Globally, air pollution caused by transportation leads to premature deaths, urging the need for net-zero carbon dioxide strategies. Research now delves into alternative propulsion systems like hydrogen fuel cells for freight shipping, especially for long-haul trucking and short distances serviced by road trucking. This study focuses on Autonomous-driving Hydrogen-Powered Boats (AHBs) as a potential alternative for long-haul trucking, offering reduced carbon emissions and competitive total cost of ownership. AHBs could navigate shallower river systems, providing advantages during droughts and expanding accessibility in countries like Germany and the United States. The study models AHBs to assess their environmental impacts, costs, and potential applications for decarbonizing road freight. By AHB benchmarking against traditional transport modes, it aims to provide insights into developing AHBs that minimize environmental impacts and costs, highlighting their potential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.