Toward greener freight: Overview of inland waterway transport for freight in the European Union
Research Brief
Toward greener freight: Overview of inland waterway transportation in the United States
Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) moves about 8% of all U.S. freight each year, making it a vital conduit for both domestic and international trade. The network connects industrial and agricultural sectors with 25,000 miles of navigable waterways and channels. IWT has an advantage in shipping capacity, especially for bulk and liquid cargo. Additionally, IWT emits fewer air pollutants and has a smaller carbon footprint on an energy-equivalent basis than road and rail transport.
Figure. Major U.S inland waterways and ton-miles of freight transported in 2022
This brief provides an overview of inland waterway freight transportation development in the United States with a focus on relationships between commodity market and economic growth, IWT’s role in intermodal transportation, key policy and regulatory frameworks, challenges and opportunities ion IWT decarbonization in the United States.