Baltimore’s main claim to fame is its port, which generates hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in income for the city and all of Maryland. The Port of Baltimore is notable for being the leading hub for handling cars, trucks, and other vehicles. This has in turn given rise to auto parts suppliers and other companies that keep these vehicles in good condition.
Unfortunately, Baltimore’s auto handling and maintenance industries have trouble getting the supplies they need to deal with all of the vehicles shipped into the city. Between the nearly 3 million people living in the Baltimore metropolitan area and the town's proximity to DC and Philadelphia, the roads are subject to severe traffic. As a result, carriers have trouble getting supplies to these businesses in time to meet their needs. These difficulties are only exacerbated by the fact that vehicles are shipped into and out of Baltimore on tight schedules, as well as the fact that the parts they’re bringing in cannot afford to be damaged on the road.