Why Is Southern Indiana Called the Fouridor?

iStock.com/Nicholas Klein

Known as The Fouridor, the Southern Indiana region’s four Rs – river, rail, runways and roads – deliver an ideal mix of infrastructure to support manufacturing and logistics businesses. In fact, the full range of transportation options allows companies to operate more efficiently and mitigate risks, says John Launius, chief economic development officer for One Southern Indiana, the region’s chamber and economic development organization. 

“Through COVID and some other supply chain dynamics – even things we’re facing now – options are good,” Launius says. “We are in a community that has this multimodality of infrastructure, which has been building decade over decade into a core piece of our cultural fabric as well as our business ecosystem.” 

However, The Fouridor is more than just a transportation network. It’s also a strategic regional brand that positions the area as a logistics superhighway. 

“The Fouridor speaks to decision-makers in a way that creates curiosity, much like the Research Triangle or Wall Street or other iconic names,” Launius says. 

Check Out These Fouridor Facts 

Centrally located with access to 154 million customers within an 11-hour drive, The Fouridor includes: 

• River: The Jeffersonville location of the Ports of Indiana handles approximately 3.5 million tons of cargo annually along the banks of the Ohio River at mile marker 597. 
• Rail: Multiple rail operators, including CSX, Louisville and Indiana Railroad, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian Pacific in Louisville, enable rapid freight transportation. 
• Runways: Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, home to the UPS Worldport, processes an estimated 400,000 packages every hour, providing unprecedented shipping capabilities. 
• Roads: Interstates 64, 65 and 71, along with other less-trafficked routes, provide access to a network of roads, large and small, to get goods to the right people at the right time. 

For Medline Industries, a major provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions, roadways are critical for the company’s Jeffersonville operations. 

“Our dedicated team of MedTrans drivers heavily uses Interstates 65, 265 and 64 to get to our customers throughout Indiana and Kentucky,” says Mena Kropiwiec, director of operations at Medline. “Because of this strategic location in the nation’s highway network, we also use them to connect with other distribution centers across the nation.” 

Infrastructure and Community Are Stellar

Medline serves all points of care, drawing on a broad product portfolio, a resilient supply chain and leading clinical solutions. The Northfield, Illinois, company helps health care providers around the globe improve clinical, financial and operational outcomes. 

“Our facility in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which employs approximately 550 people, plays a crucial role in the company’s ability to make next-day deliveries to 95% of our customers in the United States,” Kropiwiec says. 

Medline’s health care supply chain infrastructure seamlessly delivers its products to its customers, she says. She adds: “Getting medical supplies right – right time, right place and right quantities – is essential to the success of our health care customers. We synchronize the moving parts for on-time, accurate delivery to all points of care.” 

Beyond The Fouridor’s infrastructure, Medline has also benefited from Jeffersonville’s inviting community. 

“This is a great place for Medline to operate,” she says. “The community has welcomed Medline ever since we opened in Jeffersonville in 2018, and we take pride in being a valued member of the community.” 

Ready to Support Next-Generation Industries 

The Fouridor’s strategic focus extends beyond logistics. Launius emphasizes targeting high-wage, growth-oriented industries, like pharmaceuticals, medical devices and advanced manufacturing. 

“We don’t want to just move boxes,” he says. “We want to move high-value goods that require sophisticated infrastructure.” 

Beyond that, The Fouridor represents a comprehensive ecosystem, connecting transportation infrastructure, workforce development and regional assets. Proximity to major institutions and flexible transportation networks make the region attractive to companies, especially those seeking skilled workers and efficient logistics. 

The Fouridor represents a dynamic, interconnected region ready to support next-generation industries. 

“Communities that win will articulate and activate the intersection of logistics advantages, proximity to major institutions and growth potential,” Launius says.