It is well known that the inland navigation generates less negative impacts in term of congestion, safety and environmental pollution than the road. It is thus important to understand what are the main barriers which hinder a shifting of cargo from the road to the waterway on the Belgian network where very specific economic, administrative, organisational, political and infrastructural conditions are existing In order to prevent that traffic becomes a barrier to the socio-economic development, it is absolutely necessary to look for transport alternatives. Mainly, for good flows, inland waterway mode, with its considerably high amount of free capacities, appears to be such a possibility. For ecological, safety and economical reasons, inland waterways could contribute to a sustainable solution, reducing the present and future road traffic problems.

A more intensive economical and ecological integration of the environment friendly transport modes, rail and inland navigation, turns out to be an important political target. But up to now, a shifting of cargo to inland waterways has taken place to a very limited extend only. On the contrary, many shippers and forwarding agents do still prefer trucks, though this traffic mode has meanwhile reached its capacity limits on a plenty of transport routes.