Tube Lines Ltd.'s business has gone down the tube -- just where it is supposed to be. Through its 30-year contract with London Underground, the company maintains and improves London's larger underground rail lines (Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly). In addition to maintenance operations, the company provides distribution, emergency services, and training programs to London Underground; it has also upgraded about 100 of its rail stations. Transport for London, the government agency that runs the London Underground, bought the Tube Lines shares owned by construction and rail specialists Amey and Bechtel in 2010 for about £400 million (about $580 million), returning Tube Lines to public ownership.

Turners (Soham) has enough big wheels to make it a big wheel in the distribution industry. Founded in 1930 by Wallace and Frank Turner, family-owned and -operated Turners (Soham) is one of the largest privately owned transport companies in the UK. Its core businesses are temperature-controlled and bulk-tanker operations. Turners (Soham) also runs a fresh-produce distribution and storage center. With a fleet of 800 vehicles, the company serves customers that range from major retailers to government entities, including the US Air Force and Her Majesty's Prison Services.

Founded as a moving company in 1920, Hassett Air Express is owned by CEO Terry Sherman and CFO Donna O'Reilly. Hassett Storage Warehouses, which does business as Hassett Air Express, provides express air and ground freight forwarding to customers across the US. (Freight forwarders buy transportation capacity from carriers and resell it to customers.) Hassett Air Express operates from eight locations in the US and through a network of agents overseas, with customers coming from the publishing, entertainment, manufacturing, and automotive industries. It offers same-day and next-day service, charter service, and operates a segment for transporting materials to trade shows.

Torm A/S, a shipping company, together with its subsidiaries, provides product tanker and dry bulk carrier services worldwide. Its product tankers carry refined oil products, such as gasoline, jet fuel, naphtha, and diesel oil. Torm company’s dry bulk vessels carry iron ore and coal for utilities and the steel industry; and commodities, such as grain, bauxite, and fertilizers. It operates a fleet of 140 vessels principally through a pooling cooperation with other respected shipping companies. Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet TORM was formerly known as Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Torm and changed its name to TORM A/S in April 2009. TORM A/S was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

International Shipholding Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides maritime transportation services to commercial and governmental customers primarily under medium to long-term time charters or contracts of affreightment in the United States and internationally. The company also offers ship charter brokerage and agency services. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a fleet of 41 ocean-going vessels, including U.S. flag pure car/truck carriers (PCTCs) designed to transport automobiles, trucks, and vehicles; international flag PCTCs with the capability of transporting heavyweight and large dimension trucks and buses; multi-purpose vessels; container vessels; tanker vessels that are used to transport supplies; U.S. flag molten sulphur vessel that is used to carry molten sulphur; and special purpose vessels modified as roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessels to transport loaded rail cars; U.S. flag conveyor belt-equipped self-unloading coal carrier; RO/RO vessels that permit deployment of rolling stock, munitions, and other military cargoes; U.S. flag and international flag container ships; double hull handy-size bulk carrier newbuildings; and bulk carriers. International Shipholding Corporation was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama.

The prospect of moving freight is what makes this Panther pounce. Panther Expedited Services arranges the ground, air, and ocean transportation of time-sensitive cargo, primarily for companies in the automotive and other manufacturing industries but also for government agencies and for other transportation companies. The company transports its more than 10,000 customers' freight globally through a network of almost 1,100 owner-operated vehicles, 1,600 third-party ground-carriers, and an additional 500 ocean and air cargo carriers. It also offers warehousing and logistics services. Private equity firm Fenway Partners owns a controlling stake in the company. In mid-2010 Panther filed to go public.

Providence and Worcester Railroad Company operates as an interstate freight carrier with regional railroad operating in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. Providence and Worcester Railroad company transports various commodities, including automobiles, construction aggregates, iron and steel products, chemicals, lumber, scrap metals, plastic resins, cement, coal, construction and demolition debris, and processed foods, as well as edible foodstuffs, such as corn syrup and vegetable oils. As of December 31, 2009, its rail freight system comprised approximately 516 miles of track. The company also services a double-stack intermodal terminal facility in New England in Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition, it engages in the sale of properties, granting of easements, and licensing and leasing of land and tracks. Providence and Worcester Railroad company was founded in 1969 and is based in Worcester, Massachusetts.

BW Gas was taken private by the family of CEO Andreas Sohmen-Pao and delisted from the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2009. BW Gas is a leading marine transporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with a fleet of about 65 vessels with a deadweight ton (DWT) total of 3.3 million. The company has been busy renewing its fleet by scrapping and selling older vessels. BW Gas plans to concentrate on building its very large gas carriers (VLGCs) fleet. BW Gas is part of BW Group Ltd. (formerly Bergesen d.y. ASA), which also includes BW Offshore, BW Maritime, and BW Fleet Management. Hong Kong-based World-Wide Shipping Group bought Bergesen d.y. ASA in 2003.

DistTech goes the distance. The transportation company specializes in carrying liquid bulk commodities, including food-grade products, throughout the US, Mexico, and Canada. In addition to acting as a common carrier, the company provides dedicated contract carriage, in which drivers and equipment are assigned to customers long-term. DistTech also offers logistics services, returnable container management, and tank washing. It operates from 30 facilities across the US. Formerly known as Manfredi Motor Transit, the company was founded by father and son John and Frank Manfredi in 1932.

Allied Systems Holdings knows how to "get a move on." Carrying millions of cars, trucks, and SUVs every year, Allied Systems Holdings leads the North American automobile-hauling market. Subsidiary Allied Automotive Group moves approximately nine million vehicles annually with a fleet of about 4,000 tractor-trailer rigs, which it operates from about 90 terminals in the US and Canada. Vehicles are transported from manufacturing plants, railway distribution points, ports, and auctions to auto dealers and car rental companies. Automakers such as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota are the company's main customers. Investment firm Yucaipa owns a controlling stake in Allied Systems Holdings.

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