ASTAR Air Cargo helps DHL take on delivery giants FedEx and UPS on their own turf. Hiring the carrier's fleet of about 40 aircraft enables DHL and other customers, including the US Department of Defense and the United States Postal Service, to achieve overnight delivery of virtually any kind of cargo. ASTAR's service includes scheduled as well as chartered flights. In January 2009, ASTAR suffered a blow when -- in order to cut down on costs -- DHL was forced to shut down its express operations within the US. (Through ASTAR and other carriers, DHL still offers international shipping services to and from the US). An investment group led by CEO John Dasburg controls ASTAR.

Not only do the trucking subsidiaries of The Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) burn diesel fuel, but they also haul it. The group transports gasoline, diesel fuel, other petroleum and petrochemical products, and food throughout the US. The company operates a fleet of some 3,300 tractors and 4,300 tank trailers from a network of about 100 terminals in more than 35 states, mainly in the eastern half of the US. Customers include major oil companies and other petroleum marketers, along with food manufacturers. In addition to trucking, KAG provides fuel-related logistics services. Investment firm Littlejohn & Co. owns the company.

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.

Before you can buy stuff at the store, the stuff has to get to the store, and that's where National Retail Systems comes in. The company provides less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation, along with logistics and warehousing and distribution services. (LTL carriers combine freight from multiple shippers into a single truckload.) It operates a fleet of about 1,100 trucks and about 4,300 trailers and maintains more than 1 million sq. ft. of warehouse space. To serve its retail clients, the company has both trailers and warehouses designed to handle garments on hangers. National Retail Systems was founded in 1953.

Covenant Transportation Group promises its customers speedy service on long-haul and regional routes. The company operates a fleet of about 3,100 tractors and 8,000 trailers, including both dry vans and temperature-controlled units (through its Southern Refrigerated Transport subsidiary). In addition to for-hire transportation, Covenant offers dedicated contract carriage, in which drivers and equipment are assigned long-term to a customer or route, and freight brokerage services. Averaging about 800 miles per length of haul, the company gets business from manufacturers, retailers, and other transportation companies; among its top customers are Georgia-Pacific, Wal-Mart, and UPS.

They are all things commonly found in the Nation's river systems. As one of the United States' largest inland carriers, Ingram Barge moves dry and liquid bulk commodities, such as ore, grains, and coal, through the Mississippi River System, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and other US inland waterways. It operates a fleet of more than 130 towboats and about 4,000 barges, and offers storage and loading terminal services through third-party affiliates. A subsidiary of book wholesaler Ingram Industries, Ingram Barge has been managed by the Ingram family since its inception in 1946.

Tidewater Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides offshore supply vessels and marine support services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of fleet of offshore marine service vessels. It offers services to support various phases of offshore exploration, development, and production, including towing of and anchor handling of mobile drilling rigs and equipment; transporting supplies and personnel; and assisting in offshore construction activities. The company’s marine vessel fleet include platform supply vessels, and anchor handling towing supply vessels used for transporting supplies and equipment from shore bases to deepwater and intermediate water depth offshore drilling rigs, platforms, and other installations; towing-supply and supply vessels used for transportation in intermediate and shallow waters; and crewboats and utility vessels for transporting personnel and supplies from shore bases to offshore drilling rigs, platforms, and other installations. It also operates offshore tugs used for towing floating drilling rigs; assisting in the docking of tankers; towing barges; assisting in pipe laying, cable laying, and construction barges; and commercial towing operations, including towing barges carrying various bulk cargoes and containerized cargo. In addition, the company’s vessels include inshore tugs; and production, line-handling, and various other special purpose vessels. Further, it operates two shipyards in Houma, Louisiana, which construct, modify, and repair vessels. As of March 31, 2009, the company had approximately 430 vessels, including 10 vessels operated through joint ventures, 61 vessels stacked, and 11 vessels withdrawn from service. It has operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the Persian Gulf, and areas offshore Australia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Trinidad, Venezuela, and West Africa. Tidewater Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Navajo Express is a leader in long-haul and dedicated transportation. With a network of 1,000 trucks, and 800 Navajo Logistics alliance carriers, the company is able to provide the refrigerated and dry goods industries with unparalleled customer service. The company's team of experienced professionals is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist with equipment capacity and visibility of shipments. Customer service and on-time performance are hallmark at Navajo Express for all of the company's service-sensitive transportation partners.

ITAL Logistics is a British freight company with Italian flavor. The firm began by specializing in shipping freight between the UK and Italy, but has since expanded its service to include Spain, Greece, Portugal, and about a half dozen Western European countries. ITAL Logistics provides weekly scheduled and expedited (within 48 hours) freight transport. Within each country, it partners with other regional logistics companies to provide ground and ocean shipping services. Though headquartered in the Manchester area, ITAL Logistics has a depot in the Midlands and in the South of England to provide complete coverage throughout the UK. ITAL Logistics was founded in 2000.

Precious Shipping hauls valuable, if not glamorous, cargo. The company hauls not diamonds or pearls but agricultural products, steel, ore, fertilizers, and other basic goods that keep the world's economies humming. Precious Shipping operates a fleet of about 50 ships navigating the shallow waters of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Latin America that hamper traffic from larger vessels. The company is among the largest of its kind in Thailand and moves goods primarily from Asia to ports throughout the world. The company's operations consist of ship owning, chartering, and management in addition to port development.

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