Shipping Comparisons

Cargo Capacity of Different Transportation Modes

Comparison of the cargo capacities of a barge, rail car, train, and semi truck (adapted from Iowa Department of Transportation)

Mode of Transportation	Tons of Cargo	Bushels of Cargo	Gallons of Cargo
One Barge	1,500 tons	52,500 bushels	453,600 gallons
One Rail Car	100 tons	3,500 bushels	30,240 gallons
100-Car Train Unit	10,000 tons	350,000 bushels	3,024,000 gallons
Large Semi	26 tons	910 bushels	7,865 gallons

Safety of Shipping Methods

Comparison of the safety records of barge, train, and semi truck per billion ton-miles
(Source: C. Jake Haulk Ph.D. – Inland Waterways as Vital National Infrastructure: Refuting “Corporate Welfare” Attacks)

Mode of Transportation	Deaths Per Billion Ton-Miles	Injuries Per Billion Ton-Miles
Barge	0.01	0.09
Train	1.15	21.77
Trucking	0.84	N/A

Energy Efficiency of Shipping Methods

Number of miles one ton can be carried per gallon of fuel (Adapted from U.S. DOT Maritime Administration)

Mode of Transportation	Number of Miles/Gallon Carrying One Ton of Cargo
Barge	514 miles/gallon
Train	202 miles/gallon
Trucking	59 miles/gallon

Environmental Quality of Shipping Methods

Comparison of the emissions of different gases into the atmosphere from different shipping methods
(adapted from Haulk)

Mode of Transportation	Hydrocarbons Emitted (lbs/ton-mile)	Carbon Monoxide Emitted (lbs/ton-mile)	Nitrous Oxide Emitted (lbs/ton-mile)
Barge	0.0009	0.002	0.0053
Train	0.0046	0.0064	0.0183
Truck	0.0063	0.019	0.1017