Our Vision
To be the trusted leader in marine transportation.
Our Mission
To deliver safe, innovative marine transportation solutions while empowering Team Members and maximizing stakeholder value.
team members across ACBL
Integrity
Mutual Care
Personal Responsibility
Integrity
Mutual Care
Personal Responsibility
Agility
Customer Focus
Teamwork
Agility
Customer Focus
Teamwork
The greenest, safest, most efficient way to move cargo
America’s trusted leader in marine transportation
The safest way to move cargo
When it comes to worker safety, barge transportation leads the industry. For every one injury in barge operations, there are 96 injuries in rail transport and 1,145 in trucking.
Leading in low emissions
When it comes to sustainability, the numbers speak for themselves. Inland barge towing produces only 15.1 tons of CO₂ per million ton-miles, outperforming rail at 21.6 and trucking at 140.7.
Moving America's cargo
Every year, 502 million tons of cargo move along the nation’s rivers. Barge transportation delivers these massive loads safely, efficiently, and reliably, keeping commerce flowing.
Efficiency in action
One barge tow equals the hauling power of 1,050 semi-trucks, delivering goods safely and efficiently while keeping highways less congested.
Cleaner by design
Barge transportation produces 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than trucks or rail, making inland waterways the most environmentally responsible way to move cargo.
History
1915
Founded
Patrick Calhoun establishes the Beattyville Company to transport coal to the Ohio River—laying the groundwork for what would become American Commercial Barge Line.
1920s - 1930s
Growth + Expansion
Operations extend from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, and in 1938, the company purchases the shipyard that would later be known as Jeffboat, enabling vessel construction and repair capabilities.
1940s
Wartime Production
Contracts with the U.S. Army and Navy during World War II lead to major expansion of Jeffboat operations and shipbuilding.
1950s - 1990s
Mergers + Acquisitions
A series of mergers and acquisitions diversify ACBL’s business and expand its operating footprint throughout the southern United States.
2000s - Present
Modernization + Transformation
ACBL undergoes management changes and restructuring while continuing to invest in fleet renewal, technology, and continuous improvement to strengthen its role as a trusted industry leader.
Moving the cargo that powers, builds, and feeds America
The backbone of America’s supply chain
Barge transportation is the most efficient way to move America’s essential cargo— from agriculture and energy to manufacturing materials. Each 15-barge tow can carry the same amount of bulk commodities as 216 rail cars or 1,050 trucks, saving shippers an estimated $8 billion in transportation costs every year. That’s efficiency by water: fewer trips, less fuel, and more value delivered per mile.
Construction
Steel
Concrete
Recycled Metal
Rock
Salt
Styrene
Food
Corn
Soy
Grain
Sugar
Fertilizer
Rice
Energy
Coal
Oil
Fuel
Benzene
Naptha
Executive Management Team
Leadership that moves the industry forward
Our executive team brings deep industry expertise and a shared commitment to safety, efficiency, and long-term growth. Their leadership ensures we deliver reliable, efficient solutions for the customers and communities we serve.
Peter brings 40 years of maritime industry experience to ACBL as both an operator and customer. Most recently, Peter served as CEO of Rand Logistics, a leading provider of bulk freight shipping and ship repair services throughout the Great Lakes Region. There, he led a successful turnaround, driving improved performance and synergies following Rand’s acquisition of American Steamship Company.
Peter’s career includes senior leadership roles at organizations such as SEACOR Holdings Inc. (formerly NYSE: CKH), the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), and Par Petroleum (now Par Pacific, NYSE: PARR). His leadership spans marine logistics and vessel construction, energy marketing and logistics, renewable fuels, and refining and marketing.
Before his private sector career, Peter served nine years as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard and four in the Coast Guard Reserve.
Peter holds two master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Blaine Mitten serves as Chief Financial Officer at ACBL, bringing more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance, business development, and strategic planning. Known for his ability to optimize financial performance and drive informed decision-making, Blaine plays a key role in guiding ACBL’s financial strategy and long-term growth.
He joined ACBL in 2021 as Vice President of Finance for the Liquids Division, where he partnered closely with senior leadership to grow the business and lead major capital planning and lease transactions.
Before ACBL, Blaine held senior finance roles across the marine transportation sector. As CFO and Director of Finance at Van Enkevort Tug & Barge, he led a successful financial restructuring and secured funding for new capital projects. At Savage Marine and Settoon Towing, he oversaw M&A transactions, operational integrations, and commercial strategy. Earlier in his career, he worked in corporate and investment banking at KeyBanc Capital Markets, delivering financial solutions to global middle-market clients in transportation and logistics.
Blaine earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the Sellinger School of Business and Management at Loyola University Maryland.
Ricky Stover is a commercial leader who brings a strong reputation for growing businesses within the transportation industry.
Most recently, Ricky served as the Assistant Vice President of Sales and Marketing – Intermodal at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC), based in Kansas City, MO, where he led a $1.8 billion business. His roles at CPKC included overseeing sales and marketing for both Domestic and International Intermodal and Automotive sectors.
Prior to CPKC, Ricky was with C.R. England from 2013 to 2020, advancing from Director of Intermodal Business Development to Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. There, he established the corporate sales team and strategy and managed a North American sales team with over $1 billion in sales.
Ricky's career began in education, eventually moving to BNSF Railway, where he held various roles from Senior Analyst in Customer Relationship Management to Senior Market Manager for Industrial Products. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of Supply Chain Management at Texas Christian University.
Ricky’s commercial experience spans rail, intermodal, and trucking. He is known for his player-coach leadership style, leveraging his teaching background to effectively manage and support his sales team. His strengths include his solution-based approach to business and his dedication to customer focus.
Ricky holds an M.B.A. from Texas Christian University, and a B.S. in Education from the University of North Texas.
Alex is responsible for directing and planning all aspects of ACBL’s legal and risk initiatives. Alex most recently served as VP & Unit Leader for Savage Inland Marine, LLC and as Maritime Counsel in Savage’s Legal Department servicing all of the marine business units, including the inland marine unit, dock operations unit and maritime offshore unit. Prior to joining Savage, Alex served as General Counsel for Settoon Towing, LLC, an inland tank barge operator. Prior to joining Settoon, Alex was Special Counsel to the firm of Adams & Reese in their Baton Rouge, Louisiana office specializing in tax exempt and corporate financial transactions.
Alex holds a B.S. from Louisiana State University in 2001 and his J.D./Certificate of Civil Law from Mississippi College School of Law in 2004
Jeanette joined ACBL in July 2021 as Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
At ACBL, Jeanette leads the charge to deploy contemporary technology solutions to continuously transform the organization to differentiate it from its competitors and remain a marine industry leader.
An accomplished IT leader dedicated to increasing business value through the implementation, management, & usability of information technologies, Jeanette has over three decades of experience leading small, medium, and global, enterprise-grade digital transformation initiatives across many geographies in pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, warehousing, and consumer product industries.
Immediately prior to coming to ACBL, Jeanette was a member of the corporate IT senior leadership team at Performance Food Group, responsible for creating company-wide IT strategy & ensuring its alignment with the business strategy. Jeanette led the Data and Analytics practice, responsible for all data management & integration initiatives across the $30bn enterprise.
Jeanette attended Binghamton University and the Rochester Institute of Technology for her graduate and undergraduate studies and has been a guest speaker at various prestigious technology conferences and events.
ACBL named Mike Kennelly as its Senior Vice President of Liquid Sales in October 2020.
Prior to joining ACBL, Kennelly held senior sales leadership positions with Kirby, Savage Marine, Settoon, and Florida Marine, totaling 27 years of experience in the inland marine industry. Mike’s responsibilities are to improve the market share, utilization, and profitability of ACBL’s Liquids Division. Kennelly will be based out of ACBL’s Houston office.
Kennelly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Texas A&M University.
Sutton has been an ACBL Team Member since 2005, and is the former President of Jeffboat, LLC, where he led the organization in developing unparalleled success with its commercial sales strategy while simultaneously improving barge quality, production, and safety results. Sutton has held several positions in his 15 years with ACBL, including Industrial Engineer, Director of Fleet and Terminal Operations, Director of Strategic Planning, and Plant Manager.
Sutton holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University and his MBA in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Careers at ACBL
When you work at ACBL, you’re part of a team that cares about your growth and your success. From the wheelhouse to the office, our people look out for one another, sharing knowledge, celebrating progress, and working safely, together. Because here, success isn’t individual— it’s shared across every crew, vessel, and team that keeps the river moving.
Culture at ACBL
ACBL’s culture is built on safety, integrity, and teamwork—empowering people to do the right thing, every day. With a shared commitment to continuous improvement, our teams work together to move essential cargo responsibly and reliably.
