Pennsylvania Is Built for E-Commerce and Our PA Warehouse Is Ready

Over the last few years, customer expectations for shipping have changed dramatically. Two-day delivery is no longer a differentiator; it’s the baseline. Approximately 64% of ecommerce parcels worldwide arrive within two calendar days. North America leads at roughly 72%, driven by brands moving inventory closer to their customers and building smarter fulfillment networks.

That’s exactly why Pennsylvania has become one of the hottest spots in the country for e-commerce fulfillment, and why our PA warehouse is a strategic node for brands that want faster delivery, lower shipping costs, and a more resilient supply chain. 

Pennsylvania Puts Your Inventory Next to Your Customers

From a distribution standpoint, Pennsylvania sits in the middle of the densest consumer corridor in the United States. 

• From Pennsylvania, you can reach around 40% of the U.S. population within a one-day truck drive. 

• In the greater Philadelphia area alone, tens of millions of people are reachable within 150–200 miles, and almost half of the U.S. population is within a single day’s drive.  

  
  

For e-commerce brands, that geographic advantage translates directly into better shipping performance: 

• More orders land in low shipping zones (2–4) instead of high zones (6–8), which can significantly reduce parcel costs. Smart SMS Solutions 

• Customers across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and much of the Midwest can receive 1–2-day ground delivery without paying for air.  

Serious Infrastructure for Serious E-Commerce 

Pennsylvania isn’t just well located on the map; it’s backed by infrastructure that moves your orders: 

• Highway network: The state connects into major interstates (I-76, I-78, I-80, I-81, I-83, I-95) plus a 500-mile turnpike that underpins east–west freight movement.  

• Ports & rail: Multiple international ports (including those serving Philadelphia) and strong freight rail connections make it easy to bring products via ocean or intermodal, then flow it through to our warehouse.  

• Air access: Pennsylvania is served by several major airports; the broader region around Philadelphia offers robust air cargo capacity for time-sensitive orders.  

This mix of modes is why many global brands have clustered distribution and e-commerce centers in Eastern Pennsylvania; from big-box retailers and apparel brands to household e-commerce leaders.  

Lower Shipping Cost Through Zone Optimization 

Most shipping costs aren’t about weight, t’s about distance. Carriers price based on zones, and the farther your package travels, the higher the zone (and the cost). 

Because Pennsylvania sits close to so many major metros, a PA origin address makes it easier to: 

• Push a large share of orders into Zones 2–4, which is considered a “healthy” shipping profile in terms of cost.  

• Reduce the need for expensive expedited services by relying on ground to still hit 1–3-day delivery windows across much of the eastern half of the U.S. 

When your inventory sits in our Pennsylvania warehouse, you’re not just getting speed; you’re buying back margin on every order. 

Deep Logistics Talent and a Mature Fulfillment Market 

Pennsylvania, and especially the greater Philadelphia and central PA corridor, has a long history in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. That history matters to e-commerce.

• The region is home to a large industrial workforce, with hundreds of thousands of workers in logistics and related sectors.  

• As e-commerce has grown, so has the number of fulfillment and 3PL facilities in the state, creating a deep base of operational expertise.  

For you, this translates into: 

• Reliable staffing for multi-shift operations during peak seasons 

• Access to people who already understand e-commerce SLAs, carrier cutoffs, and peak-season surge 

• A mature ecosystem of carriers, packaging partners, and supporting services 

Next Day Ground network 

Inside Our Harrisburg, PA Warehouse 

Our Inland Star Harrisburg warehouse is designed from the ground up to support high-performance e-commerce, omnichannel, and B2B distribution.  

Location 

• Address: 3400 Industrial Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 

• Strategically positioned for rapid access to major transport routes, carriers, and regional parcel networks 

Size & Capacity 

• 175,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space 

• Plenty of room to support growing SKUs, seasonal builds, and multi-channel inventory 

• 26 truck doors 

• High door count supports quick turns on inbound freight and outbound parcel/LTL shipments 

• Helps keep product flowing smoothly even during peak season surges 

Core Services 

We offer a full menu of logistics and fulfillment services from Harrisburg, including: 

• Public warehousing (multi-client) 

• E-commerce fulfillment 

• Pick & pack 

• Kitting and light assembly 

• Transportation support 

These services are designed to flex around your business model, from DTC-only brands to companies blending e-commerce, retail, and wholesale. 

Industries We Support 

Our Harrisburg operation is built to handle a wide variety of products, including: 

• Food and beverage 

• Retail and consumer goods 

• Industrial and general merchandise 

• Chemicals (with appropriate controls and care) 

If your catalog spans multiple categories, we can help you centralize and simplify your logistics in one compliant, well-run facility. 

Next-Day Ground Reach Across the Northeast 

Our Harrisburg warehouse offers next-day ground parcel reach to the entire Northeastern U.S. That means you can promise fast delivery to some of the country’s most valuable e-commerce markets using cost-effective ground shipping, not expensive expedited modes. 

If you’re looking to: 

• Improve delivery speed for customers in the East and Northeast 

• Bring shipping costs under control 

• Add a scalable, well-run node to your network 

…then shifting more of your e-commerce volume into our Harrisburg, PA warehouse is a smart next step. 

About Inland Star Distribution Centers 

Founded in 1984, Inland Star Distribution Centers, Inc. is a full-service, employee-owned 3PL specializing in tailored warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, and transportation. With certified facilities in California’s Central Valley (Fresno, Visalia), Los Angeles (Carson), and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Inland Star supports food & beverage, consumer goods, and industrial brands with scalable, compliant, and customer-focused solutions. 

For more information, contact Doug Draper, Director of Business Development at ddraper@inlandstar.com or call (599) 512-6304.