Indiana Has the Logistics Infrastructure to Help Your Fulfillment & Shipping
Indiana has a centralized location and extensive inter-modal transportation system. The low cost of doing business and vast infrastructure give companies an advantage. Access to key markets makes the state an ideal location.
Several interstates and highways including I-64, I-70, I-80 and I-90 aid ground transportation. The system of interstates grants access to the rest of the country.
There is a vast system of railways that cover the entire state of Indiana. Major railroads include Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, Central Indiana and Western Railroad, CSX Corporation and the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad.
Several airports serve the state including Evansville Regional Airport, Fort Wayne International Airport, Indianapolis International Airport and South Bend International Airport.
A Central Location Makes Indiana Warehouses Perfect For Nationwide Distribution
Indiana ranks high in growth prospects and quality of life. It is maintaining a stable manufacturing base and has low costs for businesses. Several cities stand out as top locations for warehousing services companies in Indiana including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville.
Indiana is one of the few states to have a split time zone, with the majority of Indiana in the Eastern Time Zone, but the northwest and northeastern corners in the Central Time Zone, in keeping with their adjacent metropolitan areas in neighboring states. Like its time zones, Indiana is a study in contrasts, with its own unique identity as the Hoosier State, and with numerous connections to the world beyond its borders. When you think of Indiana, think of connectivity. In the northwestern corner of the state, the Port of Indiana provides easy access to Lake Michigan, not far from Chicago, Illinois and away from the bustle of the big city. Extensive rail lines run through the state, providing easy access to the major coast-to-coast routes as well as northward into Canada and south to Kentucky and beyond. Given the ready availability of different modes of transport, and its central location, Indiana has solid ground for its state motto: the Crossroads of America.
Top Cities for Warehousing Services in Indiana
Fulfillment in Indianapolis, Indiana
Of course, the greatest reason to consider Indiana for the location of your fulfillment services is that it is so strategically located within the United States. First, it is within driving distance of other large markets, from Chicago to Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio. Second, its location offers a very compelling spot to take advantage of not only an Eastern hub but also a nationwide point that minimizes transit times and costs. Third, because of the many benefits that the state of Indiana brings to the table from a logistics perspective, there are quite a few high quality and reputable warehouses in Indianapolis with headquarters in the state. This bodes well for companies seeking fulfillment services in Indiana, since there are several great options to choose from.
The capital of Indiana is no doubt first on your mind. With over 864,000 people, it’s the first city everyone else wants as well, making it highly competitive. It is also the second most populous city in the entire Midwest US. The city’s major exports include pharmaceuticals, motor vehicle parts, medical equipment and supplies, engine and power equipment, and aircraft products and parts. Indianapolis is also a major center for motorsports, including the Indianapolis 500.
Four Interstate Highways intersect Indianapolis, I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74. Two auxiliary Interstate Highways are located in the metropolitan area, Interstate 465 and Interstate 865. Indianapolis International Airport serves the area. The airport is home to the second largest FedEx Express hub in the world, IND ranks as the sixth busiest U.S. airport in terms of air cargo, it handled over 1 million tons in 2015. Railroads in the area include CSX Transportation, Indiana Southern Railroad and Hoosier Heritage Port Authority.
Although Indiana has taken the title Crossroads of America for its own, it is worth noting that this prestigious title originally belonged to Indianapolis, and for good reason. As the central city of a central state, Indianapolis is within a couple day’s travel of most of the continental United States 70%). Four major interstates intersect in Indianapolis, including I-70 and I-65, which are major east-west and north-south corridors respectively. Rail lines passing through, and around, Indianapolis, similarly provide access to locations through the United States and Canada. What is more, the sprawling size of Indianapolis, together with its expansive suburbs and open areas beyond, mean that companies looking to invest here can enjoy bargain land prices.
3PL Warehouse Companies in Indiana: Fort Wayne
If you are looking to do business in North America and considering Indianapolis as a possible stopping point, do not overlook Fort Wayne as a possibility with even greater bargain value. The city is rated well for low cost of doing business. Cost of living is also below the national average. The second largest city in Indiana at 264,000 people, Fort Wayne is connected to Indianapolis, and to the rest of the country, by I-69 (which runs south to Indianapolis and norther to Canada) and by Norfolk Southern Rail. Four U.S. Routes bisect the city, including US 24, US 27, US 30, and US 33. Fort Wayne has two municipal airports, both managed by the Fort Wayne–Allen County Airport Authority and Fort Wayne International Airport. Fort Wayne’s International Airport also houses the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard. Major railroads in the city include Norfolk Southern and Chicago-Ft. Wayne Eastern Railroad.
Fort Wayne is located in the northeastern part of Indiana. It is the second largest city in the state.
With a solid history of manufacturing and industry, Fort Wayne continues to house offices of major business such as B.F. Goodrich, General Motors, and Lincoln Financial Group. As a major Midwest city hit hard by the economic changes of the past century, Fort Wayne maintains all the Midwestern benefits of open space and solid transportation infrastructure, while offering low prices and incentives for business looking to do business. If you are considering a warehouse company in the Midwest, and if you are shipping goods throughout the United States, Fort Wayne is certainly worth a look.
Evansville Warehouses
Evansville is the largest city in Southern Indiana; it is the commercial, medical, and cultural hub of Southwestern Indiana and the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state area. The city has a broad economic base known for stability and diversity. The largest industries are health care, finance, education, and manufacturing, energy, warehousing and distribution. Evansville is the regional center for trade.
Immediate access to many forms of transportation makes Evansville an important factor in Indiana’s global economy. The city boasts an inter-modal system including road, rail and air.
Interstates include I-64 and I-69. The Evansville Regional Airport serves the city. Evansville has long been a center for railway traffic. The Evansville and Crawfordsville Railroad was first completed in 1853. Today, CSX Transportation, Evansville Western Railway, the Indiana Southwestern Railway, and the Norfolk Southern Railway serve the city. The Howell Yard in Evansville has inter-modal facilities that handle 3,000 cargo containers per month. Three public and several private port facilities receive year-round service from five major barge lines operating on the Ohio River. The river connects Evansville with all river markets in the central United States and on the Great Lakes, plus international markets through the port of New Orleans.
Bloomington Indiana Fulfillment
Just SW of Indianapolis is tiny Bloomington, at 85,000 people. Again, the population in the city doesn’t apply to how great the distribution centers are.
Key Fulfillment Data in Indiana
Choosing the best 3PL warehouse in Indiana is a complex decision. Below is summary information about Indiana population, number of warehouses, and taxes so that you can make a more informed decision about whether the state offers your company the best fulfillment services potential.
To get an idea of the types of companies that operate in Indiana, check out the top 10 largest companies in the state.
Average Fulfillment and Warehousing Pricing in Indiana
The below table gives a high-level idea of what average rates might look like in Indiana for fulfillment services, based upon surveys of outsourced warehousing companies throughout the US.
Indiana is a Great Place for Your 3PL Provider
If you are doing business in North America, shipping by land, air, or sea, 3PL Warehouse Companies in Indiana provide an ideal, centralized location for storage and retrieval.
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