Auto Transport by Region: The West North Central States
The West North Central states are seven states located in the upper Midwest of the U.S.
Comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, the region is known colloquially as the “Farm Belt” or the “Heartland,” as much of the food sold in and by the U.S. is grown in this region.
Home to over 20 million people, the seven states that make up the West North Central region aren’t the most heavily or densely populated in the U.S., particularly the Dakotas which have some of the lowest population density figures among the fifty states.
The states’ lower population numbers and smaller metropolitan areas can cause some problems for auto transportation services to or from, mainly due to the fact that few customers – and therefore few carriers – are going into or out of the West North Central.
The routes through the West North Central are centered around mainly east-west interstates, as most carriers running routes through those states are doing so along cross-country treks from coast to coast.
They utilize the Interstate Highway System, of course, which means that they run routes mainly through major metropolitan areas in the various states of the region in hopes of attracting and finding more customers.
The logic is sound, as heavily populated areas increase freight possibilities merely through numbers. However, the West North Central states have few major metropolitan areas; much of the land in these states is rural, particularly Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas.
Agriculture has had a lasting impression on the region, particularly in Kansas and Nebraska; of the West North Central states, Missouri is the most heavily populated.
When shipping a vehicle to or from the West North Central region you’re going to want to also consider the weather, as during the fall and winter months severe weather can hit the northern areas of the region and cause delays and price hikes for shipments to and from those areas. Snow and ice are common in the winter months and are conditions that auto shippers strive to avoid.
If you’re interested in transporting a vehicle to an area within the West North Central region, you should fill out our free online quote form or give us a call at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our live auto transport agents who can answer your shipping questions, help you get a free quote and much more.
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