Distribution & Logistics
Wherever in the world you need to get your product, you can do it from here. The Pittsburgh region is ideally situated for distribution: Not only do we enjoy the geographic advantage of proximity to most North American markets, we also boast the talent, infrastructure and resources to move products quickly, safely and sustainably.
“Cargo continues to be a major focus for us, and the downstream economic benefits are substantial for the region.”
Photo credit: Allegheny County Airport Authority
– Christina Cassotis
CEO, Allegheny County Airport Authority
THE ECOSYSTEM
Nestled in a region that is safe from many natural disasters — meaning fewer disruptions to the supply chain — Pittsburgh is served by carriers in road, rail, air and water. We are within 500 miles (a day’s drive) of:
Nestled in a region that is safe from many natural disasters — meaning fewer disruptions to the supply chain — Pittsburgh is served by carriers in road, rail, air and water. We are within 500 miles (a day’s drive) of:
- 136 million people
- 48% of U.S. businesses
- 45% of U.S. and Canada populations
- 63% of national industrial output
- 53% of U.S. buying income
- 23 of the top 50 U.S. metropolitan retail markets, plus Montreal and Toronto, Canada
We offer:
- 3 Class 1 Railroads
- 4 Interstate Highways
- 5th Busiest Inland Port in the U.S.
By Air:
Pittsburgh International Airport is home to both domestic and international direct flights.
- 125 nonstop destinations served by a dozen different carriers – including key business hubs
- 2017 ATW Airport of the Year
- 2020 Fast Company World’s Most Innovative Companies
- First major U.S. airport powered entirely by its own microgrid
- Ability to ship parts made at its Neighborhood 91 campus anywhere in the world within 24 hours
In addition, the region also offers nine other county airports.
$9B
capital investment (2010-2020)
50+
leading global manufacturers have world headquarters in Pittsburgh
Neighborhood 91
the first full ecosystem development tailored to the additive manufacturing supply chain
Talent
We are, quite literally, a region of movers and shakers. If you need to get something from point A to point B, we are the people who do it best.
95,000
people employed in manufacturing
45,000+
degrees conferred annually, including 5,500 technology degrees and certificates
#1
metro for college graduates by LinkedIn and Trulia
5,200
annual grads in manufacturing-related fields
We are, quite literally, a region of movers and shakers. If you need to get something from point A to point B, we are the people who do it best.
- 79 regional academic institutions
- 45,000+ degrees conferred annually, including 5,500 technology degrees and certificates
- #1 metro for college graduates by LinkedIn and Trulia
- More than 41,000 people employed in the transportation and warehousing sector
- About 600 truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator and instructor program graduates in 2018-2019
- 3 million workforce
- 490K millennial (25-39) population
- 94,000+ talent employed in ecosystem
Key Investments Timeline
- Pittsburgh International Airport is undergoing a $1.1 billion modernization project with a target completion by 2023.
- Pennsylvania will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements according to the governor.
- A new southern beltway (I-576) is partially open and under construction
- Amazon opened a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Findlay Township with 800+ employees and operates two additional sorting and distribution facilities in the region
- RPP, a California-based manufacturer of automotive fluids, purchased a building in East Butler to serve as a distribution and production center for the Northeast U.S.
- URBN, operating brands including Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, opened an 880,000-square-foot distribution center in Indiana County
Ecosystem Support
Our resources connect manufacturers to customers in ways that amplify business and introduce efficiency, sustainability and access.
Neighborhood 91
This public-private partnership’s proximity to the airport allows people and products to reach any destination in the world within 24 hours or less.
Catalyst Connection
This private, not-for-profit group helps manufacturers navigate supply chains, respond to changing markets, new technology, and the competitive pressures of the global economy.
Major trucking companies
include Pitt Ohio and PGT Trucking; FedEx Ground is also headquartered in Pittsburgh.
New Village LLC
plans to re-open a former automotive trade school in Indiana County to train students for occupations including diesel mechanics and automotive technicians.
Company Success Stories
Wabtec
won a $1 billion+ contract in July 2022 to upgrade 600 locomotives for Union Pacific through the addition of digital solutions and innovations.
WESCO
a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions, was named to the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year in 2022.
Seegrid
which specializes in autonomous mobile robots, recently closed on $52 million in growth equity financing.
Locomation
which creates autonomous trucking tech solutions, marked its fourth anniversary in 2022 with growth in employees, a new commercial contract and on-road autonomous vehicle testing.
R&D
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute: Overseen by Carnegie Mellon University, this public/private entity focuses on research and development of automation methods.
The Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh: Since 2014, the school has attracted $6 million in grants from America Makes, the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the National Science Foundation and Research for Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania.
In addition to university-based resources, more than 40 R&D centers call the Pittsburgh region home. A selected list includes:
- Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Center
- Alcoa and Arconic R&D Center
- AMPCO
- Allegheny Technology Inc.
- Siemens Mobility
- US Steel Technical Center
Startup Culture
We are a leading innovation hub and an emerging global startup ecosystem. We also are a hub for autonomous vehicle research and design and home to a cluster of rail system design and research firms.
Some examples of our startup culture include:
- Idelic
- Seegrid
- IAM Robotics
- Maven Machines
- Capsen Robotics
- CDL Warrior
- Propel IT
- Gather AI
- Locomation
- BluLine Solutions
Contact Us
