Port Performance and the State of North American Cargo Flow

US ports are working with their supply chain partners to promote greater use of inland hubs connected to their marine terminals by intermodal rail and truck as a quick and efficient strategy to increase their imports and exports by expanding their reach inland. In many instances, the inland hubs already exist. The Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle in 2019 signed an interlocal agreement with the Port of Benton, the Port of Pasco and the Port of Walla in southeastern Washington to develop and expand an Inland Logistics Hub in the Tri-Cities region of southeastern Washington. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are coordinating efforts with the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads to expand rail connections with inland hubs including Barstow, California, Mojave Inland Port in Kern County, California, and locations in Utah. The South Carolina Ports Authority continues to expand its links with the inland ports in Greer and Dillon and the retailers that have distribution facilities in the state.

We will hear from experts at Port Performance 2026 the steps that are necessary to develop and promote inland hubs to the benefit of the seaports, inland hubs and the shippers that have distribution centers in their regions.