Upper Mississippi Fleeting is a member of the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) and a longtime supporter of the organization.  

In June 2025, Vice President of Upper Mississippi Fleeting and UMWA board member Randy Carmichael attended the Columbia-Snake River exchange tour. Upper Mississippi Fleeting was a top sponsor at the Captain Level.  

“Delegating key leaders in their companies to attend for a full week, and invest into this program was a significant investment, and shows the deep commitment these companies have in the continued utilization of the Upper Mississippi River,” UMWA Executive Director Gary Williams said. 

Based out of Buffalo, Iowa, Upper Mississippi Fleeting operates as a shipbuilding company and offers a range of services, including: barge switching, fleeting, cleaning and repair, dry docking, lock and dam assistance and bridge assistance.

With crucial support from groups like Upper Mississippi Fleeting, the exchange tour helped share UMWA’s key priorities.  

“A key benefit of the exchange was the amount of exposure both sets of stakeholders created,” Williams said. “The team was interviewed for radio, blogs and news stories. This is a program that benefits both rivers because of the interest it generates in a wider community.” 

To learn more about Upper Mississippi Fleeting, visit its Facebook page.