Superior Carriers, a division of Superior Bulk Logistics, has commenced full tank cleaning operations in a new three-bay facility at its Greer SC terminal. Open for commercial cleaning of chemical tankers, the wash rack currently has the capacity to handle at least 200+ trailers a month and management plans to start adding capacity after that.
Chemical tank cleaning is the initial focus for the new wash rack, and the facility has been operating since March. Superior Bulk Logistics executives say foodgrade cleaning could be added in the future as needed.
Constructed over a 14-month period, the wash rack currently is running a single shift with a supervisor and three tank cleaners. A second shift should be in place in late June.
The new Greer wash rack grew out of a 10-year strategic plan at Superior Bulk Logistics, according to Brian Nowak, president of Superior Carriers. With the opening of the new facility, the company now has over a dozen wash racks across the Superior Bulk Logistics network, and more are coming.
“We picked Greer because our research showed that it was the right spot in the southeastern United States for chemical and foodgrade cleaning,” Nowak says. “It complements our extensive network of tank truck terminals in the South. It is particularly noteworthy that this new wash rack represents the first time we have gathered all of the knowledge in-house to build such a state-of-the-art facility acting as our own cleaning rack contractor. We have plans for three more new or refurbished wash racks for which we will build the vat systems and perform the labor ourselves.”
Superior Carriers showed off the in-house effort with an open house on May 14. “It was a fantastic event,” says Rusty Davis, Superior Carriers southeast regional vice-president. “We had a very good turnout from customers, vendors, and industry friends. We had an opportunity to show them an outstanding new wash rack that our in-house team built from the ground up. This is a showpiece for Superior Carriers in the southeast. We had a great team working on this project, and we couldn’t be more pleased with what they accomplished.”
Superior Carriers’ Greer terminal is a full-service facility with dispatch, maintenance, and now, tank cleaning. It was an existing truck fleet terminal that was purchased by Superior Carriers several years ago and already had offices and a maintenance shop. Parking is asphalt paved, and the facility is fully fenced for security.