TRANSPORTATION, EXPORT LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION
This category includes the systems that transport goods to markets—from refrigerated trailers to export certifications. It links local growers with global buyers.
On-farm pickups, trailer staging, and third-party freight
Export inspection, certification, and tracking systems
Irrigation-related energy and port logistics
Short- and long-haul distribution from packinghouses
Air, road, and rail support for perishable commodities
1. Ag Census Interactive Maps
DATA HIGHLIGHTS:
$68,252 in average direct-to-consumer sales per farm reflects demand for short-haul, local food movement.
Logistics costs emerge through sales to schools, grocers, and distributors.
Government loans and conservation funding help subsidize ag logistics and transportation equipment.
2. The State of Work: Transportation, Distribution and Logistics in the Inland Empire
Data Highlights:
The sector is the #2 employer in Riverside County, driving rapid job growth over the past five years.
While generating important employment, the report notes low wages, health, and environmental challenges in TDL roles.
Indicates the sector’s rise corresponds with the region’s shift from agriculture toward logistics.
3. Goods on the Move: Trade and Logistics in Southern California (LAEDC, 2025)
Data Highlights:
Riverside County warehousing jobs surged from ~2,000 (2002) to 58,330 by 2022
Average annual wage in “Trade & Logistics” cluster reached $90,600, well above the regional average
Elevated “Location Quotient” underscores Riverside’s strong logistics specialization.
4. A Regional Systems Approach to Logistics & Warehousing in Southern California (SCAG, 2025)
Data Highlights:
Chronicles massive warehouse development in the Inland Empire, including Riverside, affecting land use, congestion, and facilities
Notes community concerns over traffic and air pollution impacting county health and infrastructure.
Suggests rising infrastructure externalities tied to agricultural logistics routes. Southern California Association of Governments
5. Coachella Valley–San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service Technical Memo
Data Highlights:
Supports agro-industrial logistics by enabling cold-chain transport via rail—projected at $10–20 million annually in value-added air and rail export services through ONT and Coachella Valley facilities.
Enhances distribution capacity for processed goods, easing bottlenecks in post-harvest movement.
Unlocks opportunities for refrigerated rail service from desert packinghouses to markets beyond.
6. Palm Springs International Airport Expansion
DATA HIGHLIGHTS:
Total Investment: $2 billion (largest PSP upgrade in decades)
Primary Upgrades Include:
New cargo apron
Cold-chain and temperature-controlled handling facilities
Runway and taxiway expansion for larger aircraft
Regional Freight Benefits: Supports export certification logistics, just-in-time produce delivery, and direct connection to west coast and Mexico-based trade networks
Strategic Role: Reduces dependency on Ontario (ONT) for perishable freight, especially during seasonal peaks for table grapes, citrus, and floriculture
Projected Completion: 2027–2028 timeframe
7. Palm Springs 2025–2029 Strategic Plan
Data Highlights:
Confirms infrastructure investments intended to support operational efficiency in cargo handling and logistics
Projects job growth in airport logistics—benefiting Riverside County post-harvest workers.
Emphasizes sustainable, resilient infrastructure to manage increased freight volumes tied to ag products.
8. SunLine Transit Agency. (2023). FY 24–28 Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP): Board‑Approved Final Report.
Data Highlights:
Provides expanded public transit services connecting Coachella Valley and western Riverside County farmsto warehouse and packaging hubs, enhancing labor mobility and reducing vehicle-related labor delays—supporting an estimated $45–60 million in annual agricultural worker access.
Projects 3–5% annual growth in transit-based freight and ag logistics, tied to direct “ag‑haul” partnerships, helping alleviate seasonal truck shortages and improving producer profitability and timeliness.
Includes a shift to renewable-powered fleet upgrades servicing rural ag corridors, expected to cut operational fuel costs by $500K–$750K/year and reduce GHG emissions in line with sustainability objectives.
9. KESQ ARTICLE: There are hundreds of temporary tariff‑free zones — and they’re in the US
Data Highlights:
374 foreign-trade zones (FTZs) across the U.S. offering duty‑deferral and elimination, enabling cost savings on imported inputs and exports
Nearly $1 trillion worth of goods moved through FTZs in 2023, representing ~1/3 of all U.S. imports—supports over 500,000 jobs nationally
Riverside County includes FTZ #236 (City of Palm Springs), facilitating tariff-free imports and re-exports for local ag and manufacturing businesses
Riverside County Economic Impact:
Regional agricultural and value-added firms using the Palm Springs FTZ (Zone 236) benefit via cost savings on imported inputs and reduced tariffs on exports.
Improved cash flow and reduced customs costs boost competitiveness for export-oriented ag producers and packers in Riverside.
Job creation and supply-chain efficiency are reinforced by the FTZ’s local logistics and warehousing influences.
10. Developing Inland Logistics Ports to Support Agricultural Exports
Data Highlights:
Purpose: Identify strategies to reduce bottlenecks in ag export flows, especially for rural producers
Benefits of Inland Ports:
Lower drayage costs
Shorter container turnaround times
Direct transfer of ag products to intermodal rail corridors
Target Outcomes for Ag Producers:
$100–$500 per container in cost savings
2–6 days faster delivery for export-bound goodsresilience.
