The word "port" typically evokes the ocean (unless "air" precedes it), but seaports are joined by another type when it comes to freight and logistics. Inland ports represent key transport hubs as well, typically combining rail, trucking, storage and even some of the wet stuff - sans salt. An inland port is a large-scale shipping and trade center located a distance from the coast which can serve as a distribution facility for products to move to their final destination - largely thanks to the shipping container.
Characteristics of inland ports
Inland ports share a number of characteristics with their coastal counterparts, including:
- An intermodal center with class 1 railroad connections
- Easy highway access for trucks
- Warehouse/distribution center space
- Customs and tariff processing
- Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) status and privileges
- A governing body (either a dedicated inland port authority or an overarching port authority)
Additionally, ports of the inland variety should have at least 3 million people within 200 miles. And taking the intermodal piece a step further, an inland port should have a direct rail connection to a seaport via class 1 railroad. That's because a key purpose of inland ports is alleviating congestion at major ocean hubs - as often import loads are taken directly to them by train for processing and distribution. Those international trade capabilities and certifications come in handy for that, too.
The international activity is made possible by the loads remaining in shipping containers until reaching the inland port. Retailers like this one stop shop that combines imports, domestic transportation and storage space as well, leading them to often use inland ports to bypass the additional supply chain step of staging products at a larger distribution center and instead move products directly to their destination from there.
Inland port examples
There are a number of inland ports across the U.S., with most tending toward the East Coast - as space surrounding ocean ports along the Atlantic is at a bit more of a premium (S.C. inland ports serve as a case study). However, there are inland ports in (or proposed for) other areas as well, including a much discussed Salt Lake City port of the inland variety to serve California cargo. Here is a non-exhaustive list of inland port examples - including some that have been announced but not completed:
- Inland Port Greer (South Carolina)
- Inland Port Dillon (South Carolina)
- Port of Chicago (Illinois)
- Midwest Inland Port (Illinois)
- Virginia Inland Port
- Appalachian Regional Port (Georgia)
- Logistics Park Kansas City (Kansas)
- Inland Port Arizona
- Port of Memphis (Tennessee)
- Port San Antonio (Texas)
- Dallas area Inland Ports (Texas)
- Charlotte Inland Port (North Carolina)
- (Proposed) Blue Ridge Connector (Georgia)
- (Proposed) West Georgia Inland Port
- (Proposed) Port of Salt Lake City/additional inland ports in Utah under the Utah Inland Port Authority
- (Proposed) Syracuse/Dewitt/Central New York Inland Port
- (Proposed) Mojave Inland Port (California)
- (Proposed) North Omaha Inland Port (Nebraska)
- (Proposed) Montgomery Inland Port (Alabama)
- (Proposed) Southwest Virginia Inland Port
Inland ports versus dry ports
Broadly, inland ports and dry ports are interchangeable terms in most freight transportation circles, though one has a secondary, more specific meaning. Inland ports can also describe "wet" locations along inland bodies of water like lakes and rivers which handle boat traffic. They still process cargo, but more of the barge variety and not deep water ocean freighters. They thus also do not typically do containers - as they are often smaller facilities.
Those who tend toward the secondary definition insist on calling those inland hubs that do handle containers dry ports - or inland container ports. The bottom line is, there may be inland ports that don't meet the dual definition of dry ports (with the container and intermodal pieces), but all dry ports are located inland. Some of the broadly defined inland ports can also be located along a freshwater body as well - so they're not as dry. Confused yet? Then we'll leave out dry bulk ports from this exercise.
Whether you already use inland ports regularly, just found out they existed or find yourself somewhere in between, we can help with your transportation strategy. Just request a quote using our brief form, and we'll follow up to go over yourshipping needs. For more information about InTek, or the logistics and supply chain space in general, check out our Freight Guides.
