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Cat® Dealers Weigh in on How to Succeed Along America's Inland Waterways.

The mighty Mississippi River and America's interconnected inland waterways move more than 700 million tons of cargo annually — from sand and gravel to coal and petroleum products. At the heart of these marine highways are the hardworking towboats that push barges through challenging conditions day and night. Six Cat® dealers that support the vessel operators servicing these critical rivers offer sage guidance for increasing uptime on these vital waterways.

Towboat operating on a river going under a bridge
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Supporting the Towboat Operators that Support the Nation

Upper Mississippi and Midwest Region

Boyd Cat has served the inland waterways of Kentucky, southern Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio since 1913. Fabick Cat brings decades of experience supporting marine operations throughout Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan's inland waterways, ensuring vessels maintain peak performance along the upper Mississippi River system.

Southern and Gulf Coast Region

Louisiana Cat traces its roots to 1933 and boasts over 80 years of marine‑power experience across offshore service vessels, passenger ships and inland push boats. Mustang Cat serves the Texas inland waterways, supporting towboat operators along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and river systems throughout south and southeast Texas.

Towboat on an inland waterway
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Puckett Power Systems operates multiple branches throughout central and southern Mississippi, providing electric power, industrial and marine engines. Thompson Tractor provides comprehensive marine support across Alabama and northwest Florida, offering critical services to operators navigating the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and connecting river systems.

Each dealer is heavily engaged in supporting the towboat operators that traverse the United States’ rivers each day and not only understand the nuances of each body of water but also how to help reduce vessel downtime. Installing the Cat C32B marine engine is one of the approaches to help increase vessel availability. This power solution is particularly compelling for towboat operators as it increases time between overhauls by up to 50%1 in certain operating conditions. Reduced maintenance intervals translate directly into dollars saved and increased charter availability.

The new C32B offers key advantages that address the unique demands of inland waterway operations. It delivers the low-end torque towboats need to move heavy loads through strong river currents and maneuver tight channels while complying with regulatory requirements. It also provides the robust durability necessary to support nearly continuous operational cycles.

C32B solutions can be equipped with remote health monitoring capabilities to track engine status and alarms in real-time, allowing operators to plan service intervals strategically. This predictive maintenance capability helps operators schedule repairs during planned downtime to avoid emergency scenarios. The C32B’s lower fuel consumption helps significantly reduce operating costs, providing a crucial advantage given the long hours and distances towboats cover2.

Additionally, as regulations evolve, the C32B enables operators to utilize biofuels when required.

Meeting Modern Requirements

In addition to the uptime and cost advantages the C32B provides3, the comprehensive Cat dealer network offers competitive advantages for America’s towboat operators. Boyd Cat, Fabick Cat, Louisiana Cat, Mustang Cat, Puckett Power and Thompson Tractor are available 24/7 to ensure parts availability and expert service. This network is especially valuable given the vast geography of inland waterway operations, where vessels can be hundreds of miles from a home port.

The C32B represents a significant strategic opportunity for towboat operators seeking to upgrade a fleet or repower existing vessels. The combination of increased reliability, durability, reduced maintenance costs4 and the proven support of the Cat dealer network empowers operators to remain competitive.

1 Compared to the C32.
2 Compared to the C32.
3 Compared to the C32.
4 Compared to the C32.

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