Missouri Coverage Area

Whether you’re shipping regional, national or international freight to or from Missouri, ArcBest^® can help. We offer a variety of transportation and logistics solutions designed to meet your supply chain needs — from less-than-truckload and truckload, to expedite and ocean — all with online tracking capabilities. To learn more about our coverage area and portfolio of services, call 800-610-5544.

State Facts

• Population — 6.1 million in 2017
• Sales tax rate — 4.225 percent
• Corporate income tax rate — 6.25 percent
• Unemployment rate — 3.5 percent in 2017
   

Economy of the Show Me State

Missouri has a robust economy supported by thriving agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors with agriculture production being crucial to the state. Forestry and forestry production is another important agricultural element. In 2016, agriculture and forestry contributed nearly $33 billion to the economy, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Impact of Manufacturing

Home to more than 6,400 manufacturing and food and beverage processing firms, Missouri has a strong manufacturing industry. Factories in the state manufacture aerospace and transportation equipment, food, beer, fabricated metals, machinery and chemicals. In 2016, the industry provided employment for more than 9 percent of the state’s workforce and contributed more than $39 billion to the state’s gross domestic product.

Importance of Mining

Mining also adds significant revenue to the state’s economy. Missouri is a leading lead producer, with coal, zinc and copper also mined in the state. The industry adds more than $8 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports nearly 30,000 jobs.

Transportation Solutions in Missouri

Missouri is considered the gateway to the Midwest because it’s centrally located and is near major metropolitan markets in Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis. The Missouri transportation system enables the movement of freight bound for regional, national and international destinations and is an integral part of the state’s economic growth.

Trucking

The majority of freight that travels through Missouri is by truck. The state’s roadway system consists of more than 131,000 miles of public roadway, including 10 federal interstates, 10 auxiliary interstates and a vast system of county and state roads.

Rail

Seventeen freight railroads operate in the state on more than 4,000 miles of freight rail, ranking the state 10th nationally by freight rail track mileage. Two of the nation’s busiest rail centers are located in Missouri. Kansas City is a major railroad hub and is the second-largest freight rail center in the United States. St. Louis is also a major destination for rail freight.

Waterways

Bordered by the Mississippi River and the Missouri River, the state has 1,030 miles of inland waterways, allowing commercial vessels easy access to service points throughout the state, across the country and to global locations, as well. The Missouri Port Authorities estimates more than $4 billion worth of cargo is moved by water through the state each year.

Air

Missouri is also a hub for air travel. Two major airport hubs — Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Kansas City International Airport — along with several smaller airports allow for expedited shipping services to domestic and international destinations.