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Transportation

Charlotte is one of the nation's major transportation center and the distribution hub for the fifth largest urban region in the United States.  Service is available by air, rail, land, inland port and direct water access.  Charlotte also has a Foreign Trade Zone and U.S. Customs and Inland Port status.

Exceptional Air Service

  • Charlotte/Douglas International Airport averages 500 flights daily on eight major airlines and four commuter carriers, which provide non-stop or single plane service to more than 160 cities. 
  • Almost 11.5 million passengers were boarded in 2001.
  • Charlotte's airport offers four concourses with 64 airline gates, including 44 domestic, eight international and 24 commuter.


Excellent Air Freight Service

  • Charlotte ranked 32th nationwide in air cargo with approximately 103,555 tons enplaned in 2001, which was carried on approximately 25 cargo carriers.
  • Charlotte/Douglas International Airport offers over 500,000 square feet of warehouse space in the Charlotte Air Cargo Center. 
  • Charlotte offers both domestic freight and international airfreight services to and from Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, south America and Mexico. 
  • A 450,000 square foot ramp was recently constructed for United Parcel Service.

Major Trucking Industry

  • More than 40% of the nation's top 100 trucking companies are in Charlotte, including nine of the top 10 firms.
  • Located in Charlotte are 315 trucking companies and 45,154 transportation employees, including truckers.
  • North Carolina is currently the 8th largest trucking center in the nation.
  • Charlotte employs 25% of the state's work force in the industry. 


Convenient Highways

  • Charlotte is served by Interstates I-77 and I-85 which join urban centers and manufacturing belts in the northeast, southwest and the Midwest. 
  • I-40 offers an important east/west link
  • Easy access is available on U.S. routes 74, 29 and 21. 

The State of North Carolina has committed $8 billion through the year 2003 on four-lane divided highway connectors, urban loops and other forms of mass transit.


Major Rail Systems

  • The Charlotte region is at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the country. 
  • Two major rail systems, Norfolk Southern and CSX link 39,995 miles of rail to 23 states East of the Mississippi River. 
  • 300 trains pass through Charlotte weekly. 
  • Norfolk Southern's $50 million computerized yard can classify up to 28,000 cars a day. 
  • Rail also provides piggy back facilities working with trucking capabilities in the city.


The Water Connection

  • North Carolina State Ports Authority operates an inland intermodal terminal in Charlotte. 
  • Containers moving between the terminal and Wilmington are moved either as part of a "matched load" or through the NC State Ports Authority's "Sprint Truck Service." 
  • Shippers is subject to one-way trip charges only. 
  • The Carolina ports are worldwide gateways for importers and exporters linking the U.S. to such locations as
    • Northern Europe
    • Far East
    • Middle East
    • Mediterranean
    • East and West Africa
    • South Africa
    • South America
    • Australia.
City of Charlotte