Weekly cost indices comparing truck, rail, barge, and ocean vessel rates for grain shipments.
Index base = 100. Source: USDA Agricultural Transportation. Week of 2026-03-11.
Truck
183
+12% ↑ 4w
Shuttle Train
120
-3.1% ↓ 4w
Barge
185.92
-1.2% → 4w
Gulf Vessel
147.47
+7.5% ↑ 4w
Pacific Vessel
156.77
+8.7% ↑ 4w
Shuttle train index at 120 vs truck at 183 — rail is 34% cheaper than truck. Barge at 185.92 remains the most expensive option.
| Week | Truck | Shuttle Train | Barge | Gulf Vessel | Pacific Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | 183 | 120 | 185.92 | 147.47 | 156.77 |
| 2026-03-04 | 147 | 119 | 208.86 | 138.57 | 148.46 |
| 2026-02-25 | 144 | 119 | 230.26 | 137.94 | 144.89 |
| 2026-02-18 | 140 | 116 | 225.98 | 137.94 | 143.71 |
| 2026-02-11 | 139 | 118 | 217.42 | 136.66 | 142.52 |
| 2026-02-04 | 139 | 124 | 225.06 | 131.58 | 137.77 |
| 2026-01-28 | 137 | 125 | 218.03 | 129.04 | 135.39 |
| 2026-01-21 | 133 | 122 | 201.21 | 125.22 | 130.64 |
| 2026-01-14 | 131 | 120 | 195.71 | 124.59 | 130.64 |
| 2026-01-07 | 131 | 124 | 187.76 | 127.13 | 125.89 |
| 2025-12-31 | 132 | 125 | 178.89 | — | — |
| 2025-12-24 | 134 | 129 | 182.25 | 137.94 | 133.02 |
| 2025-12-17 | 136 | 122 | 184.39 | 142.38 | 140.14 |
| 2025-12-10 | 138 | 125 | 167.27 | 144.93 | 141.33 |
| 2025-12-03 | 142 | 124 | 162.45 | — | — |
| 2025-11-26 | 145 | 122 | 164.52 | 144.93 | 141.33 |
| 2025-11-19 | 146 | 121 | 164.82 | 143.66 | 138.95 |
| 2025-11-12 | 145 | 137 | 171.55 | 142.38 | 135.39 |
| 2025-11-05 | 142 | 130 | 184.7 | 144.93 | 141.33 |
| 2025-10-29 | 140 | 130 | 184.7 | 145.56 | 142.52 |
| 2025-10-22 | 137 | 126 | 193.87 | 144.93 | 141.33 |
| 2025-10-15 | 138 | 124 | 196.01 | 143.02 | 138.95 |
| 2025-10-08 | 140 | 124 | 185.92 | 143.66 | 140.14 |
| 2025-10-01 | 142 | 122 | 203.05 | 145.56 | 141.33 |
| 2025-09-24 | 141 | 121 | 213.14 | 147.47 | 141.33 |
| 2025-09-17 | 141 | 114 | 219.25 | 145.56 | 141.33 |
| 2025-09-10 | 142 | 113 | 203.66 | 142.38 | 138.95 |
| 2025-09-03 | 141 | 111 | 187.45 | 142.38 | 138.95 |
| 2025-08-27 | 140 | 110 | 178.28 | 135.39 | 135.39 |
| 2025-08-20 | 140 | 111 | 176.14 | 136.03 | 136.58 |
| 2025-08-13 | 142 | 112 | 170.63 | 137.3 | 136.58 |
| 2025-08-06 | 143 | 113 | 172.16 | 138.57 | 136.58 |
| 2025-07-30 | 144 | 113 | 183.17 | 138.57 | 140.14 |
| 2025-07-23 | 144 | 114 | 182.56 | 134.12 | 140.14 |
| 2025-07-16 | 142 | 114 | 168.19 | 123.95 | 134.2 |
| 2025-07-09 | 141 | 114 | 144.33 | 122.68 | 133.02 |
| 2025-07-02 | 141 | 113 | 134.55 | 121.41 | 129.45 |
| 2025-06-25 | 142 | 112 | 127.82 | 121.41 | 129.45 |
| 2025-06-18 | 135 | 113 | 130.88 | 117.59 | 128.27 |
| 2025-06-11 | 131 | 113 | 131.18 | 116.32 | 125.89 |
| 2025-06-04 | 130 | 112 | 133.63 | 116.96 | 127.08 |
| 2025-05-28 | 132 | 115 | 135.16 | 117.59 | 128.27 |
| 2025-05-21 | 133 | 114 | 134.85 | 117.59 | 128.27 |
| 2025-05-14 | 131 | 115 | 137.3 | 117.59 | 129.45 |
| 2025-05-07 | 132 | 114 | 146.17 | 117.59 | 129.45 |
| 2025-04-30 | 133 | 115 | 141.89 | 116.32 | 128.27 |
| 2025-04-23 | 133 | 116 | 141.89 | 115.05 | 127.08 |
| 2025-04-16 | 135 | 118 | 164.52 | 116.96 | 128.27 |
| 2025-04-09 | 137 | 118 | 177.67 | 121.41 | 135.39 |
| 2025-04-02 | 136 | 122 | 186.53 | 121.41 | 133.02 |
| 2025-03-26 | 135 | 126 | 182.86 | 120.77 | 130.64 |
| 2025-03-19 | 134 | 132 | 175.83 | 117.59 | 128.27 |
Source: USDA Agricultural Transportation Open Data. Cost indices are relative measures (base = 100). Data covers 2023-01-04 to 2026-03-11 (167 weeks).