The newest inland port in the United States is now open in northwestern Georgia. The new Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County is connected by rail to the Port of Savannah, and is expected to ease congestion at the port and reduce truck traffic on roadways by shifting the handoff of international shipping containers to an area with more space.

A surge in global shipping volume is adding urgency to ­efforts to increase the efficiency of cargo handling at seaports and inland waterways.

As motor carriers enjoy the fruits of the tight freight environment, railroads are continuing their push to boost earnings while they adjust to a market that increasingly is shifting toward intermodal.

The future of rail transportation literally may be up in the air. Entrepreneurs and engineers from around the world have proposed radical concepts for hauling freight and passengers, including a multistory flying train, a supersized blimp and super-high-speed trains.