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AWO ANNUAL How legislative; The U.S. Barge and Towing Industry: New Directions, Expanded Growth Ahead by Thomas A. Allegretti, president American Waterways Operators Thomas A. Allegretti For those operating in the inland trade of the U.S. barge and towing industry, this autumn's bumper crop of grain and soybeans helped promote the feeling that the industry had turned the corner from the dark days of the fall of 1993, when the Midwest was still recover- ing from a devastating flood. The crop windfall certainly gave inland towing com- panies cause for celebration. However, the barge and towing indus- try as a whole also has reason to expect a brighter future for reasons beyond the grace of mother nature. Change and progress also hold many future favors for this vital industry. While change is necessary for the suc- cess and growth of any industry, the barge and towing industry is currently under- going a sea of change the proportions of which have not been felt before. This change is wholly positive, bringing in- creased attention by industry leaders to better customer service, clearly defined operating standards and procedures, con- tinuous quality improvement, and higher standards of safety and professionalism. These principles have helped to shape an industry which is safer, stronger and more efficient than it was a decade ago. And, these are changes that the industry recognizes as necessary and which it em- braces. While corporate practices have long exceeded federal regulatory requirements in most aspects of towing vessel opera- tions, industry standards have continued to rise dramatically in recent years, fueled in part by the quality movement, in part by higher customer expectations, and in part by the transformation of a barge and towing industry comprised primarily of small, entrepreneurial companies to one in which a smaller number of large com- panies exists. This latter transition has been pro- pelled in large part by the overall condi- (Continued on page 22)
