Distribution & E-commerce

Northeast Indiana is a known force in the distribution and e-commerce industry—accounting for more than 14,000 jobs in the region. The region is home to more than 630 transportation and logistics companies located across the region’s 11 counties. Northeast Indiana provides access to three aquatic ports, seven U.S. highways, more than 20 state roads, four rail services and Fort Wayne International Airport, which handles 22 million pounds of cargo annually.

Plus, locating in Indiana puts businesses within reach of 80% of the U.S. population in a one-day drive.

More than $650 billion in goods move through the state of Indiana annually. Northeast Indiana’s 11-county region is home to global distribution leaders like Walmart and Amazon and homegrown businesses alike with Sweetwater Sound, the largest online retailer of musical instruments in the U.S., and world-renowned luggage design company Vera Bradley—both founded and headquartered in Fort Wayne.

Whether you’re looking to connect with global leaders in distribution or start the latest e-commerce brand, find what your business needs to succeed here in Northeast Indiana.

Top Facts about the Distribution and E-Commerce Industry in Northeast Indiana

  1. In 2022, Indiana ranked #1 in the nation for infrastructure by CNBC.
  2. More than $650 billion in goods are moved through the state of Indiana annually.
  3. I-65, I-70 and I-74 are within a two-hour drive. I-69 is planned to connect Canada to Mexico, and 1-80 and 1-90 connect the east and west coasts.
  4. Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) has a nearly 12,000-foot runway and a cargo-sort facility. It also serves as a foreign trade zone (FTZ #182).
  5. Class I rail providers Norfolk Southern and CSX as well as Genesee & Wyoming and Indiana Northeastern Railroad operate out of the region.
  6. Lucas-Toledo and Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor are both located within 125 miles of the region and serve as key ports for the region.

Distribution and E-Commerce Talent

  1. Indiana offers one of the largest warehousing workforces in the nation.
  2. Northeast Indiana boasts many career academies including Heartland Career Center and Fort Wayne Community Schools Career Academy.
  3. Northeast Indiana Works assists companies with recruiting, training and building talent pipelines

Business Climate

  • Northeast Indiana is an ideal location for distribution and e-commerce and boasts more than 630 businesses in the transportation and logistics sector.
  • There is no inventory tax in Indiana. Additionally, Indiana provides a logistics tax credit of up to 25% of a company’s new logistics investment.

Investments in Distribution + E-Commerce

  • Amazon recently invested $15 billion throughout Indiana, with three facilities in Fort Wayne.
  • Sweetwater Sound, the world’s largest online music retailer, recently invested $76.4 million in a major expansion at its current facility.

“As the Crossroads of America, we are perfectly positioned to help companies reach customers across the Midwest, across the country and around the globe. I will continue to be laser-focused on enhancing our infrastructure network so that businesses can help to drive our economy forward.” – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

Distribution and E-commerce

Download this PDF to learn more about how Northeast Indiana’s proximity to the majority of the U.S. population can transform your business.

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Interested in learning more about Northeast Indiana's Distribution and E-Commerce industry? Contact us for access to more data and to discuss opportunities and incentives our region offers.

DISTRIBUTION & E-COMMERCE – MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Company Product
Sweetwater Sound Sound Recording Studio and Equipment Distribution
Peyton’s Northern Distribution Center (Kroger) Food Warehousing and Distribution
Amazon General Warehousing and Storage
Norfolk Southern Rail Transportation
Wal-Mart Distribution Center Warehousing and Distribution
Do it Best Corp. Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment Distribution
Vera Bradley Handbags, Accessories and Luggage
SIRVA Global Relocation and Moving Services
Family Dollar Distribution Center Warehousing and Distribution
UPS Package Processing for Ground and Air

Source: Development Counsellors International (DCI), 2021

 

DISTRIBUTION & E-COMMERCE – EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES
Occupation 2020 NEI Employment 2020 NEI Median Annual Wages 2020 National Median Annual Wages NEI/US
Retail Salespersons 10,825 $22,739 $25,290 89.9%
Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers 9,793 $28,633 $29,495 97.1%
Office Clerks, General 9,248 $32,814 $34,046 96.4%
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 6,732 $42,337 $45,108 93.9%
General and Operations Managers 5,753 $85,323 $100,371 85.0%
Stockers and Order Fillers 5,191 $25,069 $27,371 91.6%
Customer Service Representatives 5,098 $37,745 $34,692 108.8%
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 5,000 $43,428 $39,030 111.3%
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical and Executive 3,624 $33,556 $37,642 89.1%
Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks 3,189 $36,092 $41,223 87.6%

Source: Emsi 2021

Central Location to Major Markets

Northeast Indiana and Fort Wayne’s resilient infrastructure and transportation network supports the region’s logistics industry and connects businesses to more than 80% of the nation’s population within a 24-hour drive.

Air service

Commercial Airports

Private Airports

Rail

Transpoint Intermodal constructed a $13.5 million cargo transfer facility in southeast Fort Wayne. The facility is served by the Genesee & Wyoming’s Class II freight line.

Class I Freight Railroads

  • CSX operates an intermodal facility in North Baltimore, Ohio (less than 90 miles from Fort Wayne). CSX’s major east–west mainline from Chicago to the northeast passes directly through Auburn, Indiana.
  • Norfolk Southern operates intermodal facilities in Columbus, Ohio (160 miles east of Fort Wayne), and Chicago (160 miles west of Fort Wayne). Norfolk Southern’s main lines converge in Fort Wayne and connect to Chicago; Detroit; Cincinnati; Toledo, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; and Kansas City, Missouri.

Class II Freight Railroads

  • The Genesee & Wyoming Railroad runs from Crestline, Ohio (140 miles east of Fort Wayne), to Tolleston, Indiana (140 miles west of Fort Wayne).
  • Indiana Northeastern Railroad stretches nearly 130 miles, with major interchanges in Montpelier, Ohio (less than 60 miles from Fort Wayne), and Sturgis, Michigan (roughly 70 miles from Fort Wayne).

Road Access

  • Interstate 69 runs south to north from Evansville to Indianapolis through Northeast Indiana to the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan.
  • Interstate 80/90, also known as the Indiana Toll Road, is a tolled highway running east to west across the northernmost part of Indiana, which is also a part of the New York–Chicago toll-road system.

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