If containerships are the cheapest way to transport cargo, why aren’t we using canals instead of railways and highways to transport goods over land?

Question

If containerships are the cheapest way to transport cargo, why aren’t we using canals instead of railways and highways to transport goods over land?

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Answer 1

Really big container ships are the cheapest way to transport cargo, assuming you don’t care about being bound to water ways or being really slow

Trucks are expensive but can go anywhere fairly quickly

Trains are moderately expensive, still fairly quick, but can only get you to specific end points

Planes are extremely expensive, very fast, but can only get you to specific end points

Ships are cheap, slowww, and can still only get you to specific end points.

All four fill specific logistics needs. There is plenty of cargo traffic on inland water ways, its just less talked about than the mega cargo ships. [If you look at ship traffic in the US you can see all the markers on the Mississippi and its tributaries](https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-80.1/centery:36.8/zoom:5)