Inland Water Freight Transportation Industry Overview

Excerpt from Inland Water Freight Transportation Report

The US inland water freight transportation industry includes about 300 companies with combined annual revenue of more than $5 billion. Major companies include independents, such as American Commercial Lines, Ingram Barge, and Kirby Inland Marine, and captive subsidiaries of companies that transport commodities, such as AEP River Operations (owned by American Electric Power) and American River Transportation (owned by Archer Daniels Midland). The industry is highly concentrated: the largest 50 companies generate more than 85 percent of industry revenue.

Competitive Landscape

Demand is driven primarily by the level of agricultural exports, petroleum refining, coal usage, and chemical shipments. Large companies have advantages in handling a broad range of cargo types, along with economies of scale in purchasing and marketing. Small companies compete by specializing in particular cargo types or services, subcontracting to larger companies, and offering responsive customer service. The industry is capital-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is about $340,000.

Products, Operations & Technology

Major services are freight transportation (70 percent of industry revenue) and towing and tugboat services (25 percent). Freight transportation services consist of dry cargo (such as grain, coal, steel, fertilizers, and aggregates) and liquid cargo (refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, black oils, and agricultural chemicals).