Marketing of container-on-barge (cob) transportation to promote utilization of Arkansas waterways. Final report, November 1998--August 1999

One of the most cost efficient methods of conveyance is barge transportation. However, the waterways in and around Arkansas are greatly underutilized. There is a significant risk of the federal government shutting down the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System if river traffic cannot be substantially increased. Part of this under utilization is attributable to a lack of marketing of the waterways. Many organizations that could effectively use water transportation as an intermodal link have been reluctant to do so. This is due to inaccurate perceptions of service availability and shipment throughput times. Most shippers are unaware of transportation rate savings that can be realized through the use of barge transportation. This project attempted to address the problem of Arkansas' underutilized utilities by educating shippers in and around the State about the advantages of barge transportation and how these advantages might be put to use for their company.