Transportation

Missouri offers companies within the transportation cluster, quality infrastructure complete with well-developed waterways, rail systems, interstate highways and airports. Missouri’s central location within the nation makes it a cost-effective location from which to ship and a natural place through which products are transported.
  • Incentives
  • Infrastructure
  • Workforce

MISSOURI’S TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS

The Transportation and Logistics cluster focuses on the support processes involved with the transfer of products and services. This cluster is comprised of logistical services, shipping containers, warehousing, local haulers and interstate/international haulers.

Macon County’s Strengths in Transportation and Logistics

Freight Haulers

General and specialized freight (long-haul) trucking is a large employer and an exporting industry in this cluster. Other important long-haul industries include rail and inland water freight transportation. Inland water transportation has had the highest employment percentage growth in the cluster over the past five years. Short haulers and couriers are also large employers in the state. These companies may be based in Missouri or may be part of a global business and deliver freight from local hubs. United Parcel Service, Federal Express and DHL Express are examples from this industry group. Gully Trucking is an example of a freight hauler servicing the Macon County Area. 

Railroad and Airport

Macon County is serviced by BNSF railroad and Amtrack (station located in LaPlata, MO). Macon is home to Fower Memorial Airport, a fully a lighted runway, private aircraft storage, a certified mechanic, and fuel.  There are current plans to expand the landing strip to 4000’. 

Hwy 36 Expansion to 4-lane Superhighway

MACON/HANNIBAL – Last fall MoDOT reached a milestone on the US 36 corridor project to construct the last 52-miles of four-lane highway between Macon and Hannibal. The project surpassed the halfway mark shortly after opening the stretch of roadway between Monroe City and Hannibal. Working through the winter months has kept the project on track to meet the completion commitment date of December 2010. This new highway will provide an alternate route (versus I-70 through St. Louis) from Chicago, IL to Kansas City, MO. It is anticipated that truck traffic, in particular, will adopt this new route to avoid the congestion associated with St. Louis. The completed 4-lane will provide many economic development and growth opportunities for the communities existing on the US 36 corridor.