Located smack dab in the heart of the United States, Kansas offers companies a truly unique and outstanding logistical advantage to help reach customers faster and more efficiently. With more than 140,000 miles of roads and top-ranked interstates bisecting our great state, you can get to the Pacific or Atlantic in four days or less from Kansas. If the open road doesn’t suit your needs, we have plenty of modern-day iron horses ready to whisk your goods to the port of your choosing.
Kansas is served by four Class I and 11 Class III railroads on the sixth-largest rail network in the nation1. We also have an intermodal that holds its own when compared to any major market. Join our strong lineup of logistics and distribution companies, and you will see why it is good to be self-centered in Kansas.
140,000
miles of public roads
117,000
Kansans employed in transportation, warehousing and wholesale trade sectors
4,257
total rail miles
7,000
Kansas is home to a connected network of over 7,000 companies related to logistics and distribution in the state.
85%
of the United States can be reached in 2-days or less by freight from Kansas.
52
million ft3 of cold storage facilities across the state
2
of the top 5 global refrigerated warehousing companies have locations in Kansas
7th
Kansas ranks 7th in the nation based on tons carried.
Located in Edgerton, Kansas, Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) is a 3,000- acre inland distribution hub intermodal development. The LPKC Intermodal Facility is the only full-service facility in the western two-thirds of the U.S., offering a combination of domestic, international and direct-rail/carload service. There are more than 14.4 million square feet of new distribution facilities at LPKC with speculative and build-to-suit opportunities available. LPKC is also part of the BNSF Intermodal network.
Capitalizing on our central location, outstanding infrastructure and available workforce, many regional, national and global brands have chosen Kansas to place strategic logistics operations – brands like Walmart, ColdPoint Logistics and Kubota. Even the world’s most valuable brand, Amazon, understands the advantages of Kansas as a center of excellence for critical supply chains and logistics operations.
Kansas’ centralized location and world-class network of urban and rural interstate highways offers a tremendous competitive advantage in shipping to major North American markets. Running straight through Kansas, the north-south direction Interstate 35 corridor connects the United States with two of its largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the east-west direction Interstate 70 and Interstate 35 converge in the Kansas City area, creating a literal crossroads of America.
Kansas is home to two strategically located intermodal and logistics parks allowing for easy access to both an extensive rail and highway system.
Kansas is served by a comprehensive rail network comprised of 4,257 miles (6,851 km) of total track, the 6th largest network in the nation.
Transloading provides customers the best of both worlds, combining economical rail transport with the flexibility of over-the-road trucking. The state hosts more than 15 world-class facilities across the state; from Kansas City to Garden City and from Great Bend to Pittsburg. Shipments move seamlessly between modes, allowing companies to ship affordably throughout North America and significantly expand market reach.
Foreign trade zones users are exempt from paying duty or federal tax while goods remain in the zone or are exported. The Kansas City, Kansas FTZ (Zone 17) currently includes nine counties: Atchison, Jefferson, Franklin, Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, Shawnee, Leavenworth and Miami. The Wichita, Kansas FTZ (Zone 161) currently includes seven counties: Sedgwick, Sumner, Butler, Saline, Reno, McPherson and Harvey. The grantee of the zone is the Board of County Commissioners of Sedgwick County.
Kansas’s FTZs are Alternative Site Framework (ASF) designated. Companies in the designated region are not restricted to a site-specific FTZ as the entire county is eligible for FTZ benefits. This streamlined approach offers companies the ability to choose a site within the region that fits their needs allowing for a quicker turnaround time and lower costs.
Ranked the #3 infrastructure in the nation by CNBC in their 2019 Top States for Business report. “Getting around in the Sunflower State is a breeze, with some of the nation’s best-maintained highways.”
Running directly through Kansas, I-35 connects the U.S. with two of its largest trading partners – Canada and Mexico. As the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement takes effect, Kansas’ strategic location will play a significant role in safeguarding the health of prosperity of North America’s economy. I-35 and I-35 intersect in the Kansas City Area, which means trucks leaving Kansas can quickly and efficiently reach international ports on both coasts.
Currently, there are more than 1,000 private carriers, 350 intrastate for-hire carriers and 9,500 Kansas-based motor carriers with intrastate and/or interstate operating authority licensed in Kansas. Thanks to our state’s proximity to major markets, our transit times and shipping rates for common carriers can compete with any in the country.
Kansas ranks #6 in the nation for total rail miles.
4,675
total rail miles
2,723
miles of Class I rail
1,765
miles of Class III (short line) rail
Convenient access and direct routes to all national air service hubs is afforded by airports strategically located across all regions of Kansas.
In the south central region of Kansas, Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) provides daily passenger and cargo departures to major hubs throughout the U.S. ICT is home to more than 70 businesses including air cargo operations such as FedEx, UPS and DHL, and was just voted the #3 Best Small Airport in USA Today’s annual rankings.
The Kansas City region is served by Kansas City International Airport (KCI), which is the primary passenger and cargo service provider for Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska and moves more air cargo each year than any other air center in a six-state region. KCI is currently constructing a new airport terminal, which is set to be completed in 2023.
In total, there are approximately 140 public use airports in Kansas, and no community in the state is more than 30 miles from a public use airport.
Air cargo carriers in Kansas include Airborne Express, Air Cargo Carriers, Baron Aviation, BAX Global, Central Air Southwest, DHL Airways, EGL, Emery Worldwide, Federal Express, Kitty Hawk, Planemasters, UPS and the United States Postal Service. Most commercial airlines also offer small package delivery services to businesses.
While Kansas is a landlocked state, access to inland waterways provide another convenient mode of transportation. Kansas has access to 122 miles of the Missouri River along the northeast corner of the state with eight commercial terminals located near Atchison, Leavenworth, Lansing, White Cloud and Kansas City. Additionally, the Port of Catoosa is located approximately 50 miles from Kansas’ southern border, making it a convenient option for businesses manufacturing and/or assembling large goods.
The Kansas Logistics Park in Newton, Kansas, integrates manufacturing, research and development, logistics, workforce development and commercialization by providing an environment for innovative industries to thrive and connect to the world. The site sits on 225+ acres, offers an extensive rail infrastructure with direct rail access to Port of Catoosa and Port of Kansas City.
There are two Foreign Trade Zones in Kansas – Kansas City, Kansas (Zone 17), and Wichita, Kansas (Zone 161).
The Kansas City includes nine Kansas counties: Atchison, Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Shawnee and Wyandotte. Together with the Kansas City, Missouri FTZ (Zone 15), the Kansas City zones represent one of the largest in the country, offering more space and handling more volume than those of Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
The Wichita FTZ includes seven counties: Butler, Harvey, McPherson, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick and Sumner.
