is home to one of the busiest seaports in the United States and has a robust transportation system that plays a pivotal role in shipping within the northeastern U.S. With an extensive set of state highways, 14 interstate highways, 36 public-use airports and a network of freight rail tracks, the Maryland transportation network enables the efficient flow of goods to, from and within the region.

Port of Baltimore

The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore is one of the most active deep-water ports in the country and offers deep, wide lanes to allow large cargo ships to pass through. Typical commodities handled at the port include automobiles, containers, forestry products and other large-bulk cargo. The port serves as a vital link for shippers to connect to the global marketplace. An estimated 2,300 ships pass through the port annually, and the port supports more than 40,000 jobs.

Trucking

Maryland boasts an extensive road plan consisting of more than 30,000 miles of interstate, primary and secondary roads and more than 2,400 bridges, providing businesses access to major markets. The state is close to many Midwest markets, and trucks leaving Maryland can reach one-third of the country’s population within an overnight drive.

Railroad

Long-haul freight rail services are provided by Two Class I rail carriers, which operate on 1,152 miles of freight rail tracks. The state’s manufacturers depend on the freight rail system to move raw materials and finished goods from production or distribution facilities to customers inside Maryland and other domestic and international locations.

Air

International shippers can transport air freight through the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and through neighboring international airports in Washington D.C. These airports moved nearly 631 million tons of freight worth $835 billion in 2012, according to the most recent Maryland Department of Transportation report.