Crowley continues equipment fleet expansion

Crowley Maritime Corp.'s liner services group on Friday reported an equipment acquisition plan involving more than 1,500 new containers and related cargo handling units.

Included in the order are about 50 45-foot containers with recycled, composite-material floors, which are considered more environmentally friendly than traditional wood floors.

We're going to try these new containers, see how they perform, and if all goes well, acquire more of them in the future, said John Azzo, Crowley's director of materials management.

In all, Crowley will acquire 600 45-foot dry containers, 600 45-foot chassis, 120 40-foot high-cube and 40 20-foot standard refrigerated containers, 150 45-foot flat bed trailers, 50 mafi trailers and 274 generator sets.

Crowley said it already owns and leases more than 49,000 pieces of specialized equipment, including more than 20,394 chassis, 18,280 dry containers and more than 3,000 refrigerated containers -- all of which are in a variety of sizes and strategically located throughout the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Crowley Maritime provides transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business including Puerto Rico/Caribbean and Latin America liner services. 

Source: American Shipper