The Georgia Department of Transportation projects that total freight movement through the state will nearly double over the next 25 years, according to the agency's Georgia Freight Plan. The projection reflects the state's position as one of the top five aerospace exporters in the US and a primary Southeast logistics hub for goods moving through the Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Georgia's inland port network is expanding to absorb projected growth. The Gainesville Inland Port, opened May 4, 2026, provides daily rail service via Norfolk Southern and is expected to divert approximately 26,000 truck moves annually from Atlanta-area highways to rail in its first operating year. The shift is designed to reduce highway congestion while lowering per-unit freight costs for shippers.

The American Trucking Associations reports that trucks move roughly 72% of all freight tonnage in the US economy. In Georgia, the $1.6 billion I-75 express lane expansion through Henry County and surrounding upgrades represent the state's largest single investment in freight infrastructure, signed into law as part of the AFY 2026 state budget.

Nationally, carrier capacity remains under pressure. The ATA's Truck Tonnage Index posted consecutive months of growth in early 2026, while available driver capacity has tightened as FMCSA enforcement removed nonrated trucks from service. The combination of rising tonnage demand and constrained supply is supporting elevated rates across all major lane categories.

Source: American Trucking Associations -- https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/navigate-challenges-2026-truckings-trusted-roadmap