OKLAHOMA CITY—After a long week of helping National Tank Truck Carriers host Tank Truck Week 2026 in United Petroleum Transports’ hometown—during the carrier’s 60th year in business—UPT VP of Maintenance Tim Gallagher wanted to have fun with the boys at UPT’s old shop.

So he enlisted STE and Bulk Transporter for assistance with a prank.

The plan, hatched at the 2026 Tank Summit held earlier this year at STE’s new manufacturing facility in Beloit, Wisconsin, involved STE’s Paige Cushing, an inside sales representative who entered the tank truck industry as a certified welder. Gallagher told his veteran crew she was coming in to give an expert demonstration and audition for a spot on the team, and Cushing played the part to perfection, skillfully beading a joint while everyone huddled around, closely inspecting her work—and Bulk Transporter documented the occasion.

After the show, Gallagher told his techs they’d been “Punk’d.”

“This just goes to show that the trucking industry and the trades are not only male industries, and Paige did a great job, and obviously showed that,” Gallagher told Bulk Transporter with a grin. “I thought it was cool that after she ran that first weld, one of our guys, Mario [Fiero], looked over and gave us a thumbs up, like, ‘Wow, okay, she really can weld.’”

From the torch to inside sales

Sitting down with a welding machine in UPT’s shop was a return to Cushing’s roots. She started at STE as a welder—her first welding job—before taking a brief leave, returning as a quality assurance specialist and progressing to inside sales last year.

“I was nervous at first because it’s been four years since I picked up a TIG torch,” she conceeded. “But the moment I flipped that piece over for my second pass, I was feeling it. So I’m not going to let my helmet collect cobwebs for another four years.”

Initially studying as a veterinary technician, Cushing changed paths after continually admiring the work going on behind the window of Rockford Career College’s welding department. “I thought, ‘Wow, that looks like fun.’ So I jumped in and discovered I had a knack for it and really liked it,” she recalled. Her technical background now strengthens her interactions with customers—and powers her ability to inspire other young women to enter the tank truck industry.

Cushing recently mentored a former neighbor who shadowed her in the shop and ultimately joined a pipe welders union. And that push for female inclusion is shared by UPT, where corporate maintenance manager Alicia Sellers is actively involved with Women in Trucking.

A milestone homecoming

For UPT, Tank Truck Week 2026 was a major homecoming celebrating six decades in business. The carrier marked the occasion by hosting an open house at its new corporate headquarters in downtown Oklahoma City, located within walking distance of the convention center.

“Moving our corporate office has been a long time coming as we continue to grow and create space for our expanding team to be able to collaborate,” said David Price, UPT executive vice chairman and recent past NTTC chairman. “We moved in, in mid-September, and considering NTTC Tank Truck Week was right down the street, we thought there was no better time for an open house.

“We ended up having around 50-60 people show up—and a great time showing everyone our new headquarters.”

Price said having the best-attended Tank Truck Week in the event’s history in UPT’s hometown, during its milestone year, made the occasion particularly special. Gallagher agreed: “Tank Truck Week is always a great event, but to have it during our 60th anniversary in our hometown meant a lot to us.”

Spec’d for 60 years

To mark the anniversary on the show floor, UPT collaborated with STE to build a custom unit positioned adjacent to the main stage.

UPT’s 60th-anniversary STE tank trailer specs included:

• Capacity and model: 7,000-gallon DOT 407 chemical tank trailer made of 316L stainless steel.
• Insulation and temperature: 6/5 fiberglass insulation with an outer jacket, rated up to 300 degrees F.
• Running gear: Ridewell RAR-266-23k air ride suspension with Peterson Manufacturing lighting.
• Anniversary upgrades: Polished stainless-steel fenders and a custom “ring of fire” light package on the rear head.

“The custom ‘ring of fire’ is something they do very well,” Gallagher said. “We traditionally don’t spec that option, but we’re going to see how this unit performs—and it certainly looks cool.”

Looking ahead, UPT plans to equip new STE tank trailers with advanced management systems, Gallagher shared. He intends to install Drōv Technologies’ AirBoxOne smart trailer system on select units, and outfit others with the Halo automatic tire inflation system from Aperia Technologies.

STE showcases production lineup

Seeing the complete array of tankers on display in her first trip to Tank Truck Week gave Cushing the chance to inspect STE and competitor equipment side-by-side—an opportunity she seized enthusiastically. “Typically on the road, I might see a Walker or Polar go by, and I always like to cross-reference what our trailers look like compared to theirs,” Cushing said. “So it was nice being able to walk around, see all of the equipment, and meet everyone there.”

In addition to UPT’s anniversary trailer, STE showcased four other units from active builds:

• Quality Carriers: 7,000-gallon DOT 407 chemical trailer (316L stainless steel on a Ridewell suspension).
• Kenan Advantage Group: 7,000-gallon DOT 407 chemical trailer (316L stainless steel on Hendrickson suspension).
• Heniff Transportation Systems: 7,000-gallon DOT 407 chemical trailer (2205 lean duplex stainless steel on SAF-Holland suspension).
• 3-A sanitary milk trailer: 6,250-gallon milk trailer (304 stainless steel, polyiso insulation, and aluminum frame on a Ridewell suspension).

“It was unusual for us to bring four chemical trailers to the show, but we wanted to showcase what we’re currently working on,” said Derek Nilsen, STE director of marketing and service.