About Us

Inland waterways are essential for moving large quantities of bulk commodities at relatively low costs. These bulk imports are crucial for local markets, serving households, businesses, and industrial customers near the port of entry. Conversely, bulk exports require complex logistics and longer linkages between their production sites and the coastal ports that handle their shipment. The U.S. inland waterway and rail system provide these vital connections, facilitating the transport of major commodities such as coal, petroleum products, agricultural goods, aggregates, and chemicals.

Traditionally, ports were seen as endpoints in the transport system where water transport of cargo either began or ended. However, from a broader perspective, encompassing the entire “chain of transport,” ports or terminals are intermediate points where cargo is transferred between different links in the transport chain.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

The primary functions of ports include:

– Efficiently moving cargo to avoid accumulation and damage.

– Providing convenient access to connecting modes of transport, such as rail and road.

Inland ports, railways, waterways, roads, and deep-water ports all play crucial roles in this transport network. Inland ports handle the bulk of domestic trade and transport, while deep-water ports are vital for international trade, accommodating oceangoing vessels year-round. Together, road, rail, and waterways ensure seamless movement of products between inland and deep-water ports, reinforcing the importance of inland terminals like NOLA Terminal in the broader logistics landscape.