For many barge operators, federal infrastructure bills feel distant —the kind of policy news that trickles down years later, if at all. But the Water
Most mid-sized barge operators have had at least some experience with scaling their business, but barge operators growing from small to mid-size will not necessarily
2025 brought one of the strongest funding environments barge operators have seen in decades. Between new rounds of Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants, expanded
Freight demand is strong, but your profit margins don’t paint the same picture. Why? You can attribute some of it to issues outside of your
It may look like national and global logistics companies make progress in unbelievable leaps and bounds on a daily basis, and that staying competitive with
Every business tracks metrics. But in barge transport, the difference between profit and loss often comes down to focusing on the right few. Key Performance
Picture this: It’s 5:45 AM, the phone’s already ringing, river conditions just changed overnight, and you’ve got to find a crew replacement before the towboat
The Hidden Costs of Manual Data Entry
By Aaaatu – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147237520 The world’s busiest ports are getting smarter. In places like Rotterdam, Singapore, and Los Angeles, new
Navigating the New IMO Emissons Framework: What It Means for Inland Barge Transport
How Much Fuel Does a Barge Use? (And How Can Fuel Costs be Lowered?)
The maritime world is going digital—but not all at once, and certainly not without friction. For inland marine companies that have operated for decades on
Efficiency is the name of the game in barge transportation—but when you’re towing liquids, the rules change. Hauling fuel, chemicals, or other liquid cargo adds
The barge transport industry is at a crossroads. As global pressure mounts to reduce carbon emissions and operate more sustainably, companies across the logistics sector
The regulatory landscape in the barging industry is dynamic. Older regulations are often changed or removed and new regulations are implemented. Barge companies must stay
The world relies heavily on the barge transport industry to ship everything from food to petroleum. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway alone transports 100 million tons
Data-driven decision making through predictive analytics has made a significant impact on nearly every industry over the last few years. It is not hard to
In logistics, small inefficiencies quickly compound into major costs. For barge transport companies, optimizing fuel use, reducing downtime, and improving cargo handling can significantly impact
Anyone in the maritime industry knows that the working conditions for barge crew and other maritime employees can be dangerous when precautions are not taken.
Barge transport might not be the most heavily regulated industry, but regulations certainly impact every barge company’s operations one way or another. Government regulations are
Like many other industries, the barge transportation industry is undergoing something of a digital revolution: More and more workflows are being carried out with the
Part of operating a successful business of any kind is identifying the hazards and finding ways of preventing them. Sometimes these hazards in the maritime
The vessel management software market offers no shortage of options. Valued at $1.8 billion in 2023, it’s expected to more than double to $3.95 billion
If a customer emailed you right now with an invoice question, how quickly would you be able to respond? Would you need to dig through
While the future has some degree of uncertainty, there is much we can glean from past trends in the barge industry. It is particularly helpful
A new barge with covers can cost around a million dollars and the tugs that pull them can cost far more, depending on the specifications.
For barge company owners and leaders in the maritime industry, staying informed about the forces shaping the sector is vital to navigating challenges and seizing
In the modern world, staying competitive means embracing new technologies that drive growth, efficiency, and sustainability. The inland marine industry is no exception. At BargeOps,
The aging infrastructure of inland waterways has been a challenge for the shipping industry for some time. With the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,
There are no magic bullets when it comes to increasing efficiency in liquid transportation. Instead, small steps can have significant impacts when barge operators focus
Scaling a barge transport business demands simplifying and improving key processes, and invoicing is one critical area often overlooked. In the barge industry, invoicing is
The Establishment of a Vital Commercial Lifeline Stretching over 1,100 miles (1,800 km) between Brownsville, Texas, and Apalachee Bay, Florida, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)
As data analytics revolutionizes the barge industry, inland marine revenue is poised for growth from $132 billion in 2023 to a projected $185 billion in
The barge transportation industry plays a vital role in the US economy, facilitating the movement of vast quantities of commodities and raw materials along the
Today’s businesses run on data, and marine transport businesses are no exception. But collecting, sharing, and analyzing data are trickier when factoring in not only
Amid all the challenges of daily operation in the barge transport industry, marine cybersecurity may not be the first thing that springs to mind. Yet,
The barge transportation industry has been vital to the US economy for centuries, providing a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to move massive quantities of
Tugboat and barge workers are especially susceptible to danger while working on inland waterways. Despite OSHA barge safety guidelines for preventing slips on deck, wearing
Attracting and retaining workers is a growing challenge throughout the economy, and that goes doubly for the waterways workforce—but that doesn’t mean employee turnover must
True, barges are more sustainable than other types of transport. But the industry will need to do more to “go green” to meet sustainability goals.
Barge breakaways are a nightmare for any owner or operator who experiences them. And since owners and operators can be found at fault if a
Fleeting operations require careful planning and coordination, as they involve the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of barge tows in a way that maximizes space utilization
The Vessel General Permit (VGP) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States represents a critical regulatory framework designed to minimize the
At first glance, contracts might seem pretty cut-and-dry—and certainly not the key to efficient barging operations. But contracts are more than legalese: They can help
Like all businesses, there are things outside of a barge operator’s control, like bad weather or a congested waterway. However, companies can still do some
In the barge transportation industry, time is money. If items are delayed in port or in transit, that can mean additional costs, not to mention
Running a barge fleeting operation requires attention to an incredible array of details. It takes a well-trained and experienced team to ensure that customers receive
By David Murray The St. Louis-based software company BargeOps has been serving barge company owners and barge fleet managers for more than 20 years now.
We recently wrote about how BargeOps is Streamlining VGP Compliance. This post provides some additional information about this topic. Our goal is to help inland
Compliance on the river is one of many challenges for inland marine operators. One issue that everyone struggles with is the EPA’s VGP (Vessel General
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