American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) announced that it achieved an 86% on-time delivery performance during 2007 for scheduled service. In addition to being the lowest cost, cleanest, safest and most fuel-efficient mode of transportation in the U.S., ACL has now established its scheduled barge transportation service as a reliable source of transportation.
Commenting on this performance, Mark R. Holden, President and Chief Executive Officer, said "This is perhaps our most important achievement over the past three years, transforming ACL from a barge operator into an advanced transportation company. By establishing barge transportation as a reliable source of transportation, we broaden our available markets. Barge transportation has, historically, handled approximately 16% of the annual 3.8 trillion U.S. freight ton miles with the remainder moving by truck, rail, air, or pipeline. Operating a reliable transportation service has the effect of increasing our markets from 16% to over 85% of the approximate $750 billion transportation market. This type of performance further establishes the foundation for organic growth within ACL's transportation business."