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May 6, 2025 39 mins

Barges move over 70 percent of U.S. grain and can carry the equivalent of 4,000 truckloads with a single tugboat. Yet this massive freight channel has remained invisible to most supply chains due to outdated systems and zero visibility. 

In this episode, OpenTug CEO Jason Aristides shares how his team is digitizing barge and tug operations with GPS tracking, AI-powered automation, and a modern marketplace experience. By unlocking real-time visibility and booking capabilities, OpenTug is helping shippers tap into a cleaner and more efficient way to move freight across America's 12,000 miles of inland waterways. 


Key takeaways: 

  • Barges are one of the most fuel-efficient and underused freight modes in North America 
  • A single barge move can replace thousands of truckloads with a fraction of the labor 
  • OpenTug brings real-time GPS and predictive ETAs to an industry that ran on email chains 
  • Ports like New Orleans are investing heavily in container barge terminals 
  • More visibility and automation will help eliminate empty miles and reduce emissions


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