Page plan · 15 pages

Written for: Policy analysts and transport students

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   Rivers as highways: freight and passengers on US inland waterways

   • US inland waterways move bulk freight and some passengers through the heart of the country.
   • This briefing pulls together freight and passenger data for policy analysts and transport students.
   • We cover the network, cargo, locks, competing modes, risks and investment.
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   Corps of Engineers and BTS counts behind this briefing

   • Tonnage figures come from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics waterborne series.
   • The US Army Corps of Engineers is the main source for waterway and lock operations data.
   • Monthly BTS data lets us see seasonal patterns through 2025.
   • Counts differ by agency definitions, so compare series with care.
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   The navigable network

   • The network includes the Mississippi River system, the Ohio, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and other rivers.
   • Federal navigation channels are maintained by the Corps of Engineers.
   • The Mississippi and its tributaries link the Midwest farm belt to Gulf ports.
   • Connected rivers let barges move cargo across many states.
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   Barge tonnage month by month through 2025

   • Monthly tonnage on internal waterways in 2025 ranged from 42.3 million short tons in February to 55.0 in August.
   • January was 46.7 million and February fell to 42.3 million short tons.
   • Tonnage climbed to 51.3 million in March and stayed near 51 million through most of mid-year.
   • August peaked at 55.0 million, with October also high at 54.5 million.
   • December closed the year at 48.3 million short tons.

   Line chart: Tonnage on internal US waterways by month, 2025 (million short tons). Source: Transportation Services Index and Seasonally-Adjusted Transportation Data (waterborne column) · checked 2026-10-10

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   What the barges carry

   • Barges mainly carry bulk commodities that are heavy and not time-sensitive.
   • Typical cargoes include grain, coal, petroleum products, chemicals, and construction materials.
   • Low cost per tonne-mile suits these bulk goods.
   • Cargo mix varies by river and region.
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   Grain on the river

   • Grain moves down the river system toward Gulf export terminals.
   • Harvest season shapes demand for barges in the fall.
   • Barges link farms and elevators to export markets.
   • River conditions can change grain shipping costs.
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   Locks and dams

   • Locks lift and lower vessels between river pools of different heights.
   • Dams hold water depth for navigation along the channel.
   • Large tows sometimes must be split to fit smaller lock chambers, slowing transit.
   • Lock delays can ripple through the whole supply chain.
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   Ageing infrastructure

   • Many locks and dams date from the early to mid twentieth century.
   • Aging structures raise the risk of unplanned closures.
   • Maintenance backlogs strain Corps of Engineers budgets.
   • Closures at one lock can stop traffic along an entire river segment.
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   A day on a towboat

   • A towboat pushes a group of barges lashed together rather than towing them.
   • Crews work long rotations aboard the vessel.
   • Deckhands handle lines and couple barges, while pilots steer.
   • Tows must plan around locks, weather and river stage.
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    Passengers and ferries

    • Passenger use of inland waterways is smaller than freight.
    • Ferries carry commuters and vehicles across rivers and bays.
    • River cruise vessels serve tourism on rivers such as the Mississippi.
    • Passenger services depend on safe, maintained channels and docks.
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    Waterways compared with rail and road

    • Waterways, rail and trucks compete and also complement each other.
    • Barges suit bulk cargo over long distances at low cost.
    • Rail offers wider reach, and trucks offer door-to-door flexibility.
    • Many shipments combine modes at river terminals.
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    Fuel use per tonne

    • Barges are widely recognized as fuel-efficient per tonne moved.
    • A single tow carries the load of many rail cars or trucks.
    • Lower fuel use per tonne generally means lower emissions per tonne.
    • Speed is slower, so efficiency trades off against time.
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    Flood and drought risk

    • Floods can close locks and halt navigation.
    • Droughts lower river levels and force lighter barge loads.
    • Low water raises per-tonne costs for shippers.
    • Climate variability makes planning for extremes important.
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    Investment needs

    • Modernizing locks and dams needs sustained public funding.
    • Illustratively, a lock project can run to hundreds of millions of dollars (illustrative).
    • Investments should be weighed against benefits for shippers and the economy.
    • Policy analysts should consider maintenance as well as new construction.
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    What to watch on the rivers next

    • Watch monthly BTS tonnage for seasonal and long-run shifts.
    • Track lock closures and water levels across key rivers.
    • Follow federal infrastructure funding decisions for navigation.
    • Monitor grain export demand and passenger ferry developments.