Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services
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Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
This report is intended to help buyers of inland water cargo transportation, which includes transportation over lakes, rivers and coasts in the United States. The major waterways served by vendors in this market are the Mississippi River System, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as the East and West Coasts. Buyers purchase shipping capacity on a spot basis (i.e. at current market rates) or through contracts. In this report, buyers are also called shippers, and water cargo transport companies are also called carriers.
This Report Includes:
- Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services
- Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Support
Not in this Report:
- Passenger Transportation
- Air Cargo Transportation
Global Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 1,490 |
| #2 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 1,230 |
| #3 Africa & Middle East | 675 |
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2
Geography Drilldown - US
Average Cost of Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$1.00 to $XX.XX
per hundred ton-milesAverage Price
Prices in the Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services market range from $1.00 to $XX.XX, depending on Shipping Route, Capacity, Type of Shipment and Fuel surcharges and Escalation. For example, lower prices are associated with Long route ($1.00 to $3.00 per hundred ton-miles), whereas higher prices are associated with Short route ($3.00 to $4.00 per hundred ton-miles).
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Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services market, prices in the US have grown 3.3% from 2022 to 2025. Subscribers can access price trend forecasts, price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data. Learn more
United States (2022-2025)
United States (2025-2028)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services
Total cost of ownership is Medium in the Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Cancellations may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Transportation
Billed During
Handling
Unforeseen
Cancellations
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -2.6 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Market Share Concentration. It is most negatively impacted by Switching Costs. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Port & Harbor Operators
- Gasoline & Petroleum Wholesalers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Stevedoring & Marine Cargo Handling Firms
- Gasoline & Petroleum Bulk Stations
Biggest Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services vendors by revenue in the US are Gatx Corporation, Crowley Holdings, Inc. and Inland Marine Service Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingram Industries Inc. | Global | La Vergne, TN | 501-1,000 | 15-20 | ||||
| American Commercial Barge Line Llc | National | Jeffersonville, IN | 1,001-10,000 | 15-20 | ||||
| Kirby Corporation | National | HOUSTON | 1,001-10,000 | 20-25 | ||||
| Crowley Holdings, Inc. | < 5 | |||||||
| Inland Marine Service Inc. | National | Hebron, KY | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
| RAND Corporation | < 5 | |||||||
| Gatx Corporation | Global | CHICAGO | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Algoma Central Corporation | Global | St. Catherines, CA | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
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Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services market is 1.5% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is stagnating, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
The high level of vendor risk harms buyers by increasing the likelihood of a discontinuity of service.
The high level of market share concentration harms buyers by reducing the amount of competition in the market.
The moderate level of supply chain risk in the market potentially harms buyers by increasing the likelihood of a disruption of service or price fluctuations.
The United States is a net importer of intermodal containers, demonstrating the strong competition from foreign manufacturers within the market. This increased reliance on overseas supply could add to supply chain complexities and potential risks tied to varied trade policies and global economic conditions.
Supplier Information
American Commercial Barge Line Llc
American Commercial Barge Line Llc is a private company operating nationally. The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services and water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1915, the company is currently headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States of America with... Subscribe to learn more
Ingram Industries Inc.
Ingram Industries Inc. is a private company operating globally. The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services and water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1978, the company is currently headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, United States of America with an estimated 750... Subscribe to learn more
Kirby Corporation
Kirby Corporation is a domestic tank barge operator. It transports bulk liquid products, including petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products, and agricultural chemicals, by tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along all three United... Subscribe to learn more
Algoma Central Corporation
Algoma Central Corporation is a public company operating globally. The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1899, the company is currently headquartered in St. Catherines, Canada with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Crowley Holdings, Inc.
Crowley Holdings, Inc. is a private company operating globally. The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1892, the company is currently headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Gatx Corporation
GATX Corporation is a global railcar lessor in North America, Europe, and India. It owns railcar fleets consisting of diverse railcar types, including general-service tank cars, high-pressure tank cars, specialty tank cars, specialty/pneumatic covered hoppers, gravity-covered hoppers, open-top cars, boxcars,... Subscribe to learn more
Inland Marine Service Inc.
Inland Marine Service Inc. is a private company operating nationally. The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1988, the company is currently headquartered in Hebron, Kentucky, United States of America with an estimated 750 employees. Subscribe to learn more
RAND Corporation
RAND Corporation is a private company operating . The company's offerings include inland water cargo transportation services. Founded in 1900, the company is currently headquartered in Santa Monica, California, United States of America. Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Customer Retention Rate and Employee Training Rate. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Pricing and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Retention Rate |
|
Number of Customers at Start of Period Number of Customers at End of Period Number of Customers Added within Period |
The customer retention rate represents the number of customers a company is able to retain over a set time frame. Buyers with recurring needs should place higher importance on the customer retention rate. A high customer retention rate in a market with low specialization and switching costs indicates customers are satisfied with the price and level of service provided. |
| Employee Training Rate |
|
Number of Employees that Undergo Evaluation Number of Employees that Pass Evaluation |
The employee training rate represents the share of employees a company is able to successfully train. A low employee training rate should be compared with the number of damaged shipments to determine if employees are handling products and goods properly. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Surcharges
How often do you revise fuel surcharges?
What triggers a fuel escalation clause to go into effect under long-term contract shipping?
Safety
Do you source materials with high exposure to market disruptions resulting from the coronavirus? How are you coping with these disruptions?
How diversified is your supplier base for inputs? Do you source from multiple suppliers in different global regions?
Cost Containment
What incentives can you provide to switch to inland waterborne transport if some of my product is currently shipped by rail?
How will increasing my contract length lower my shipping costs?
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Inland Water Cargo Transportation Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe their organization(s) and explain why they are seeking inland water cargo transportation services.
Buyers need to give a description of what they are transporting and where. This overview should give vendors enough information to quickly evaluate whether they can provide services.
Statement Of Need
Buyers need to include a detailed description of the exact type of goods being transported, including their packaging, quantity, etc.
Buyers should also include a detailed description of the method of transporting the goods.
Project Budget
Buyers should explicitly state the amount of the contract award.
Buyers should explain whether they expect to pay for services after each shipment or at some other point during the life of the contract.
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We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
