This nation's seaports serve to load and unload ocean-going vessels. The vast majority, 99.4% by weight and 65% by value, of all this country's overseas cargo moves through our seaports. But there is another player in the waterways' infrastructure that keeps the logistics network of the United States running.

Our river ports provide a vital connection from the interior parts of the country to the rest of the national and international shipping lines -- a process which would not function without the participation of our own trucking industry, which we wrote about a couple weeks ago as a part of our series on the logistics industry. Often forgotten about, these ports have played a crucial role in our nation's history and the function of the logistics industry.

A Mighty History of River Ports Still Relevant Today

Before railroads criss-crossed our nation, and before trucks or paved roads had been invented, river ports, originally known as landings, played a vital role in the youthful days of our country. These inland ports served as the way in which goods were moved and distributed, which, at that time, meant the difference between survival and certain death for those who were served by the ports. From medicines to basic food supplies to materials for clothing, throughout the early days of United States and the colonies that came before, all of people's basic needs came through these river ports.

In today's world, with other ways of moving goods, the river port does not occupy the central role it once did. Nonetheless, in conjunction with our trucking industry, as well as the railroads, it is far from an obsolete player in this country's logistics. Inland ports, while generally unable to accommodate deep draft ships, are admired for the smoothness with which they function in comparison to the relative chaos of seaports, providing an important aspect of efficiency in how we move goods across this country and beyond.

East Coast

This country's largest inland port is the Tri-State Port of Huntington that serves West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio via the Ohio River. It's also the tenth largest port in the U.S. overall. Over $5.3 billion of coal, petroleum, chemicals, and steel travels through the port each year.

Other major inland ports on the East Coast include the Port of Pittsburgh, which is 22nd largest port via the three rivers, Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio. The Port of Cincinnati comes in at 43rd and the Port of Albany is the 63rd largest U.S. port for its access to the Hudson River.

Gulf Coast

The Port of Beaumont is fourth busiest port in the U.S. and is located close to the mouth of the Neches River in Texas. Also used as an army base, the U.S. military recognizes the port as the busiest military port in the world. Another unique feature of the port is that it is a deep water port, meaning it is at least 30 feet deep.

Other major river ports in the Gulf Coast Area include the Port of New Orleans on the Mississippi river, which is the seventh busiest port. Also operating on the Mississippi are the Port of Baton Rouge and the Port of Memphis. The Port of Minneapolis serves the Upper Mississippi, as do the Port of St. Louis and the Port of East St. Louis, which also have access to Missouri River.

Mid-West

While in the upper Mid-West the Great Lakes ports play a major role in both national and international shipping, there are a couple of important ports that operate on rivers. The largest is the Port of Detroit, operated by the Wayne County Port Authority on the Detroit River and the 42nd largest U.S. port. Its most valuable commodity is steel and the largest commodity handled by volume is ore.

West Coast

West Coast river ports do not play as large a role in the United States port system as their East and Gulf Coast counterparts. But the largest ones are the Port of Walla Walla, which has access to the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Port of Sacramento in California, and the Port of Stockton, which provides access to the San Joaquin River.

River ports in every region of the country continue to act as centers for logistics and commerce. And thousands of companies utilize river port locations to capitalize on the efficiency of transportation. Louisville Switching has actually done just that by being located at the Jefferson Riverport International, right in Louisville's backward. Operating out of this river port allows Louisville Switching to ship Ottawa yard truck parts all over the world - and quickly! Have questions about international Ottawa yard truck parts or ordering yard truck parts in the U.S.? Click here to talk parts with Chuck.