Top 30 Metro Areas for Distribution Centers in 2018
by Jenna Keller, on Sep 18, 2018 2:14:11 PM
Site Selection Group, a leading location advisory, real estate and economic incentive services firm, analyzed the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States to determine which markets offer distribution and logistics operations the best mix of critical workforce skills, consumer access and transportation infrastructure to ensure operational success now and in the future.
Workforce availability
Distribution centers often have high job count numbers and demand, especially those facilities that have seasonal hiring demands. Having a qualified workforce with experience in picking, packing, scanning, forklift and conveyor operations is essential to establishing an efficient distribution operation. Site Selection Group incorporated both the count and concentration of core distribution center occupations within each metro area into this analysis.
Specifically, Site Selection Group analyzed the following occupations: conveyor operators and tenders, industrial truck and tractor operators, laborers, freight, stock, and material movers. It also looked at machine feeders and offbearers, packers and packagers. Distribution centers may be able to pull from a variety of other occupations for less skilled labor, however, the occupations listed here represent the foundation on which an efficient logistics workforce is built.
Importance of consumer access
As customers continue to demand faster and less expensive shipping options, locating a new distribution center within one day’s drive time of a large consumer base is essential. Site Selection Group used its best-in-class GIS databases to measure the population that lives within a one-day drive time of every metropolitan area analyzed.
Changes in population demographics
Forward-thinking companies utilize strategies that account for future population changes. By following population growth, distribution centers can stay ahead of demographic changes and remain close to their customer bases. It is critical to ensure that the population is growing not just within the metro area, but also within the geographic area the distribution center aims to serve. Site Selection Group utilized the same tools as above to measure population growth within a one-day drive time of select metro areas.
Transportation infrastructure is key
Finally, Site Selection Group took an in-depth look at each metropolitan area’s transportation infrastructure. Trucking is the most important method of transportation for most distributors. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, approximately 70% of freight by weight is moved via truck annually. Each metropolitan area was analyzed for the presence of an interstate, and further, whether or not the metro area had access to primary north/south and east/west interstate routes.
Additionally, each community was evaluated for its air and rail accessibility by identifying those that had international air capabilities and an intermodal facility served by a major rail carrier.
Results of analysis
The list below shows the top 30 metro areas for distribution based on Site Selection Group’s analysis. These communities have an international airport, north/south and east/west interstate access, positive population growth, and a significant presence of key distribution workers.
| Population with 1 Day Drive-Time | Population Growth with 1 Day Drive-Time | Distribution Workers | % Distribution Workers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 170,827,696 | 2.09% | 36,416 | 3.22% |
| Dayton, OH | 170,292,292 | 2.07% | 11,642 | 2.85% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 166,326,659 | 2.11% | 52,936 | 4.84% |
| Columbus, OH | 164,164,423 | 1.99% | 44,032 | 3.92% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 158,572,572 | 2.18% | 34,193 | 4.93% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 155,732,361 | 2.90% | 36,287 | 3.48% |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 152,044,441 | 2.81% | 43,388 | 3.40% |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 151,927,143 | 1.86% | 44,054 | 2.14% |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 151,211,655 | 2.59% | 16,846 | 4.38% |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 143,987,150 | 3.54% | 14,547 | 2.65% |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 143,490,897 | 2.14% | 17,463 | 4.98% |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 143,049,480 | 2.89% | 15,890 | 3.68% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 142,269,797 | 2.20% | 32,172 | 2.15% |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 137,993,919 | 3.19% | 48,964 | 7.15% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 131,120,761 | 3.11% | 101,980 | 3.58% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 127,560,638 | 2.27% | 35,094 | 2.39% |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 125,168,792 | 1.93% | 22,908 | 5.92% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 123,215,975 | 2.00% | 84,141 | 2.76% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 117,633,758 | 1.78% | 183,077 | 3.75% |
| Jackson, MS | 112,173,028 | 4.06% | 6,886 | 2.36% |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 103,425,066 | 2.89% | 26,925 | 2.36% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 88,807,633 | 4.84% | 15,944 | 2.60% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 68,001,839 | 4.28% | 122,476 | 3.20% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 54,802,401 | 4.73% | 49,886 | 1.87% |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 54,190,153 | 4.71% | 73,884 | 2.27% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 53,270,451 | 4.60% | 88,700 | 5.34% |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 52,597,300 | 4.60% | 48,553 | 2.22% |
| El Paso, TX | 49,047,447 | 6.30% | 7,826 | 2.16% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 39,998,186 | 5.87% | 68,249 | 2.39% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,843,435 | 5.60% | 64,373 | 2.94% |
Source: BNSF, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Canadian National, CSX, EMSI, Caliper via iXPRESS
