Barge Transport Services

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Nationwide Barge
Transport Company

Move bulk, breakbulk, and oversize cargo with a barge transport company that runs the Mississippi and Ohio system, the Gulf Intracoastal, Great Lakes, and key ports. Our tug and barge service delivers end-to-end barge shipping services, including inland barge hauling, river barge transportation, deck/hopper/tank/spud barges, transloading to rail/truck, and straight barge freight rates. Contact We Will Transport It today to request a firm barge shipping quote and a reliable schedule tailored to your needs.

Barge Transport & Shipping

Inland, Coastal, and Project Cargo

Moving freight by barge is simple on paper: load, tow, deliver. In practice, it’s planning, water levels, locks, and safe lashing. We handle barge hauling and barge shipping on inland rivers, canals, and coastal routes with clear pricing and steady updates. If you need tug and barge service today or a plan for peak season, we’ll map the lane, pick the right barge, and keep your schedule tight.

Free Barge Shipping Quote

Share your cargo specs and lane. We’ll return firm barge freight rates, the right tug-and-barge setup, and a schedule you can plan around.

How barge hauling works

A tugboat and barge team moves cargo in a tow. We stage at a fleeting area, complete barge loading and lashing, file paperwork, and push off. The tow runs a set speed and stops at locks or bridges as needed. At the destination, we dock, unload, and hand off to a truck or rail. That’s inland barge transport in a nutshell. If you’re new to this and wondering how does barge transport work, we’ll walk you through timing, drafts, and lock windows before you book. Call (877) 330-0051 and ask We Will Transport It.

Overland Barge Movers:

Moving a barge over land requires special equipment and careful planning. Large trailers or unique containers are used to carry the barge on trucks, and cranes are needed to lift it on and off. Because barges are often bigger than what’s allowed on roads, special permits and guide vehicles are necessary. The barge has to be tightly secured to prevent any movement during transport, and any large parts that aren’t essential, like masts, need to be removed to ensure it fits within legal size limits.

Trailers we use to transport a barge:

  • Low boy trailer
  • RGN trailer
  • Step Deck trailer

When transporting a barge, having the right number of axles on the trailer is important for safety. The exact number of axles you need depends on how heavy the barge is and the weight limits for the roads you’ll be using. Heavier barges need more axles to help support the weight and make sure that it stays within the legal limits for safe driving. When placing your reservation for barge transport, it is important to give the specific dimensions of the barge including the weight.

Moving a Barge by Water:

Moving barges along the coast is done with the help of powerful tugboats. This would be the method of choice for anyone relocating a barge from one location to another with an easy route by water. This method is also great for transporting big amounts of things like coal, cement, and oil, while keeping costs lower than other ways of transportation. It helps make the process of getting these materials to where they are needed more efficient. Barges are particularly suitable for shorter sea routes, providing dependable service for various industries. 

Transporting a Barge by water.

Barge Transportation Services

If you're looking for top-notch barge shipping services, check out We Will Transport It! We Will Transport It is a company with years of experience shipping boats and yachts of all sizes as well as heavy equipment. We are here to make things smooth and transparent for you. We offer some of the best prices available, which depend on the size and weight of your barge, as well as how far we need to transport it.

We have high-quality trailers specifically designed for barge transportation. Regardless of where you are, even in the most remote areas, we promise to deliver your barge safely and on time. Our barge transport experts are well-trained, experienced, and fully licensed to handle large jobs. You can trust them to move your barge with skill and ease.

Barge Routes We Will Transport It Serve

If it floats and connects to commerce, we probably service it. We operate river barge shipping on the Mississippi River barge shipping network and its tributaries, including the Ohio River barge transport. Along the coast, we move freight on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway barge corridor. We support industrial lanes for Great Lakes barge transport and seasonal moves in the Pacific Northwest barge shipping region. City and port coverage includes {city/port} barge service examples, such as New Orleans, the Houston Ship Channel, St. Louis, Memphis, and Pittsburgh.

Tug, tow, and port operations

A safe move is more than line-haul. Our dispatch schedules barge tow service, fleeting and shifting at the origin and destination, and coordinates barge stevedoring. Need a mode change? We set up barge transloading (barge to rail/truck) with certified cranes and riggers. The line-haul itself runs as a barge line haul with AIS tracking and predictable check-ins.

Compliance and timing

We Will Transport It, run within the rules. Jones Act barge requirements apply to domestic coastwise trade. If your plan requires non-Jones Act equipment, we’ll explain the alternatives. All moves adhere to USCG barge compliance, published load lines, and local port regulations. Schedules account for weather, high-water or low-water advisories, as well as barge scheduling and lock delays. When conditions change, we adjust and notify you early.

Services people actually ask for

Most buyers want a reliable barge transport company that can provide fast quotes, load cleanly, and deliver on time. We provide barge shipping services for shippers that need one tow or a season’s worth of moves. If you’re searching “barge transport near me,” we’ll confirm local fleeting options and pilotage. Need export help? We prep cargo for laydown yards and foreign-flag vessels. Need import help? We position barges at the dock and transfer to inland rail or truck.

Work utility barge strapped down on a boat trailer for transport.

The Best Barge Haulers

Barge Hauling with We Will Transport It

Do you need barge transport on a firm timeline? Send us your cargo specifications and lane details, and we’ll provide a price quote, arrange for equipment pickup, and schedule tug and barge service with clear milestones. You’ll see route notes, handling steps, and a target ETA before you book.

FAQ image.

Is barge cheaper than truck or rail?

On water-connected corridors, barge is often the lowest cost per ton-mile for heavy or bulk freight. If time matters more than cost, truck or rail may win on speed.

Do I need a crane to load?

Sometimes. Deck cargo usually needs a shoreside or floating crane; wheeled gear can use a RO/RO ramp barge. We’ll propose the simplest safe plan.

How is pricing figured out?

By lane, barge type, season, tow size, and handling (loading/lashing/stevedoring). Quotes account for fuel, locks, standby, and any crane or transloading at origin/destination.

Can you handle oversize or heavy lift?

Yes. We issue lift plans, cribbing, and engineered lashing for long, tall, or ultra-heavy pieces. Permits and escorts on connecting road moves are included when needed.

How do you secure cargo?

We use chocks, dunnage, weld-on lashing points, chains, wire, and edge protectors. The goal is no shift, no chafe, and clean gear on arrival.

How do you handle low water or high water?

We adjust drafts, tow size, and routing, or stage until it’s safe. You’ll get early warnings if river conditions impact timing or barge choice.

Do you serve my region?

We cover the Mississippi/Ohio system, Gulf Intracoastal, Great Lakes, and key coastal lanes. If your site reaches a navigable waterway, we’ll map a workable route.

Is tracking available?

Yes. We provide tow status with planned lock crossings and check-ins at key waypoints, plus callouts for delays.