Massachusetts Coverage Area

Moving cargo into or out of the Bay State? No matter your shipment’s origin or destination, ArcBest has the capacity to manage the freight and get it delivered on time. Utilize our transportation and logistics solutions for all of your shipments that move into, out of or within Massachusetts. For more information about our services, call 800-610-5544.

Economic Outlook

Massachusetts has a large, varied economy that is considered one of the best in the country. The state is one of the top manufacturing centers, and the industry helps drive the economy by providing more than 10 percent of the state’s total output. Computer and electronic products, chemical products, fabricated metal products, and food, beverage and tobacco products are the state’s primary manufactured goods. Total output from the industry was $48.75 billion in 2016, according to research from the National Association of Manufacturers.

Agriculture is also important to the state. Massachusetts farmers primarily produce cranberries, sweet corn and apples, while livestock and poultry also play a big role in the agricultural output. The industry supports 28,000 jobs and provides more than $490 million to the state’s gross domestic product, according to a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources report.

Commercial fishing is also popular, with the state being a national leader in the production of scallops. Cod, flounder, lobster, haddock, swordfish and tuna are also common. In 2016, the New Bedford, Massachusetts, port produced 107 million pounds of seafood, valued at $327 million. This was the 17th consecutive year to produce the highest value in the country. The state also sees revenue from tourism, mining and the life sciences sectors.

Shipping Freight in Massachusetts

Shippers take advantage of the more than 36,300 miles of roadway, 14 different freight railroads, 73 commercial and general use airports, and five deep-water ports, to move their shipments around the state. Massachusetts’ transportation network also enables the movement of regional, national and international freight and is crucial to driving the state’s economic growth.

Trucking

The majority of freight in the state travels over the road by truck. The federal interstate system comprises five interstate highways and eight auxiliary interstates. Major thoroughfares in the state run north and south and east and west, connecting all regions together. Trucks leaving Massachusetts can reach nearly half of the nation’s population within a 12-hour drive.

Air

With more than 70 public use airports throughout the state, moving cargo through the air is a popular option for businesses. Major domestic and international shippers utilize the Boston Logan International Airport to move goods. The airport provides direct service to several domestic, Mexican and Canadian markets, as well as to key European business centers. 

Rail

The Massachusetts rail system consists of more than 1,100 miles of track that support 14 railroad carriers, including two Class I freight railways. 

Waterways

The state has five deep-water ports, and two of them — Port of Boston and Port of New Bedford — support major cargo shipping. Each year, more than 1 million tons of cargo passes through them.