Ohio Coverage Area

Ohio is a Midwestern state bordered by Pennsylvania and West Virginia to its east, Indiana to its west, Michigan and Lake Erie to its north and Kentucky to its south. Shippers can take advantage of the state’s proximity to major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia and can move freight into or out of the state on a well-maintained transportation network. If you need transportation and logistics solutions, ArcBest^® can help. Call us at 800-610-5544 to learn about our services and how to get a quote.

Facts About the Buckeye State

• Population ­ — 11.66 million
• Consumer sales tax rate — 5.75 percent
• Unemployment rate — 5 percent
• Cost of doing business — About 4 percent below national average
   

Robust Manufacturing Presence

Ohio has a large economy with a gross domestic product of $608 billion. The state is often referred to as the Nation’s Industrial Capital, dating back to its early roots in the Rust Belt — and manufacturing still plays an important role.

Manufacturers in Ohio produce commodities that generate nearly 17 percent of the state’s total revenue. In 2016, the manufacturing industry contributed $106 billion to the local economy. The industry employs more than 687,000 people — or more than 12.5 percent of the state’s workforce. Top manufacturing commodities include chemical products, motor vehicles and automotive parts, and food, beverage and tobacco products.

Agriculture’s Impact

The agriculture and food sciences industries are also integral role players in the Ohio economy. More than 13 percent of Ohio’s workforce is employed in the agriculture and food services sector. Ohio's agricultural and food sciences industries contribute about $47 billion annually back to the state and provide nearly 900,000 jobs. Ohio’s farmers are among national leaders in the production of items like soybeans and corn. Cattle and livestock feed, hay and wheat are also popular farming commodities in Ohio.  

Transportation

The state connects the Northeast to the Midwest, and because of its location, much cargo and business traffic travels through the state’s borders. Businesses shipping freight in the region are in a prime location for both over-the-road and water transportation.

Roads

Ohio has one of the nation’s largest interstate highway systems, supporting the fifth-largest traffic volume and third-largest volume of truck travel. The state has a total of 21 interstate highways, all owned and maintained by the state through the Ohio Department of Transportation. Together, the interstates add up to 1,572 miles of roadway.

One of the main interstates is I-70, which crosses the country and takes drivers through cities such as Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus and Baltimore. This route is a convenient option for carriers moving freight to areas across the nation.  

Water

Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes, gives the state 300 miles of coastline in the north, allowing for numerous cargo ports. The ship traffic in Lake Erie is the highest among the Great Lakes and is a good source of revenue for the state.   

The Ohio River defines the southern and eastern borders, running west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois. It’s also is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River, running through six states and draining into 15 states. During the 1800s, the Ohio River became an important commercial route. Farmers and manufacturers sent their products on flatbeds and barges downstream to the Mississippi River. Those products would go on to New Orleans, and eventually to ocean-going vessels for delivery to eastern seaboard ports. This route was both faster and cheaper than transporting the goods across the Appalachian Mountains and continues to be used today.

Air and Rail

Air cargo and intermodal travel is also possible in Ohio. The state has five international airports which provide service to cargo entering and leaving the state, and Ohio is serviced by nearly 5,000 miles of freight rail track. The state has the fourth-largest rail infrastructure in the country and the second-highest total of intermodal terminals.