Three ways to ship. Two outcomes: save money, save time. One place: Birmingport.
Barge, rail, and truck all meet at Birmingham’s inland port, so every load can go the way that fits the job. Here are three reasons why that matters for your business.
1. One Barge Does the Work of 15 Railcars, or 60 Trucks
A typical barge on the Black Warrior River carries about 1,500 tons of cargo. Moving that same volume by rail takes 15 railcars. By truck, it takes 60.
Consolidating freight onto barge means fewer shipments and a lower cost per ton for anything moving in bulk, such as aggregates and grain.
It’s also the lowest-emission option of the three. Barge shipping produces a fraction of the emissions of trucking and meaningfully less than rail. And you don’t have to be located at the port to take advantage of it.
2. A Two-Day Truck Run Reaches 78% of the U.S. Population
A two-day run from Birmingham, assuming an 11-hour driving day at posted speeds, reaches 78% of the U.S. population.
Rail adds a second route to market. A three-day rail delivery from Birmingham covers more than half the U.S. population, with BNSF connections to the West Coast and CSX and Norfolk Southern covering the East Coast.
Mayor Randall Woodfin puts it simply: with Birmingham’s Port, “you have every piece of transportation you can think of.”
3. Alabama Exporters Already Reach 189 Countries
Alabama businesses exported to 189 countries in 2021, with Germany, Canada, and China leading the list of destinations. Air cargo carriers already running through the region, including Delta, UPS, FedEx, and Southwest, add another layer of international reach beyond the river itself.
A company locating at Birmingham’s Port gets a broad reach without building it, backed by capacity Alabama is still working to fully use.
The Bottom Line
Mayor Randall Woodfin describes Birmingport as “where opportunity meets infrastructure.” Barge, rail, and truck all meet there, so every load can go the way that saves the most money or the most time. And with the port at roughly 5% of its capacity, there’s still plenty of room to grow into.
If you haven’t priced a shipment through Birmingport, you may be paying more than you need to. Contact BJCPA to talk through what shipping through or locating here could mean for your business.
About The Birmingham-Jefferson County Port Authority
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Port Authority (BJCPA) powers Alabama’s economic future by connecting river, road and rail to move goods efficiently, create jobs and drive growth across Birmingham and Jefferson County. Established in 2016, BJCPA operates under the State Port Authority’s legislation to oversee and promote Birmingham’s Port, a key inland hub linking the region to the national inland waterway system and the Gulf Coast.