The inland waterways of the United States include more than 12,000 miles of navigable waters. Weaving through 38 states, inland waterways carry about 600 million tons of cargo each year. The tugboat, pushboat and barge industry -- the largest segment of the U.S. domestic maritime industry -- is responsible for moving this cargo, and in the process supports 500,000 jobs and creates $100 billion in economic output.
Shaping the Global Economy: Inland Waterway Transportation