In January 2026, roll-on/roll-off transport in the Three Gorges Reservoir area handled a total of 12,700 vehicles.

On February 12, the latest data jointly compiled and released by the Chongqing Shipping Exchange and the Chongqing Port and Maritime Affairs Center showed that in January 2026, the market for roll-on/roll-off vehicle transportation (referred to as "heavy roll transportation") in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area completed a total of 12,700 vehicle transports, a decrease of 11.9% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 15.4% compared to the previous year; the transportation of drivers and passengers reached 13,200 person-times, a decrease of 15.5% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 15.3% compared to the previous year.

Due to the upcoming Spring Festival, traffic volume has decreased, and various routes have gradually suspended operations starting February 6 based on the vehicle collection situation at the docks, with expectations to gradually resume operations after the holiday on February 24 (the eighth day of the lunar new year).

In January this year, a total of 32 ships were in operation in the heavy roll transportation market of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, with 2 ships temporarily out of service.

In January this year, the heavy roll terminals in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area completed a total port throughput of 25,400 vehicles, of which Chongqing Guojiatuo Terminal completed 5,900 vehicles, accounting for 23.3%; Chongqing Zhongxian Xingsheng Terminal completed 3,800 vehicles, accounting for 15%; Chongqing Wanzhou Hongxigou Terminal completed 3,000 vehicles, accounting for 11.7%; Hubei Zigui Yinxingtuo Terminal completed 8,900 vehicles, accounting for 35%; Hubei Yigang Group Zigui Port Terminal completed 3,800 vehicles, accounting for 15%.

From the perspective of cargo vehicle flow, in January this year, the downstream routes completed a transport volume of 6,900 vehicles, a decrease of 11.8% year-on-year, accounting for 54.8% of the total; the upstream routes completed a transport volume of 5,800 vehicles, a decrease of 19.5% year-on-year, accounting for 45.2% of the total. Among the downstream routes, the Chongqing-Yichang route completed 3,000 vehicles, accounting for 43.6%; the Zhongxian-Yichang route completed 2,300 vehicles, accounting for 33.1%; the Wanzhou-Yichang route completed 1,600 vehicles, accounting for 23.3%. Among the upstream routes, the Yichang-Chongqing route completed 2,900 vehicles, accounting for 49.9%; the Yichang-Zhongxian route completed 1,500 vehicles, accounting for 26.4%; the Yichang-Wanzhou route completed 1,400 vehicles, accounting for 23.7%.

From the perspective of vehicle cargo types, in January this year, the main cargo types for heavy roll transportation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area were: machinery and electrical equipment, agricultural, forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry products, chemical raw materials and products, mineral construction materials, and steel. Among them, the top 5 cargo types were: machinery and electrical equipment, accounting for 20.2%; agricultural, forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry products, accounting for 17.5%; chemical raw materials and products, accounting for 10.3%; mineral construction materials, accounting for 9.8%; steel, accounting for 7%.

From the perspective of vehicle license plate origin, in January this year, heavy roll transportation vehicles in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area involved 30 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) nationwide, with the top five provinces totaling 9,300 vehicles, accounting for 73.1% of the total, namely: Chongqing first, accounting for 19.7%; Hubei second, accounting for 18.4%; Henan third, accounting for 12.7%; Sichuan fourth, accounting for 12.5%; Anhui fifth, accounting for 9.8%. The remaining provinces totaled 3,400 vehicles, accounting for 26.9% of the total.

From the perspective of freight rates, there was no adjustment in January this year, maintaining stable operation at last year's level. The specific standards for freight rates on various routes are determined based on factors such as the full length, load capacity, and number of axles of the cargo vehicle. Currently, except for the mainstream vehicles on the Fengjie-Chongqing route being 6.2-9.6 meters models, the mainstream models on other routes are 6-axle semi-trailers. The downstream freight rates are: Chongqing-Yichang 2,200 yuan/vehicle, Zhongxian-Yichang 1,550 yuan/vehicle, Wanzhou-Yichang 1,500 yuan/vehicle; upstream freight rates: Yichang-Wanzhou 1,300 yuan/vehicle, Yichang-Zhongxian 1,735 yuan/vehicle, Yichang-Chongqing 2,275 yuan/vehicle.

The heavy roll transportation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area adopts a unique "trucks on big ships" transportation method, which has rapidly gained popularity since its launch in 2000 as an important supplement to the Three Gorges transshipment and logistics transportation method. It ended the history of heavy vehicles entering and exiting the western region being "as difficult as climbing to the sky," significantly promoting the economic and social development of Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan, empowering the vigorous development of Yangtze River shipping, and promoting high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The heavy roll transportation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area is also highly praised by a wide range of customers along the route for its safety, convenience, and low vehicle energy consumption. The drivers and passengers on board can also avoid the fatigue and bumps along the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, leisurely enjoying the magnificent Yangtze River scenery and the beautiful Three Gorges landscape, providing an immersive experience that feels like "home away from home."