A dry bulk cargo barge is a barge designed to carry freight such as coal, finished steel or its ingredients, grain, sand or gravel, and similar materials. Barges are constructed of steel. They have an outer hull, an internal void that is fitted with heavy struts and cross braces, and an internal cargo box.

Such barges can be equipped with covers of various types if the cargo is weather-sensitive (finished steel or grain). Generally, these covers are fabricated of fiberglass or steel. They can be lifted or rolled away for access to the barge hold, or cargo box.

In 2004, the dry bulk cargo barge fleet on the Mississippi River system (Mississippi, Gulf Intercoastal Canal East & West, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri Rivers, etc) stood at 5,836 open hoppers and 11,572 covered hoppers, for a total of 17,408, according the Criton Corporation. Smaller barge fleets also operate on the East (Hudson River, etc.) and West coasts (Columbia River, Sacramento River, etc) of the United States.

Wet products, such as vegetable oils, orange juice, liquid fuels and so forth are carried in tank barges .