HFL Closes On Campbell’s River Division
Nashville, Tenn.-based Hines Furlong Line (HFL) has closed on its acquisition of the river division of Campbell Transportation Company (CTC). HFL announced completion of the acquisition on January 30, less than two months after news of the deal first made headlines.
“As supply chains grow more complex and market demands continue to evolve, the inland barge industry is increasingly being shaped by operators with diversified fleets, expansive geographic reach and the scale and capital capacity to invest for the long term,” said Kent Furlong, president and founder of Hines Furlong Line. “This acquisition allows us to build upon our foundation and support long-term growth while continuing to deliver safe, efficient and reliable transportation our customers have relied on for decades.”
With the acquisition, Hines Furlong Line now includes more than 800 team members, with an owned and/or managed fleet of more than 800 hopper and tank barges and 64 inland towboats. The company now also controls more than 1,000 permitted fleeting spaces and oversees two repair yards and additional support facilities. The acquisition extends HFL’s footprint to 10 cities, stretching from the upper Ohio River to the Lower Mississippi River.
In all, 21 vessels were included in the acquisition, with the mvs. Lion, Gale R. Rhodes, Kennedy Grace, TEX, Renee Lynn, Alice Jean, D.L. Johnson, Allegheny, Eagle, Lincoln Thomas, Georgetown, Winnie C., Tommy H., Connie K., Darrell L., M.J. Monahan, Marci Gale, Louise S., C.J. Queenan, Andrea S. and Laura S. all becoming part of Hines Furlong Line’s fleet.
In announcing the closing, Furlong also honored Campbell Transportation’s decades of excellence.
“CTC has been respected for its industry stewardship, operational discipline and longstanding presence on the river,” Furlong said. “We thank Peter Stephaich and Kyle Buese for their leadership, and we are proud to continue CTC’s legacy within HFL for generations to come.”
Campbell Transportation’s Gulf division, headquartered in Houston and led by Buese, who serves as president and CEO, was not included in the HFL acquisition and continues to operate independently under the Campbell Transportation Company name. Stephaich serves as executive chairman.
