KUER Local News
(2008-07-11)
A commercial truck is loading onto the S.S. Badger to cross Lake Michigan.
Photo from S.S. Badger.
Higher diesel fuel prices may be pummeling trucking companies but it's also meant increased business for a Lake Michigan carferry.
Magee Johnson is a spokeswoman for the S.S. Badger.
It's a 410-foot long ferry that crosses the lake in four hours from Ludington to Manitowac, Wisconsin.
Johnson says the trucking industry makes up about a quarter of their overall business.
Now she says with diesel fuel well over four dollars a gallon, they're seeing more bookings from trucks than ever.
"We do anticipate that we could continue to see increases in that segment of our traffic, as well as group travel."
Johnson says taking the ferry saves trucks on average of $100 in fuel per trip.
The ferry transports about 100,000 passengers each year.
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