Barges Are Still Best Way To Move Road Salt

According to the Cary Institute, each year, depending on snowfall, the U.S. applies between 15 and 32 million metric tons of salt to keep roads snow-free. A 1992 study by the U.S. Highway Administration found that deicing roads pays for itself within the first 25 minutes after salt is spread. During the first four hours following salt application, the direct benefits to road users are $6.50 for every $1 spent on the operation.

Few will be surprised to learn that road salt greatly improves public safety. Studies show that road surface condition is the single biggest safety factor during a winter event (more significant than visibility, precipitation intensity and other issues), and that a 10 percent improvement in the surface friction of a road results in a 20 percent reduction in crashes. Overall, the use of road salt has been shown to reduce collisions by up to 88 percent and injuries by 85 percent (93 percent on four-lane roads).

The Highway Administration notes, “In most cases, transportation logistics, rather than mining, is the largest and most difficult cost for [road salt] suppliers and customers to predict.” The unusually cold winter of 2013-2014 caught most states short in road salt, partly due to frozen waterways. Areas close to inland ports are better positioned to cope with winter than those farther away.

Barges remain the most cost-effective way to move salt to where it is needed. As we are still digging out from the earlier winter storm that blanketed much of the country with snow and ice (with more snow expected), it’s a good time to once again be grateful for the reliability of the marine transportation and the 24/7 operations powered by mariners who work in nearly all conditions.