# Barge transport costs ease, but truck rates remain dizzying - McKeany-Flavell

> USDA's transportation cost index shows grain barge freight rates down almost 50 percent from March highs, with early June averaging 245 versus 550 in mid-March. Grain truck costs remain near May's record at about 374, and rail rates sit around 318, the highest since 2014.

- Date: 2022-06-08 · published 2022-06-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16701-barge-transport-costs-ease-but-truck-rates-remain-dizzying-mckeany-flavell
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Lower barge rates ease the cost of moving corn and soybeans down the Mississippi, supporting Gulf and interior basis, while persistent truck and rail costs keep feed delivery expensive for inland buyers.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- BARGE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2023-02-23 | [Ag transportation costs ease, but issues linger \| Profitability \| farmweeknow.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/37494-ag-transportation-costs-ease-but-issues-linger-profitability-farmweeknow-com.md) | -3.8% | -4.8% |
| CORN | 2017-04-13 | [Decreased demand for grain transportation lowers shipping rates \| World-grain.com \| April 13, 2017 14:17 \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71400-decreased-demand-for-grain-transportation-lowers-shipping-rates-world-grain-com.md) | -2.1% | +0.9% |
| CORN | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -1.2% | — |
| CORN | 2020-10-02 | [Barge Rates Decline, Spurring Basis at River Terminals \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50834-barge-rates-decline-spurring-basis-at-river-terminals-feed-and-grain.md) | -1.1% | +5.3% |
| CORN | 2025-04-14 | [Freight rates for grain transportation by coasters to Italy have increased on the Danube \| Ukrainian and World Shipping News - Ukrainian Shipping Magazine - Ukrainian and World Shipping News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16952-freight-rates-for-grain-transportation-by-coasters-to-italy-have-increased-on.md) | +1.1% | -5.2% |
| SOY | 2020-10-19 | [Grain trade has supported Panamax freight rates but coal risk still remains](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50534-grain-trade-has-supported-panamax-freight-rates-but-coal-risk-still-remains.md) | +3.2% | +8.7% |
| SOY | 2018-12-14 | [Transportation Challenges May Increase Elevator Costs in 2019 -](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61754-transportation-challenges-may-increase-elevator-costs-in-2019.md) | -1.5% | -1.8% |
| SOY | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -2.3% | — |

## Sources

- mckeany-flavell.com: https://www.mckeany-flavell.com/barge-transport-costs-ease-but-truck-rates-remain-dizzying-06-08-22/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.