Engineer Profile: Chief Colton Broadway
Colton Broadway was 29 years old when he went to work as a deckhand for American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL). For Broadway, it wasn’t a “let’s see what happens” decision. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.
“I set a goal and was determined to get to it as quickly as possible,” he said. “I had tunnel vision, going straight to the engine room.”
Broadway said he had a friend at the time who was an engineer for Ingram Barge Company. Besides seeing in his friend what life as an engineer aboard a towboat might be like, Broadway felt he was well suited for the role.
“I’ve always been good working with my hands,” he said. “I have a background of always fixing things, figuring things out.”
That was six years ago. Broadway spent about a year and a half working as a deckhand before he was chosen to be part of an ACBL engineer training class. Soon enough, Broadway was assigned to the mv. Michael Collins as a trainee.
“I had a great training chief,” Broadway said. “He was very patient, because I asked a lot of questions.”
Broadway worked under Robert Layton aboard the Michael Collins for about 10 or 11 months, he said. After that, he spent another 10 months or so as an assistant engineer, serving under Ed Russell, now retired. Broadway said those two engineers, plus his former port engineer, Ron Schneider, and his current port engineer, Jason Latham, were instrumental in him moving up to chief engineer so quickly.
“And there’s a lot of people in between,” he said. “Thanks to this company, the people in this company, I got here a lot quicker than I ever thought I would. If you want it, there are people at ACBL to help you get there.”
Broadway served as chief aboard the mv. Dan Jaworski for about two years before moving over to the Capt. Shelby House.
From a mechanical/technical standpoint, Broadway said he has a knack for Caterpillar engines in particular. For the most part, ACBL, recognizing that, has assigned him to CAT-powered vessels. Tracking engine hours, keeping a daily log, and inputting that information online is all part of Broadway’s engine maintenance routine.
“Technology makes it a lot easier to troubleshoot some issues,” he said. “We still have a lot of analog stuff on the boat, but I do enjoy the technology part of it.”
And it’s not just the engine maintenance that Broadway enjoys. The variety of the job also appeals to him, he said. The towboat’s electrical system, plumbing, “anything that needs to be fixed on the boat,” painting: Broadway applies his goal-setting and can-do attitude to it all.
“I’ve got rein over the whole boat with my position, maintaining everything bow to stern,” he said. “I may have seven projects going on at one time, but my goal is to complete everything by the time my 28 days are up.”
When Broadway, now 35, is off the boat, he’s making his home in Lexington, Tenn., with his wife and their two daughters. Working 28 days on and 28 days off isn’t always easy, Broadway said.
“My wife is a thousand percent supportive of me,” he said.
Whereas in a lot of other jobs he might be working long days and barely getting to see his family, his work as chief engineer for ACBL affords him 28 days straight at home.
“I get to see them and be with them every day,” he said.
All things considered, Broadway said he loves his job and loves to tell others about it.
“I tell everybody in this industry that I feel like my job is the best job out here,” he said.
