American Commercial Lines Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLI) announced it is realigning its Transportation Services Division to reduce costs, improve efficiencies, and streamline communication. The company will be moving leaders in operations management to field locations, closer to its employees and customers.
Headquartered in Jeffersonville, Ind., ACL operates a fleet of more than 2,600 barges and approximately 130 towboats on a network of more than 12,000 miles of U.S. inland waterways. It also operates terminals, as well as fleeting, shifting, cleaning, and barge and boat repair services throughout its network.
The company is realigning its Transportation Services business into two regional divisions. The Southern Division, based in Harahan, La., will include the company's network south of Baton Rouge, La., which is located at mile marker LM237. The Northern Division, based in Cairo, IL, will include the company's network north of Baton Rouge, La.
Mario Munoz, previously Vice President Vessel Operations, will lead the company's operations in the south as Vice President and General Manager Southern Division and will be located in Harahan, La. Bill Foster, previously Director of Barge Maintenance, will lead operations in the north as Vice President and General Manager Northern Division, and will be located in Cairo, IL. Prior to this realignment, this level of leadership was located at the company's headquarters in Jeffersonville, Ind. The entire Transportation Services group will continue to be led by Vice President and General Manager, Transportation Services, Bill Braman, who is based in the Jeffersonville headquarters.
The company believes that the realignment of its Transportation Services unit will enable it to better serve its customers while improving the efficiency of its operations. These changes will also effectively position ACL to advance a program for scheduled barge transportation service, which will help increase business with existing customers, as well as attract new business to the inland waterways.
The realignment of the Transportation Services Division is expected to be completed in early October.