Case Study: Carline Management Company achieves faster, safer Mississippi River fleeting with Cummins Z-Drive propulsion

Carline Management Company - Customer Case Study

Carline Management Company, through its Burnside Fleet on the lower Mississippi River, needed a faster, more agile fleet boat to handle demanding switching and shifting duties for large barge tows and a new continuous barge unloading dock. The company sought improved speed, safety, and efficiency beyond what a conventional fleet boat could provide, and worked with Cummins on a marine propulsion package for the new M/V USS Cairo.

Cummins supplied the main propulsion and auxiliary power for the vessel, including twin Tier III compliant QSK19-M engines rated at 750 HP each, paired with Twin Disc gears and Thrustmaster Z-drives, plus QSB7-powered generators. The result was Carline’s first z-drive fleet boat on the Mississippi River, designed to deliver greater maneuverability, performance, and operational efficiency, helping the company meet higher service demands and anticipated environmental constraints.

Carline Management Company

Lew Parks

Chief Executive Officer