About Us

About Southern Towing Company

We are a leading inland tank barge operator, specializing in transporting bulk liquid fertilizer products throughout the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. We operate the largest fleet of anhydrous ammonia barges in the United States. In addition to our fertilizer expertise, we provide towing services for several other commodities including refined petroleum, chemicals, coal, grain, and aggregates.

We set high standards for our equipment and more importantly, for our crews and shore side staff to ensure safe and timely transportation service. We are committed to providing your company with safe and prompt delivery.

 

History

Founded by Baxter Southern in Caruthersville, MO, Southern Towing Company has been a trusted, reliable partner to its customers since 1958. Throughout our history we have invested significantly into our business, adding to our fleet of marine equipment and assembling a top-notch base of dedicated, safety-focused employees. During our many years of experience, we have transported a wide variety of products, emerging as a well-known operator moving throughout the river and coastal system.

Today, our company is known for being a pioneer and leader in innovation, illustrated by our recent addition of several Z-Drive towboats. These boats offer our customers maximum efficiency and reliability while being environmentally friendly, and we are proud to offer these boats to the market.

As a result of our commitment to excellence, we have been awarded numerous awards for safety and operational excellence throughout the years.

In 2012, Southern Towing Company entered into a partnership with Trive Capital, which we believe positioned us to further accommodate the growing needs of our customers.

In May 2019, CC Industries, Inc. announced the acquisition of Southern Towing Company from Trive Capital and McCombs Partners. Chicago-based CC Industries, Inc. operates within Henry Crown and Company as the holding company for the Crown family’s privately-held companies.

As we move into the future, we are excited to continue building on our core tenets, our STC Pillars, that have characterized us for years. We are thrilled with our new partnership with CC Industries, Inc. to support us for the next phase of Southern Towing Company’s growth. With CCI’s operational and financial expertise, we will continue to focus on STC’s Pillars:

Success Through Commitment
Safely Transporting Cargo
Service To Customers
Supporting The Crew

The Z-Drive

Beginning in 2008, Southern Towing released to the market four new Z-Drive boats. Southern Towing’s Z-Drive boats are among the most technologically advanced, fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly boats operating in the inland waterways. The Z-Drive boats were uniquely designed with our customers in mind, and we believe, offer our customers an unmatched product whose fuel efficiency generates substantial savings in fuel burn. Southern Towing takes great pride in our expanding fleet and our willingness to innovate in the market, and we believe the Z-Drive boats demonstrate that innovation in a unique and definitive way.