ACL Gets Over $30m of New Business

American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) has launched the organic growth initiative of its business strategy. ACL's organic growth model includes transporting more freight with its existing customers as well as converting rail and truck shipments to move via barge transportation. Commenting on the new business, Mike Ryan, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing stated, "We have successfully introduced ACL as a shipping alternative to a broad spectrum of shippers. We have recently secured over $30 million of contractual commitments for new business in 2007. The new business includes various commodities, including coal, chemicals and metals. One meaningful example is a conversion of chemicals, which were previously shipped by rail from the Midwest for export thru the Gulf. We believe our organic growth initiatives will continue to increase the freight that is transported by the inland barge industry. We have worked with many new customers to identify supply chain opportunities using the safest and most cost efficient mode of transportation."