Barge Advantage

Barge Transportation and the inland waterways are extremely important to the U.S. distribution system. The U. S. inland waterway system is one of the busiest and most efficient transportation systems in the world. These navigable waterways link the U.S. heartland to the world. Over 1.2 billion tons of cargo are moved annually on U.S. shallow draft waterways. The economics of barge transportation are significant. Based on cost and safety, inland barge transportation is the most efficient means of transporting bulk commodities compared with rail and truck. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that the cost of one gallon of fuel would move one ton of cargo 60 miles by truck and 200 miles by rail, as compared to 500 miles by barge. Sixteen percent of total domestic freight is moved by barge at only 2% of the freight bill cost. In real dollars, that's a cost savings of $10.67 per ton of cargo shipped when compared to other modes.

The environmental advantages are staggering. U.S. inland barge transportation has been proven to be the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly method of moving bulk raw material compared with rail and trucks. One gallon of fuel can move one ton of bulk liquid products 514 miles by inland tank barge, compared with 202 miles by rail and 59 miles by truck. U.S. inland barge transportation emits 86% less hydrocarbons than trucks and 80% less than rail, 89% less carbon monoxide than trucks and 69% less than rail, and 95% less nitrous oxides than trucks and 71% less than rail. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Emission Control Laboratory determined the following:

Water transport consumes much less energy per ton-mile of freight carried than either rail or truck. This factor, combined with the remoteness of the vessel's operating environment from population centers, substantially reduces the impact of its exhaust emissions. In urban areas, noise pollution becomes an additional factor. In terms of safety, it is easy to see that the cargo hauled by one barge, but would require 15 jumbo hopper cars or 58 large semi’s to haul, is much less exposed to accident incidents. Additionally, truck and train traffic typically go through highly populated urban areas where incidents would have much further reaching effects on human life and property. The U.S. inland waterway system is vital to the national economy and the quality of life of U.S. citizens.