New Study Highlights Environmental Benefits of Using Trailer Bridge Over Competitors.

Business Editors

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2000

Trailer Bridge, Inc. (NASDAQ National Market:TRBR) reported today that a new study indicates that there are distinct air quality advantages to using the cleaner fuel utilized by Trailer Bridge's vessels.

According to preliminary data, Trailer Bridge's vessels emit from 5 to 14 times less particulate matter and sulfur oxide, two pollutants of concern, on a unit-mile basis compared to other vessels in the Puerto Rico trade.

James Corbett, Assistant Professor, Marine Policy Program, Graduate College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, is conducting on-going research in this area. Professor Corbett, one of the world's leading authorities in the field of vessel emissions, will speak on October 19 at the Seminar on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Alternatives at Politecnic University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His remarks will cover the potential reduction in greenhouse gases in the marine transportation sector. In December, Professor Corbett will make a detailed presentation of his findings to date at the 23rd Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers Congress in Brazil. This biennial conference is one of the Western Hemisphere's most important forums for highlighting and discussing environmental issues.

Trailer Bridge notes that the striking difference in particulate matter and other emissions between Trailer Bridge and other carriers in the Puerto Rico trade is driven by fuel type. Trailer Bridge's vessels burn a cleaner distillate fuel while three carriers who operate steam powered vessels in the Puerto Rico trade have chosen to burn heavy residual fuel, a non-distilled product that remains after crude oil has been refined. Starting with the differences in the emissions characteristics of distillate fuel burned in Trailer Bridge's high-speed internal combustion engines compared to residual fuel burned in steam boilers, overall actual fuel consumption and vessel capacity figures can be developed to measure pollutant emissions per freight unit mile.

Trailer Bridge believes vessel emissions are an important and growing issue. A recent customer survey by an outside firm revealed that 40% of Trailer Bridge customers indicated they would consider environmental benefits provided by an ocean carrier. For the customers based in Puerto Rico, the issue was even more important with 58% of respondents giving positive responses.

Carl Soderberg, EPA Director, Puerto Rico, said, "When Trailer Bridge joined the EPA's Climate Wise program in March 2000, it underscored that they, like the 800 other corporate partners in Climate Wise, believe that good environmental practices are good business practices." The EPA's Climate Wise program is just one example of a growing array of federal initiatives that encourage, and in some cases mandate, the use of environmentally superior products and services. For instance, Executive Order No. 13101, signed by President Clinton on September 14, 1998, requires Federal agencies to implement cost-effective programs favoring the purchase of environmentally preferable products and services.

John McCown, Chairman & CEO, commented, "We lead-off with the most cost-efficient freight system connecting the mainland and Puerto Rico, and are proud of the fact that we also follow-through with the cleanest environmental footprint. The people of Puerto Rico take great pride in their island, referred to as 'The Jewel of the Caribbean,' and if we can help improve the air quality and maintain the beauty of the island for future generations by burning a cleaner fuel, it is well worth the effort. This new information on the staggering differences in emissions means that you won't see Trailer Bridge fueling any of its vessels with residual oil."

On October 11, Trailer Bridge expanded to commence weekly direct service between Port Newark and San Juan. The service utilizes Trailer Bridge's newest Triplestack Box Carrier(R) vessels. They are the first vessels in the world built exclusively to handle 53-foot high cube containers and Vehicle Transport Modules(TM). These modern, shallow-draft vessels are the first built for the Puerto Rico trade in over 15 years and utilize a unique loading and unloading system that does not require large shore-side gantry cranes. The patent-pending process involving the Triplestack Box Carriers(R) and their related cargo handling operation translates into an inherently flexible transportation system whose cost-efficiency and environmental-superiority makes it ideally suited for many traffic lanes.

Trailer Bridge provides integrated trucking and marine freight service to and from all points in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico, bringing efficiency, environmental and safety benefits to domestic cargo in that traffic lane. This total transportation system utilizes its own trucks, drivers, trailers, containers, U.S. flag vessels and marine facilities in Jacksonville, New York and San Juan. Trailer Bridge's founder and majority stockholder is Malcom P. McLean, the transportation pioneer who invented containerization forty years ago. Additional information on Trailer Bridge is available at the www.trailerbridge.com website.

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The matters discussed in this press release include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to the future operating performance of the Company. Investors are cautioned that any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include the risks of economic recessions, changes in demand for transportation services offered by the Company, and changes in rate levels for transportation services offered by the Company.