About AEDC | Find Properties | Contact Business Development
Get In Touch
1.800.ARKANSAS

Transportation & Logistics

Driving Success in Arkansas

Industry leaders in logistics, such as J.B. Hunt Transport, ArcBest, PAM, and USA Truck call Arkansas home due to its strategic location in the heart of the United States. Major companies like Amazon, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, Dollar General, Walmart and many others have significant distribution centers throughout Arkansas. Arkansas is also home to a thriving transportation support and equipment manufacturing sector. Companies like Faymonville, DBG, Great Dane, and Cooper Tires are manufacturing products ranging from specialized trailers, train cars, and conveyor systems, to tractor equipment.
J.B. Hunt
ArcBest
Maverick
Pam Transport
WATCO
CalArk
Great Dane
TQL
USA Truck
FedEx
ABF
UPS

Arkansas Advantages

  • Over 16,000 miles of state and U.S. highways and 1,000 miles of navigable waterways.
  • Strategically located halfway between Montreal and Mexico City.
  • Approximately 40% of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive.
  • Major interstates, including I-30, I-40, I-49, I-55, and I-57.
  • 23 freight railroads with 2,502 freight rail mileage.
  • 98 public airports.
  • 11 public ports operating on four rivers, including the Mississippi.

Last checked: October 2026.

EDUCATION AND TALENT

Arkansas is growing its talent pipeline for the transportation and logistics sectors, partnering with educational institutions across the state on industry-driven programs that prepare students for the modern workforce.

  • Six colleges and universities have logistics and supply chain programs. The University of Arkansas’ J.B. Hunt Transport Department of Supply Chain Management is consistently named one of the top programs in North America in both undergraduate and graduate programs. 
  • Educational institutions provide training focused on the trucking, transportation, and warehousing sectors. 

Business Climate

  • 2nd most affordable state nationally (US News & World Report)
  • 3rd best state to start a business (Forbes)
  • Right-to-work state
  • Competitive incentives and a streamlined government

Last checked: October 2026.

SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRY SECTORS

Using our state’s network of highways and interstates, companies like J.B. Hunt, ArcBest, PAM Transportation, USA Trucking, UPS, and FedEx play a major role in facilitating and shipping goods throughout the world. Logistics firms, including TQL, work alongside transportation companies, providing vital support services.
Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Amazon operate multiple distribution and fulfillment centers across the state. More recently, Tractor Supply Company opened a 1.1 million-square-foot regional distribution center to serve approximately 250 stores, and Dollar General opened a new 1 million-square-foot distribution center.  
Arkansas’ thriving food and beverage industry is supported by approximately 30 cold storage distribution facilities around the state from companies like Americold, Compass Cold Storage, and Cypress Cold Storage.
Arkansas’ long history in transportation and logistics makes it a natural fit for equipment companies manufacturing boats, vehicle components, and trailers. Recently, Faymonville Group announced its first US location in Arkansas, joining other transportation equipment manufacturers like Ranger Boats and Vexus Boats, Great Dane, Dexter Axle Company, SAF-Holland, Delta Trailers, and Tomahawk Trailers.

Transportation & Logistics: Case Studies

  • J.B. Hunt

  • Hytrol Conveyor Company

  • Amazon

  • Total Quality Logistics

J.B. Hunt

J.B. Hunt Transport Services keeps commerce moving across the nation, providing efficient road and intermodal transportation that helps businesses thrive. Founded by Johnny Bryan Hunt and his wife Johnelle, J.B. Hunt Transport Services has become a mainstay on the Fortune 500 list of top companies.

J.B. Hunt

Hytrol Conveyor Company

Hytrol Conveyor Company is a world leader in the design and manufacturing of technologically advanced material handling and automation systems for a variety of industries. The company, headquartered in Jonesboro, AR, is experiencing rapid growth due to the global increase in e-commerce and the demand to move more products, faster.

Hytrol Conveyor Company

Amazon

Amazon continues to expand its footprint across Arkansas beyond urban areas by investing in smaller cities, towns and rural communities. Amazon has opened delivery stations in Lowell and Hot Springs and currently has delivery stations under construction in Texarkana and Fort Smith.

READ THE FULL CASE STUDY

Amazon

Total Quality Logistics

Total Quality Logistics (TQL) creates greater supply chain efficiencies for its customers by combining industry-leading technology with unmatched customer service.

READ THE FULL CASE STUDY

Total Quality Logistics

Transportation & Logistics Companies in Arkansas

Newport Industrial Site

May 9, 2018, 12:43 PM
Youtube share code : https://youtu.be/fWV0h-E0fEI
Hero highlights : This site is a certified Entergy Select Site. All environmental studies, geotechnical studies and clearances have been obtained for this site.
Cta 1 icon : https://www.arkansasedc.com/images/default-source/statistics-library/computer-science.png?sfvrsn=9f79241e_0
Cta 1 text : More Info
Cta 1 link : https://arkansassiteselection.com/aedc/Property/Detail/1001/Newport-Airbase-Industrial-Park-Site-1
Cta 2 icon :
Cta 2 text :
Cta 2 link :
Cta 3 icon : https://www.arkansasedc.com/images/default-source/statistics-library/transmission-upgrades-spp.png?sfvrsn=c1bf307e_0
Cta 3 text : Key Industries
Cta 3 link : https://www.arkansasedc.com/why-arkansas/key-industries
Tab 1 heading : Available Acreage
Tab 2 heading : Transportation Infrastructure
Tab 3 heading : Utilities
Tab 4 heading : Location
Tab 5 heading : More Information
County : Jackson County
Contact Name : Bentley Story
Contact title : Director - Business Development
Contact Email : [email protected]
Contact fax :
Contact linked in : https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentley-story-4b68835/
Contact Phone : (501) 682-7384
Meta title : Newport Industrial Site
Redirect URL : https://www.arkansasedc.com/featured-v2/newport-industrial-site
Certified : Yes
Listing price : 7500.00 $
Listing Size : 76
Available Acreage: 76.0 Acres 
Max Divisible Available: 76.0 Acres 
Min Divisible Available: .00 Acres 
Subdividable

Primary Airport: Jonesboro Municipal; 32.4 Miles
Primary Interstate: I-55; 54.1 Miles
Primary Highway: AR-18; 0.2 Miles
Primary Rail: Union Pacific; 3.5 Miles
Primary Navigable Water: White River; 5.6 Miles
Primary Water Port: Port of West Memphis; 67.5 Miles

Electricity: Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Water: Newport Municipal Water
Telecommunications: AT&T
Natural Gas: Centerpoint
Sewer: Newport Municipal Wastewater
Fiber-Optic: Cox Communications
Comet Street
Newport, AR 72112
Jackson County

Located in Newport, Arkansas, this Competitive Communities Initiative (CCI) designated site is shovel-ready and includes 76 acres of flat, developable land. The site is within 3 miles of Highway 67, the future I-57. It is located next to Arkansas State University-Newport and the Newport Municipal Airport. For more information, visit https://arkansassiteselection.com/aedc/Property/Detail/1001/Newport-Industrial-Park-Site-1

Press Release

Site Video

Location :
Newport, Arkansas United States
Property Type : Industrial
Property Category : SITE
Newport site Newport site
Related employees : Olivia Womack, CEcD

View Available Buildings and Sites

Contact Us

Regan Pugh

Project Manager, Business Development

(501) 680-3572

Subscribe to the Arkansas Inc. Monthly Newsletter

Arkansas offers a range of competitive incentives for businesses looking to open, expand or relocate.