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Bayou Steel Corp. Signs With BestTransport

Mini-mill production and stocking facilities included in Agreement

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 23, 2003) — BestTransport, the leading provider of Online Transportation Execution Systems, announced today that Bayou Steel Corp. has selected BestTransport's system in order to improve its customer service and delivery times. Bayou, which is positioning itself to emerge from Chapter 11 creditor protection, has tapped BestTransport "because of the capabilities of the online transportation execution system which allow us to increase our level of customer service and be more efficient in the final, critical link of the supply chain," said Chuck Theaux, Bayou Steel's Senior Vice President of Sales and Customer Service.

Bayou Steel executives also see BestTransport helping the mini-mill address an industry-wide problem of truck availability. There is growing sentiment within the metals industry that truck availability is already an issue and may become more severe in the months ahead.

"The main objective we envision being achieved will be an increase in our ability to provide consistent, high-level customer service to all customers," said Bill Brown, Bayou Steel's Vice President of Sales. "As Bayou Steel begins its emergence from Chapter 11, we want to reassure our customers of our commitment to providing quality product on time every time. BestTransport is a significant piece in our reorganization and operational revitalization."

BestTransport is anticipating a June launch for Bayou Steel, whose shipments from its LaPlace, La., and Harriman, Tenn., production facilities as well as its Chicago, Leetsdale, Pa., and Catoosa, Okla., stocking locations will be tendered to carriers through the online transportation execution system.

"Our obligation to Bayou Steel is to provide a system that will meet the mini-mill's goals of efficient, superior and cost-effective customer service," said Mark Shary, BestTransport's President. "Our online transportation execution system has proven those objectives can be met and exceeded."

He added, "Because of its producing locations in the Southeast, Bayou Steel also provides additional value for the BestTransport carrier community with more origins from which to load. This should further help carriers in maintaining high rates of equipment utilization. Bayou Steel's management sees the BestTransport online transportation execution system as a vehicle to free resources from the day-to-day routine shipments, allowing them to focus on exceptions and strategic supply chain initiatives.

"The bottom line is that when we go into a specific geographic area that is difficult to provide delivery service, our deliveries must be on-time and when the customer wants them.," Theaux said. "What BestTransport will do is allow us to tackle the tough deliveries. By handling the day-to-day shipments through BestTransport, we're going to free up people and resources to handle the exceptions."

Theaux added Bayou Steel executive management also is anticipating "our transportation department taking on a greater strategic planning program for our product distribution needs."

About Bayou Steel
Bayou Steel Corp. (www.bayousteel.com) is a leading producer of light structural and merchant bar steel shapes with manufacturing facilities in LaPlace, La., and Harriman, Tenn. The company also operates three stocking locations along the inland waterway system near Pittsburgh, Chicago and Tulsa, Okla.

About BestTransport
BestTransport is the leading provider of online Transportation Execution Systems (TES) for companies that ship their products by truck. The BestTransport system improves the transportation process for shippers and third party logistics providers to lower freight costs, increase staff productivity and improve delivery service levels. Shippers securely access the BestTransport Network via the Internet and use the TES to automate all aspects of transportation execution, including creating loads, selecting carriers, tracking shipments and consolidating freight bills. The BestTransport Network processes thousands of shipments a day for companies such as Alcoa, Allegheny Technologies, Earle M. Jorgensen Company, Greif and Pechiney and maintains connections to over 2,500 carriers. For more information, visit www.besttransport.com.