Experienced Lead Mate Deckhand
About the job
- Towboat experience is required.
- Ability to uphold safety standards and work away from home for extended periods.
- Ability to work outdoors for extended periods in heat, cold, rain, and snow; work in confined spaces; climb ladders; and board and ride in a skiff.
- Ability to respond quickly in unexpected circumstances and demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- Ability to read and write English in accordance with United States Coast Guard regulations.
- Ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential card.
- Ability to pass a post-offer background check, drug screen, and physical.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 110 pounds for up to 1,000 feet.
- Assist the deck crew with tow building, including laying wires, tightening ratchets, and sweeping and shoveling barges.
- Perform daily vessel housekeeping, including sweeping, mopping, and cleaning crew living quarters.
- Assist with locking.
- Carry rigging, including ratchets, wires, and straps, as well as pumps, hoses, and lines.
- Check barges for water and leaks, including entering confined spaces when required.
- Maintain vessel appearance by washing, chipping, and painting.
- Assist the Engineer as requested.
- Practice safe crew, vessel, and tow operations using company safety systems.
- Participate in safety drills and audits.
- Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
About the company
Ingram Barge Company moves dry and liquid commodities on 4,500 miles of U.S. inland waterways using a well-maintained fleet and strong customer service. Through Custom Fuel Services, it offers midstream fueling, lubricants, groceries in select markets, supply deliveries, and waste disposal. Ingram Infrastructure Group adds landside capabilities with transloading, storage, and inland river terminals, while Ingram Logistics Services operates as a licensed NVOCC with a global network. The overall goal is to provide reliable, end-to-end logistics and transportation solutions for shippers on inland rivers and beyond.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Nashville, Tennessee
Founded
1946
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- 2025-2026 acquisitions of SCF and NexStar expand customer relationships and asset coverage.
- Ingram Infrastructure Group enables cross-selling across river transport, logistics, and material handling.
- Industry outreach with WKCTC in 2026 supports technician hiring and succession in a tight labor market.
What critics are saying
- Low-water and ice disruptions hit Ingram’s Mississippi operations, including February 2026 delays.
- March 2026 fatalities at Hickman increase scrutiny on ramp, dock, and site safety controls.
- Inland barge demand stays exposed to river conditions; prolonged closures crush utilization and margins.
What makes Ingram Barge unique
- Ingram runs 4,500 miles of waterways with 4,100 barges and 140 towboats.
- Ingram Infrastructure Group broadens logistics beyond towing into material handling and supply-chain services.
- Ingram’s inland network and fleet density create route flexibility competitors struggle to replicate.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Tuition Reimbursement
Professional Development Budget
Company News
New AWO chair Matt Woodruff slams Jones Act waiver. The members of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) elected a new slate of leaders last week, and its new chairman of the board, Matt Woodruff, VP, public & government affairs, at Kirby Corporation, immediately emphasized the critical importance of mobilizing the entire domestic maritime industry to end the current Jones Act waiver. "The Jones Act is the foundation of the American maritime industry," he said. "This blanket waiver is harming American mariners by outsourcing their livelihoods to foreign carriers, which is incompatible with an America First agenda and with restoring American maritime dominance. The waiver has not lowered the price of gasoline or delivered relief to Americans at the pump. It is stifling much needed investment in restoring American maritime dominance. Our industry will continue mobilizing to urge the Trump Administration and Congress to end the waiver and put American workers first." Woodruff also highlighted key industry policy and safety priorities in the year ahead: "Our marine transportation system is a vital pillar of America's economy, supply chain, and national security, and AWO is committed to speaking with one united voice for policies that keep our waterways strong and safe: continued bipartisan support for the Jones Act and ending the current waiver; Coast Guard policies that encourage, and do not hinder, safety, efficiency and innovation; robust investment in waterways infrastructure; and state policies that enable safe navigation and our industry's continued economic impact across the nation." The AWO Spring Convention and Annual Membership Meeting also saw Brian Hughes, president, Hughes Bros. Inc., ]elected vice chairman; and Angela Grett, vice president, corporate affairs, at Ingram Barge Company, elected treasurer. Woodruff succeeds outgoing chairman Patrick Sutton, senior vice president, business development & planning, ar American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL). "AWO is fortunate to have capable, committed member leaders like Patrick Sutton and his predecessors committed to leading our advocacy on behalf of America's tugboat, towboat and barge industry," said AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter. "We look forward to Matt Woodruff's strategic and determined leadership as we fight to end the overly broad, historically long Jones Act waiver that undermines billions of dollars in investments and hundreds of thousands of American jobs provided by the domestic maritime industry. Matt is the leader we need at this consequential time."
National education outreach program We Work the Waterways is partnering with WKCTC, Ingram Barge Company, Marine Way Training Center and other maritime stakeholders to provide the immersive event.
Ingram Marine Group, one of the largest barge operators on the inland waterways, has announced plans to invest $50 million over three years to upgrade its barge-loading and grain-handling facilities in the St. Louis area.
More recently, Ingram Marine Group joined forces with Enexor, and Repurpose Sustainable Waste Solutions for a proposal that includes a transfer station and a free recycling drop-off center for residents in the former Dredge Master's building on South Center Point Road.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ingram Barge Company LLC (Ingram) announced today the creation of Ingram Infrastructure Group LLC as a new material handling and supply chain solutions subsidiary within its corporate structure. The move was fueled by Ingram finalizing its acquisitions of Inland River Transport Holdings LLC (SCF) and NexStar Solutions LLC (NexStar), marking a sizable expansion in Ingram’s services and assets. Ingram acquired SCF, a provider of integrated river transportation and logistics services, from SEACOR Holdings Inc. (SEACOR) following the signing of a purchase agreement last October. Ingram currently operates across more than 4,500 miles of the U.S. inland waterways system transporting a variety of essential agriculture and industrial commodities via 4,100 covered and open top dry cargo and liquid tank barges and 140 towboats