Work

Rail or river rivalry? Intermodal transportation of grain through Mississippi Corridors from 2002 to 2013

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: U.S. grain farming occurs predominantly throughout the vast Midwest. U.S. railroads as well as barges operating on the Mississippi River have played key roles in the regional grain supply chain. While research has been done about U.S. grain transportation, surprisingly little is known about the nature and scope of intermodal competition in these freight markets. Using historical data from various sources, we estimate models of barge and railroad rates for key grain corridors and grain types. We find evidence of strong rail-barge competition in a few corridors in the region, but also uncover evidence that viable intermodal competition remains conditional on factors such as distance to shipper as well as the type of grain shipped.

Source: Research in Transportation Economics

DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2026.101846

Authors: Juan Murguia, James Nolan, David Hennessy

Institutions: Inter-American Development Bank, University of Saskatchewan, Iowa State University

Language: English

Topic: Logistics and Infrastructure Analysis

Subfield: Forestry

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,430