Inbound Logistics | March 2026

Beckons

leadership sustains long-term investment and policy continuity through initiatives like the Georgia Center of Innovation and GDOT’s Freight & Logistics Implementation Plan. This combination creates predictability, trust, and speed to market—key factors that consistently elevate Georgia’s logistics standing.” Asked how he would promote Georgia to logistics professionals exploring logistics sites in the region, Thompson says he would focus on the transportation infrastructure. “If I were addressing a logistics conference, I’d highlight Georgia’s unmatched multimodal connectivity as its foundational advantage,” he says. “Few places combine a premier East Coast container port, the world’s busiest airport, extensive rail networks, and a dense interstate system in a single, well- integrated ecosystem. “From an SMC³ perspective, what truly differentiates Georgia is the predictability and efciency this infrastructure enables, allowing shippers, carriers, and 3PLs to plan, price, and execute freight movements with condence, using trusted industry benchmarks and data standards,” he

SMC³, which provides LTL data, technology, and educational solutions, adds to Georgia’s logistics assets with a core focus on the North American freight market.

adds. “I would also point to Georgia’s longstanding commitment to investing in logistics and collaborating with public agencies, ports, and private leaders, continually expanding capacity and modernizing operations to stay ahead of demand. Finally, Georgia’s deep logistics talent base and culture of industry education—reinforced by organizations like SMC³—give companies not just a location, but a sustainable competitive environment for long-term growth.” Thompson cites the growth and expansion at the Port of Savannah as a vivid example of the state’s commitment

to support the logistics industry. “State leadership has consistently backed long- range port planning, rail connectivity, and terminal modernization, helping Georgia strengthen its position as a national gateway for freight movement.” COMMITTED TO GROWTH Another recent illustration of the state’s leadership, Thompson says, was the 2025 Georgia Logistics Summit. Hosted by the Georgia Center of Innovation, the annual summit brings together public and private leaders to align on technology, workforce, and infrastructure priorities for the industry. Thompson believes these examples reect a broader pattern. “Georgia’s leadership doesn’t just invest in assets, but actively convenes the ecosystem to ensure data, collaboration, and long-term strategy translate into measurable logistics progress statewide,” he adds. “We also hold our annual Jump Start conference in Atlanta, where more than 700 industry stakeholders come to the hub of transportation to connect with other key players in the industry.” The company hosts other educational events in Atlanta as well. Looking ahead, Thompson says, SMC³ continues to rene and update its product with reliable, innovative solutions, expand API- based intelligence, and invest in analytics that improve predictability and transparency—reinforcing Georgia’s role as a center for logistics innovation and thought leadership.

Nurturing Economic Growth The statewide impact of Georgia’s logistics industry is told in numbers that are the envy of other states:

239,406 495,064 $83.4 DIRECT JOBS

TOTAL JOBS IN ALL INDUSTRIES (10% of all jobs in Georgia)

BILLION IN OUTPUT/SALES (7% of Georgia’s total output/sales)

$29.5

$46.6

$2.2

BILLION IN LABOR INCOME (8% of Georgia’s total labor income)

BILLION IN STATE GDP (7% of Georgia’s total GDP)

BILLION IN TAX REVENUES FOR STATE GOVERNMENT

Whether large, medium, or small, the companies with headquarters or significant presence in the state have found that in an era when supply chain resilience and speed-to-market define competitive advantage, Georgia stands out not simply as a place to do business, but as a place to grow it. The state’s ability to grow is derived from more than Georgia’s gateway position on the map. “Success in economic development is intentional,” says GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “It takes years of planning, investment, and strong partnerships to achieve and sustain this level of success.”

44 Inbound Logistics • March 2026