Rail or river rivalry? Intermodal transportation of grain through Mississippi Corridors from 2002 to 2013

U.S. grain farming occurs predominantly throughout the vast Midwest. U.S. railroads as well as barges operating on the Mississippi River have played key roles in the regional grain supply chain. While research has been done about U.S. grain transportation, surprisingly little is known about the nature and scope of intermodal competition in these freight markets. Using historical data from various sources, we estimate models of barge and railroad rates for key grain corridors and grain types. We find evidence of strong rail-barge competition in a few corridors in the region, but also uncover evidence that viable intermodal competition remains conditional on factors such as distance to shipper as well as the type of grain shipped.