Georgia Logistics Network: Speeding Goods to Market

In today’s fast-paced business environment, company success depends on delivering goods quickly, efficiently, and affordably. In Georgia, an unparalleled infrastructure seamlessly connecting air, ports, rail and roads is the catalyst for advanced manufacturers and others competing in the global marketplace.

“Thanks to long-term investments, Georgia’s logistics networks have become a gateway to the entire United States. In many cases, one of the first questions companies ask about is connectivity. The connectivity and speed-to-market service Georgia provides has led to record-breaking economic investment and trade, year after year – even during a global pandemic,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.

Georgia’s comprehensive infrastructure includes the world’s most efficient airport, the most extensive rail system in the Southeast, and the nation’s fastest-growing port. These assets, together with miles of highways, smooth the way for companies to reach national and international customers. Altogether, Georgia handles and hauls more than $900 billion of cargo each year.

The state’s logistics network is both powered and utilized by more than 15,000 logistics establishments. Americold, Delta Air Lines, GreyOrange, The Home Depot, Norfolk Southern, and UPS are just a few of the logistics companies headquartered in Georgia. These leaders were recently joined by German multinational liner shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, which is locating its North American headquarters in metro Atlanta.

Exceptional Transportation Advantages

By air from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, businesses can reach 80% of the U.S. market within two hours. One of the largest air cargo hubs in

North America, Hartsfield-Jackson provides more than 2 million square feet of warehousing in its three cargo complexes. Eight other commercial airports in the state provide vital connections.

By land, Georgia companies can reach 80% of U.S. markets in less than two days. In addition to 20,000 miles of federal and state highways, including two major transcontinental highways, Georgia hosts two Class 1 railroads and 24 short lines that together move almost 200 million tons of cargo over 5,000 miles of rail each year.

The state’s deepwater ports process a range of cargo diversity, from containers to cars. The Port of Savannah, home to the largest single container terminal in North America and the fastest-growing container gateway in the United States, handled more than 519,300 TEUs in May this year, an all-time high for the port. The Port of Brunswick is the nation’s top terminal for new automobile imports. Additionally, the Georgia Ports Authority is rapidly expanding its inland port system to provide cross-state efficiency.

Over 60 facilities in Georgia comprise the world’s largest cold storage network. Four of the five top global companies for refrigerated warehousing are located in Georgia, including the world’s largest, Lineage Logistics, which will invest $62 million in a new facility near the Port of Savannah. 

“Lineage’s new facilities in this high-demand location will provide additional capacity and value-added services in a critical market for our customers,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, Lineage’s President and CEO. “We are constantly looking for ways to maximize and further streamline Lineage’s total supply chain, and our meaningful growth in Savannah will offer customers increased access to faster, more reliable distribution opportunities to markets across the Southeast.” 

Access to Customized Talent

Companies seeking cutting-edge research and top-flight talent find it here where more than 100 logistics-related education degrees, courses, programs, and certificates are offered by Georgia’s universities and technical colleges. Logistics and transportation company Ryder System, which recently announced a $44 million investment in a high-tech third-party distribution center along I-75 outside Atlanta, will utilize the state’s strong logistics talent pool as well as its ports network.

Availability of talent was one of the reasons cited by global package delivery and supply chain giant UPS in 2016 in its decision to expand its operations in the state to establish a $400 million regional sorting and distributing hub in Atlanta.

"Georgia, which UPS is proud to call home, provides a great climate for doing business,” said UPS Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Laura Lane. “UPS has been in Georgia for more than 30 years and has always valued the state’s strong commitment to economic growth grounded in a legal and regulatory framework that champions equity and justice for all. The state attracts world-class talent and promotes innovation and research in greener transportation infrastructure that enables us to provide industry-leading service to more than 220 countries and territories globally.”

Additionally, the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics (COI), housed in the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), works hands-on with companies to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities in freight movement. The Center hosts an annual statewide Logistics Summit that attracts thousands, distributes monthly logistics reports that reach every corner of the world, and provides education resources.

Proactively Anticipating Future Growth

With growing industry needs in e-commerce, mobile commerce, and end-to-end supply chain visibility, the demand for technology integration is growing rapidly. The number of ways to buy goods has exploded with multi-channel delivery and the use of online platforms. Global logistics company US Elogistics Service Corp. recently invested in a new distribution center near Atlanta to meet increased customer demand for e-commerce goods.

Testifying to Georgia’s success in developing infrastructure is the development of a 1,100-acre Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, easily accessible via I-75 to the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick as well as Hartsfield-Jackson and two regional airports. Norfolk Southern provides rail service on the Megasite, which is a partnership between the State of Georgia and the Development Authority of Peach County.

“Georgia’s superior infrastructure – including our robust highway system, rail lines, record-setting port, and top-ranked airport – continues to make doing business in the Peach State a competitive choice for companies around the world,” said Governor Brian Kemp.