Drive, fight, win: Tank truckers remain resolved amid uncertainty

KANSAS CITY, Missouri—Be smart. Stay safe. Prepare for what comes next.

That was the message from Ryan Streblow, president and CEO of National Tank Truck Carriers, to the 1,041 members and first-time attendees at 2025 Tank Truck Week in Kansas City, Missouri, where industry stakeholders gathered to celebrate the association’s past, and gear up for an uncertain future marked by market malaise, and economic and regulatory turmoil.

“We’re celebrating 80 years and we’re looking forward to another 80 years of this great organization working for you,” Streblow said on the main stage inside the Kansas City Convention Center. “This industry has reinvented itself before—deregulation, fuel shocks, the shift in intermodal freight—and every time that has happened you’ve come out stronger.

“So, let’s treat the next few years the same way. Be pragmatic about your costs, be bold about efficiencies, and unite in advocacy on the issues that are impacting your businesses. If you do that, you won’t just survive, you will thrive, you will win business—and you will grow.”

Streblow delivered his remarks Oct. 7, a week into the government shutdown that stretched into November—when the November/December issue of Bulk Transporter magazine went to press—underscoring the difficulty of operating in the current environment. But NTTC’s CEO assured current and prospective for-hire carrier, private fleet, and supplier members the association will not cease its efforts to improve the tank truck industry’s position on any front—from environmental policy and tariff-related equipment issues to desperately needed tort reform.

“We’ve got frivolous lawsuits that, apparently, in the past few years, have no boundaries, and that arm continues to extend,” Streblow said. “But your association this year committed $25,000 to American Trucking Association’s litigation center to help address tort reform, and that’s just this year’s component. Over the last eight years, we’ve committed $200,000 from all of you. Those funds go right to states like Florida, Iowa, and Texas that are battling this problem.

“That is putting your money where it’s needed the most.”

Streblow also credited the association leaders who preceded him, including Austin Sutherland, Cliff Harvison, Dan Furth, and John Conley—who served as Bulk Transporter’s third editor and was in attendance for the 80th anniversary event—for putting NTTC in a persuasive position. “They laid the groundwork for us to attack these issues,” he said. “You have a recognized name on Capitol Hill. You have a direct line to PHMSA and FMCSA administrators, and a direct resource in National Tank to reach those career folks. That’s powerful.”

Lighting the way

NTTC also is working on securing an extension of its FMCSA pulsating brake lamp exemption that’s helping bulk haulers reduce rear-end collisions, especially at railroad-grade crossings. And Groendyke Transport, which won the first exemption with assistance from Peterson Manufacturing, is still aiming to advance the technology with new capabilities.

“It’s ridiculous that [the FMCSA regulation requiring hazmat carriers to stop at railroad tracks] is still on the books,” said Greg Hodgen, Groendyke CEO and newly crowned ATA chairman (see page 29). “It probably causes more accidents than it prevents because people on the open road can’t tell how fast they’re closing in on that vehicle, and if a truck is accelerating away from the tracks, the driver is no longer on their brakes. The hazard lights might be on, but they could still be going slower than the speed limit. So, I believe the brake lamps should be speed-controlled using a GPS device—and hopefully Peterson can help us with that.

“If we can control the pulsing until we’re up to road speed, people will know they need to pay attention.”

Peterson supplied the auxiliary amber brake lamps Groendyke used to secure its exemption in 2019. Now it’s working with the carrier to pilot its PetersonPulse smart trailer system, which technicians were installing on a Groendyke tanker when Bulk Transporter visited as part of an open house coinciding with Tank Truck Week. Groendyke plans to use the system to monitor and control vital trailer systems in real time, including lights, brakes, tire pressure—and even the valves that actuate fuel delivery.

“I’m excited to see what they figure out with the valving system,” said Joseph Richley, Groendyke vice president of maintenance. “Trailer light monitoring is cool. Tire pressure monitoring has been around a long time. That’s very useful, very cool. And airline monitoring for brakes is obviously very useful. But, bulk tank-specific, I asked them if they could let us know if we have an issue with the airlines that power our valving system, and that’s what has me most excited. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Peterson can do with that.”

Kraft, Drōv offer smart solution

Fleets now can add Drōv Technologies’ AirBoxOne smart-trailer system to any manufacturer’s tank trailer through a new aftermarket agreement with Kraft Tank that allows operators to upgrade existing equipment with intelligent technology that reduces downtime, optimizes fuel efficiency, and enhances operational safety. The partners debuted their collaboration and demonstrated the system’s many benefits during Tank Truck Week.

“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter in aftermarket innovation for the tank trailer sector,” Drōv CEO Lisa Mullen said. “By combining Drōv’s advanced sensor-driven solutions with Kraft’s unmatched installation and servicing capabilities, we’re enabling fleets to unlock unprecedented operational insights and reliability.”

EnTrans International, the parent company of Heil Trailer, Polar Tank, and other tanker brands, remains the exclusive provider of the factory-integrated TankAi platform powered by Drōv’s AirBoxOne, a cloud-enabled control box with multiple wireless connections that unites smart components, including trailer cameras, weight sensors, and automatic tire-pressure regulators. But as Drōv’s preferred partner, Kraft now will be able to install, repair, and maintain AirBoxOne-enabled ecosystems in any fleet’s newly purchased, used, or leased tank trailers.

“Kraft can bring these fleets in and monitor their trailer systems,” Bob Davis, Drōv vice president of business enterprise, told Bulk Transporter. “They have the facilities and the capabilities to diagnose various issues. And it might not be an AirBoxOne issue. It could be an ABS sensor. Well, they understand that, and they can fix it before any major problems occur.”

Drōv first introduced its solution to tank fleets on a United Petroleum Transports trailer at 2021 Tank Truck Week in Dallas. Four years later, the Oklahoma City-based company still is adding and testing innovative new features such as dry bulk pressure sensors and multi-axle tire monitoring.

“We’ve had great feedback from fleets who’ve already equipped the AirBoxOne, and we have a lot of people asking for it—so they can truly monitor the entire trailer,” said Jeremy Capra, Kraft parts director. “There is nobody else out there who can deliver that ability to this level.”

Thermex delivers in-transit heat

First-time exhibitor Thermex, a Canadian equipment manufacturer, introduced its TundraTherm in-transit tank trailer and container heating system during Tank Truck Week. The plug-and-play, diesel-powered unit can maintain and increase cargo temperatures, ensuring products stay warm without contaminating the truck’s coolant system or activating DPF regeneration.

The 49,500-BTU TundraTherm features a high-flow, 12-volt circulating pump that is protected by a weather-resistant enclosure. Options include a tank-mounted temperature controller, remote switch, and dual-voltage converter that connects to 120-volt shore power.

“Every fleet manager knows the cost of keeping cargo warm in freezing weather: wasted fuel, overnight idling, and equipment wear,” said Roger Arnot, Thermex product manager. “The TundraTherm in-transit heater from Thermex Engineered Systems changes that equation—providing reliable, standalone heat that keeps your tankers hot and your operation efficient.”