Part 6/10:

Products move from rural railheads or highways to the Mississippi River’s ports, where they are loaded onto standardized barges for efficient transit. Crews aboard towboats, typically small and composed of fewer than ten members, work rigorous schedules to transport these goods, navigating through a network of locks along the river.

Navigational Challenges and Historical Maintainence

However, the journey along the Mississippi is not without its challenges. Every 16 miles, barges encounter locks that require careful navigation. The process of passing through these locks can take anywhere from three to four hours, compounded by waiting times during peak seasons. These delays can limit agricultural throughput just when it is most needed.