Those of us engaged in marine highway cargo transportation have reason to be optimistic about the future. Not only are shippers becoming more “green conscious,” but so are the modes of transportation they use.
In April 2010, the Marine Highway Program was fully implemented with a final rule from the Maritime Administration, making available funds for grants and projects to foster taking containers and truck traffic off highways and onto barges and feeder vessels. I believe more legislative incentives will come to further encourage this shift.
Any real transition to marine highway use requires support from state governments in addition to federal legislation. The sooner the marine highway is fully integrated into the country’s transportation system, the sooner we will realize its benefits — reduced highway and port congestion, improved air quality, less road wear and tear, and a reduced “carbon footprint” for cargo transportation.
We are not looking for, nor do we need, an ongoing subsidy. I am confident that once major trucking companies see the service we offer and the fuel and equipment cost savings, they will choose to partner with us because it’s just good business.
I am also very encouraged by the International Longshoremen’s Association’s willingness to work with us to put together a cost structure that effectively competes with over-the-road trucking. Such cooperation and teamwork is exactly what we seek to create with trucking companies, shippers and consignees.
With new legislation, and ports that have already documented the concrete benefits of utilizing waterborne cargo transportation, we are confident new partnerships will form to bring more traffic to the marine highway in the coming year.