America's Commercially-Navigable Waterways
America’s inland waterways form one of the most extensive and efficient freight transportation networks in the world. Stretching across the nation's heartland, these navigable rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways connect producers, manufacturers, terminals, ports, and consumers through a system that supports economic growth, supply chain resilience, and global trade.
More than 1 billion tons of cargo move annually across the major inland waterway corridors represented by Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals (IRPT). From the Mississippi River, which moves more than 458 million tons, to the Ohio River at nearly 168 million tons, these waterways serve as critical transportation arteries for agricultural products, energy resources, construction materials, manufactured goods, project cargo, fertilizers, steel, and countless other commodities.
The network includes major waterways such as the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Columbia, Cumberland, Red, and Tenn-Tom rivers, as well as the Great Lakes system and Gulf Coast waterways. Together, these corridors provide access to domestic and international markets through a connected system of inland ports, private terminals, railroads, highways, and deep-draft seaports.
Water transportation offers significant advantages for shippers and communities alike:
- Cost-effective transportation that reduces overall logistics expenses.
- Lower emissions and fuel consumption compared to other freight modes.
- Reduced highway congestion and infrastructure wear.
- Enhanced supply chain reliability and resilience through multimodal connectivity.
- Economic development opportunities for rural and urban communities throughout the nation.
IRPT represents the businesses, ports, terminals, and transportation providers that operate along these waterways. Collectively, our members support the movement of commerce across more than 24,000 miles of commercially navigable waterways, ensuring that America's inland transportation network remains a competitive advantage for generations to come.
Whether moving bulk commodities, breakbulk cargo, project freight, or specialized materials, America's inland waterways remain one of the safest, most sustainable, and most underutilized transportation assets in the nation, ready to strengthen supply chains and support economic growth from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes and beyond.
