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Shippers Redirect Cargo Through Inland Hubs to Reduce Congestion Risk

Shippers are increasingly routing containers through inland terminals to diversify supply chain pathways and reduce congestion risk. Alabama's new $100 million inland container terminal in Montgomery exemplifies this shift, with capacity to handle 60,000 TEUs annually via CSX rail connections to the Port of Mobile. The facility offers central Alabama shippers a stable alternative to heavily trafficked coastal routes. Industry executives view inland gateways as a hedge against the volatility and capacity constraints that plague traditional port corridors. The strategy allows carriers to distribute volume across multiple entry points, reducing dependency on any single congested facility. As shippers balance rate pressures and service reliability concerns, inland rail terminals are gaining prominence as a counterweight to peak season disruptions and port bottlenecks.