Georgia Freight

Georgia’s freight network is one of the state’s strongest economic assets. GDOT’s responsibility is to utilize taxpayer funds to effectively maintain safe, reliable, and cost-efficient freight movement for agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, and other key industries – ensuring that the freight network supports current and future Georgia businesses.​

Georgia’s Multimodal Freight Network

With the nation’s fourth-busiest container port, the fastest-growing container port on the East Coast, the world’s busiest passenger airport, an extensive rail system, and a well-connected highway network, Georgia offers bu​sinesses the infrastructure to operate in their service to domestic and global markets. These advantages have helped the state compete domestically and internationally. 

Highway
Highways

Georgia’s highway freight network totals 4,365 miles, including interstate highways and US and State highways providing direct access to Georgia’s logistics-enabled businesses.

Railroad
Railroads

Georgia’s rail freight network totals 4,646 active rail miles of track, making it the largest rail network in the Southeast and among the top ten nationwide.

Port
Ports

Georgia’s maritime freight network forms the backbone of Georgia’s global trade platform and includes the fastest growing port on the U.S. East Coast (Savannah), the #1 port for automobiles and heavy equipment (Brunswick), and a system of three inland ports (Bainbridge, Appalachian Regional Port, and the Blue Ridge Connector).

Air Cargo
Air Cargo

Georgia’s air freight network includes 58 airports that facilitate air cargo operations, with 11 airports offering regularly scheduled air cargo service.

The Georgia Multimodal Freight Network (GMFN) includes federal and state-designated systems that are eligible for various funding sources. The GMFN consists of five modal networks: highways, rail, marine, air cargo, and pipelines. The network provides connections to worldwide trading partners, intermodal facilities, Georgia’s economic zones, and freight activity centers.

State Highway Map​

State Highway Map​

 

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Georgia’s Competitive Advantage

The department's goal is to use a strategic approach to deliver well-planned transportation investments that accommodate freight growth and logistics needs statewide.

Georgia’s robust logistics industry and supporting infrastruct​ure, combined with strong workforce training program​s, have fostered a business-friendly environment.

1Source: Area Development Magazine.​​

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Women in Transportation Blog Banner  

$113.3 Billion in Private Investment Since Governor Kemp Took Office

State Highway Map​

2Source: GDOT analysis of Georgia Department of Economic Development data (Jan, FY 2019 to June, FY 2025).

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Freight and logistics directly support roughly one in 10 jobs in Georgia and generate the equivalent of $107 billion in annual sales and output.

Continued strong economic growth will increase freight movement demand on the transportation system. Georgia’s economic health depends on a transportation system that is ready to carry that cargo safely and efficiently, supporting Georgia residents and businesses.

3Source: In Motion - A Study of Georgia's Logistics Industry in 2023-2024. GDECD and Selig Center for Economic Growth, June 2025.

State Highway Map​

4Source : US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics – Freight Analysis Framework.

 

 

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Georgia’s Commitment to Freight

Funding and Investment

Governor Brian Kemp and the General Assembly have made historic investments to support GDOT’s mission in recent years.

  • The Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2024 budget included $593 million to increase the capital construction budget by 58% and $500 million to establish the Georgia Freight Program. The AFY 2025 budget added another $500 million. More information on appropriate state general funds for transportation is available here.
  • The AFY 2026 budget, signed by Governor Kemp on March 3, 2026, includes over $1.6 billion for the extension and bidirectional expansion of the I-75 express lanes in Henry County, $185 million for interchange conversions on SR 316 (University Parkway), $100 million for rehabilitation and replacement of rural bridges, and $250 million for local maintenance and improvement grants.
  • GDOT has been able to invest these historic funds to advance projects that improve safety, reduce bottlenecks, and strengthen multimodal connections, demonstrating the department’s commitment to delivering measurable value for Georgia’s taxpayers.​
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Georgia Freight & Logistics  

Freight and Logistics Implementation Plan

The passage of HB 617, effective July 1, 2024, reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening the state’s freight network.

The legislation directs GDOT to develop and maintain the statewide Freight and Logistics Implementation Plan (FLIP), a 20-year roadmap for freight and logistics investments and requires alignment with the federally required State Freight Plan. HB 617 also requires an annual report, due each February 15, to update the General Assembly on progress made during the previous fiscal year.

2025 Freight & Logistics Implementation Plan

​​FY 2025 Freight & Logistics Annual Report

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Program Info


The Georgia Freight Plan represents the next step in the progression of freight interest and activity.

Major Mobility Investment Program

The Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) projects focus on improving mobility in congested regions of the state with a vision to boost Georgia’s competitiveness. The projects identified will improve quality of life and build a better Georgia by creating additional capacity, improving freight movement, providing transportation improvements and efficiencies, enhancing safety, and decreasing travel times.

View Program Info

Georgia Freight Rail Program

This freight rail funding program is designed to enhance state investment in freight rail for public benefit. Both Class 1 and short-line rail lines are eligible.

View Program Info

Georgia's Freight Plan serves as the statewide, long-term strategy to guide freight investments and strengthen economic competitiveness. Designed as a forward-looking and actionable roadmap, the plan advances freight mobility and drives sustained economic growth across the state.


2027 State Freight Plan

As Georgia's economy continues to expand and diversify, and logistics patterns and requirements change, a new State Freight Plan, to be completed in early 2027, will position GDOT to develop and guide future investments.

View 2027 Georgia Freight Plan Fact Sheet


2023 State Freight Plan

Georgia developed its most recent State Freight Plan, including strategies built around insights on logistics patterns and business requirements following the pandemic. The Freight Plan is required to be updated every four years and includes, as required by federal law, a fiscally constrained list of projects to be funded through the National Highway Freight Program.

View 2023 Georgia Freight Plan


Check back often for more details on the process and outcomes of the 2027 Georgia Freight Plan. For more information, please contact us at freight@dot.ga.gov.

Freight planning is a continuous and collaborative process. Since 2023, GDOT has continued data analysis, coordination with public and private-sector partners, and developed new strategies to address critical freight and logistics issues. Two recent reports focus on the business case for continued Georgia commitment to freight investments.


 

Business Case for Priority Freight Infrastructure

This report presents a business-focused analysis of truck parking in Georgia, quantifying current demand, identifying gaps between supply and need, and recommending strategies for improving truck parking availability and safety across the State’s freight network.

View Report​​​​​​


 

Business-Focused Planning Analysis

This document provides a business-focused planning analysis of the freight infrastructure in Georgia, including the development and reporting of freight key performance indicators through consultation with the private sector.

View Analysis


State and Regional Planning

Freight and logistics planning is critical to supporting Georgia’s businesses and shippers. The Georgia Freight Plan update is one of several GDOT studies that seeks to promote economic growth across the state.

National and Regional

Freight Transportation at the USDOT

American Trucking Research Institute

Association of American Railroads

The Eastern Transportation Coalition

State Agencies

Georgia Ports Authority

Georgia Department of Economic Development

Center of Innovation for Logistics


GDOT Intermodal Division

Georgia State Rail Plan

Aviation Program

Waterways Program

State Associations

Georgia Motor Trucking Association

Georgia Airport Association

Georgia Railroad Association

Georgia’s metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) conduct long-range, multimodal regional planning, including the development of regional freight plans and other specialized freight analysis. Access to more information on each MPO and their transportation planning activities is available through the Georgia Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (GAMPO).

Recent standalone regional freight plans are linked below. For all other MPOs, references to regional freight patterns, trends, and projects are included in Metropolitan Transportation Plans, accessible through links on the GAMPO website.

Atlanta Regional Commission – 2024 Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan

Augusta Regional Transportation Study – ARTS Regional Freight Plan Update

Brunswick Area Transportation Study – 2025 BATS Regional Freight Plan

Coastal Region MPO – CORE MPO Regional Freight Plan Update, Coastal Empire Transportation Study

Dougherty Area Regional Transportation Study – DARTS Regional Freight Profile

Rome-Floyd County Metropolitan Planning Organization – Rome-Floyd Freight Plan

 

 

Contact Information

Georgia Department of Transportation - Office of Planning
One Georgia Center
600 West Peachtree St NW, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30308​

  Email  ​​   Visit FMCSA Website​​

NOTE: Information for DOT-related issues or inquiries can be found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website​

Freight Business Case  

Business Case for Priority Freight Infrastructure

This report presents a business-focused analysis of truck parking in Georgia, quantifying current demand, identifying gaps between supply and need, and recommending strategies for improving truck parking availability and safety across the State’s freight network.

View Report​​​​​​

The goal of the Department is to use a strategic approach to provide well-planned transportation investments to accommodate freight growth and logistics needs statewide. Freight and logistics demand is a critical component in Georgia’s economy. In recent years, Georgia’s transportation and logistics employment growth has outpaced the nation. Rail, water, freight and road transportation, as well as warehousing services all experienced significant growth, and in FY 22, 358 companies have expanded or located in Georgia, announcing $21.2 billion in private investment. This includes manufacturing and automotive, logistics/ distribution, and Agribusiness & Food Processing.

Georgia’s robust logistics and infrastructure combined with the best workforce training program in the nation has fostered a business-friendly environment. For the last several years, Georgia has been honored with the recognition of being the Top state for doing business. With the large number of economic development announcements over the last few years, including the Rivian and Hyundai Plants, as well as the growth at the Port of Savannah (the 3rd busiest container gateway in the US), Georgia’s logistics industry is a substantial and dependable source of jobs, economic activity, and economic growth. ​​

Statewide Impacts of Georgia’s Logistics Industry

239,406
direct jobs

495,064
total jobs in all industries
(10% of all jobs in Georgia)

$83.4 billion
in output/sales
(7% of Georgia’s total output/sales)

$46.6 billion
in state GDP
(7% of Georgia’s total GDP)

 

$29.5 billion
in labor income
(8%​ of Georgia’s total labor ​income)

$2.2 billion
in tax revenues for state government

$2.3 billion
in tax revenues for local governments​​


Georgia Freight Plan Update

The updated, BIL-compliant Georgia Freight Plan was completed in January 2023 and approved by FHWA on April 28, 2023. The plan is a comprehensive, strategic assessment of various demand scenarios on the state’s freight and logistics-related infrastructure assets and options for investments and operational and policy considerations that support Georgia shippers and logistics-enabled businesses, enable positive economic benefits statewide, and enhance the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of goods throughout Georgia.

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Designated State Freight Network Corridor Map’

Cemetery Locator

View Map​​

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