Freight market overview: South Carolina
The Port of Charleston (operated by the South Carolina Ports Authority) has grown dramatically over the past decade — its Wando Welch and Hugh K. Leatherman terminals compete directly with Savannah for Southeast container cargo, particularly retail goods and automotive parts. Charleston's deep harbor (52 feet after recent dredging) accommodates the largest container vessels in service, giving it a vessel-size advantage over many East Coast competitors. The port handles significant European imports (BMW parts) and exports (BMW vehicles built in SC bound for global markets).
The Greenville-Spartanburg area (the Upstate) is one of the most concentrated automotive manufacturing regions in the eastern US: BMW's Spartanburg plant (the company's largest globally by volume, producing X3, X4, X5, X6, X7) is flanked by Volvo Cars' Berkeley County plant, Michelin's US headquarters (Greenville), and hundreds of Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers. BMW alone exports over 60% of its Spartanburg production — driving massive outbound vehicle and component freight through the Port of Charleston. The I-85 corridor connects Spartanburg to Atlanta and Charlotte as the primary supply chain artery.
Top Freight Brokers Serving South Carolina
All hold active FMCSA broker authorityWhat to look for in a South Carolina freight broker
- Port of Charleston drayage capability — BMW parts and retail containers require appointment scheduling and terminal access at Wando Welch and HK Leatherman
- JIT automotive experience for BMW (Spartanburg) and Volvo (Berkeley County) — time-definite delivery is essential for assembly plant supply chains
- I-85 corridor depth — Spartanburg to Atlanta and Spartanburg to Charlotte are the highest-volume lanes in the Upstate
Key South Carolina freight lanes
Top industries generating freight in South Carolina: Automotive (BMW, Volvo) · Port Logistics & Container · Tires & Advanced Manufacturing · Aerospace (Boeing)