Tremcar visionary Jacques Tremblay dies at 83

Jacques Tremblay, who acquired A&L Tougas in 1989, renamed it Tremcar, and then partnered with his son to transform the business into one of North America’s leading tank trailer manufacturers, died Feb. 2 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada. He was 83 years old.

Jacques served as Tremcar president and chairman before retiring in 2017.

“My father was passionate in everything he did,” Daniel Tremblay, who succeeded Jacques as Tremcar president, told Bulk Transporter. “He was a devoted politician, a passionate historian at heart—even after retirement—and he remained a dedicated ambassador for Tremcar.

“We owe him the Tremcar logo—the snowy owl—which is the emblematic bird of the province of Québec and a powerful symbol of our people.

“He was a sociologist at heart—a true people person—and will be remembered as such. His dedication and humility helped us secure our first major accounts, which played a key role in the development of Tremcar USA and Tremcar West.”

Jacques, a lifelong entrepreneur and philanthropist, spent most of his career in the concrete industry before purchasing A&L from brothers Aldé and Léo Tougas, who founded it as a milk tank manufacturer in 1962 in Sabrevois, Québec. Daniel entered the family business in 1992 and gravitated toward the tanker operation, which grew under his leadership. So Jacques sold his concrete operations and joined Daniel in 1995. “He saw my passion, how involved I was in the business, and decided to come work with me, so we could build something together,” Daniel recalled last year.

Tremcar established its first United States plant in 1998 in Champlain, New York, and relocated the operation in 2004 to the old International Tank Trailer facility in Ohio. Today, the company is one of the largest tanker manufacturers on the continent, with a growing presence in the U.S., over 700 employees, and plants in Strasburg; Haverhill, Massachusetts (home of Boston Steel, a Tremcar USA division); Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu—Jacques’ hometown where Tremcar has two facilities—and Saint-Césaire, Quebec; and London, Ontario.

“Many will remember his joviality, his keen interest in history and politics, and his infectious laugh,” Tremcar stated in a Facebook post.

Jacques is survived by his wife, Jocelyne; three children, Chantal, Annie, and Daniel; six grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He will be buried Feb. 28 at Iberville Cemetery following a funeral service at the Saint-Athanase Church in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Viewings are scheduled for Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at the Haut-Richelieu funeral complex.

The Tremblay family has requested donations in his memory go to the Haut-Richelieu-Rouville Health Foundation.