Infrastructure

Quality infrastructure is critical to support supply chains, facilitate communication, and connect businesses to reliable and affordable energy sources. Thanks to unprecedented investments in transportation, digital technology, and trade, Ohio hosts the dependable infrastructure required to do global business.

Ohio is connected to the rest of the world via land, air, and water, creating a comprehensive and complete infrastructure for shipping worldwide, which is why logistics and distribution is one of our key industries. The flexibility of choice and cost savings this offers companies are among the top reasons Ohio’s infrastructure is one of the best in the U.S.

Road

Ohio has the fourth largest interstate highway system in the nation, with nearly 7,000 lane miles on eight major routes. The system has the fifth-highest average daily vehicle miles traveled.

Rail

Ohio has 10 major rail yards and 13 intermodal terminals, the second highest number in the U.S., and has the fourth largest network of operating railroads in the nation. The state’s 5,388 miles of active freight rail is No. 3 in the U.S., and Ohio has four Class 1 rail-based suppliers: CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific, and Canadian National.

Ports

Ohio has nine commercial ports on Lake Erie and multiple terminals along the Ohio River. It is the only Midwest state with a direct shipping route to Europe from the Port of Cleveland for both container and heavy goods, reducing time to market by five days or more. The Port of Toledo in Northwest Ohio is one of the largest ports in the Great Lakes. Ohio has 736 miles of navigable waterways leading to the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Air

Ohio has seven commercial air carrier airports and 97 general aviation airports. Rickenbacker International Airport and Wilmington Air Park offer cargo-focused hubs. Rickenbacker has regular service to Hong Kong, Dubai, Luxembourg, and other cities around the globe. The Wilmington Air Park is the highest volume cargo airport in Ohio and serves as a hub for AmazonAir. Collectively, the airports in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland service 68 daily non-stop flights to New York City.

Foreign-Trade Zones

Ohio has nine Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ), which comprise the largest presence with the most active firms in the Midwest.

Fast Facts

• Ohio is one of six states to receive an A grade in logistics industry health in a Conexus Indiana report from the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research.
• Ohio is one of the top 10 freight destination states by the value of goods shipped annually, making it an important state for logistics.
• Trucking employment ranks No. 2 in the Midwest, No. 4 in the U.S., ensuring there are always drivers available for shipments.
• Ohio ranks as the fifth highest state in the nation in warehousing and storage services.