Podcast: New NTTC chairman is a ‘low-maintenance’ leader

While there may be a recurring “look” among recent National Tank Truck Carriers chairmen—one Jeremy Mairs jokingly describes as “follically challenged”—the recently elected 79th NTTC Chairman brings a deeply serious, ground-up perspective to his new role. In the latest Fleet Lead podcast, Mairs, president and CEO of Bakersfield, California-based Cox Petroleum, sits down with Bulk Transporter editor Jason McDaniel to discuss his transition from the grease pit to the executive office and his ambitious agenda for the association.

Mairs’ leadership is informed by five years spent as a driver, a role he says provided him with and an intimate understanding of the daily intricacies drivers face at loading racks and customer locations. This first-hand knowledge is now fueling his primary goal for the NTTC: flexing the association’s advocacy muscle. Mairs is adamant the industry must be present in Washington D.C., noting “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

Beyond the lighthearted banter, the conversation dives into the heavy-hitting issues facing today’s tank truck carriers:

• The Reality of Electrification: Mairs provides a blunt assessment of Electric Vehicles in the fuel sector, noting they are currently not “intrinsically safe” for refineries and cannot support the 24/7 operations required for fuel delivery due to lengthy charging cycles.
• Navigating California’s Regulation: Operating 145 trucks in California, Mairs warns that policies “bred” in the Golden State—from high taxes to aggressive CARB mandates—eventually move east. He highlights how rising equipment and maintenance costs from these mandates are ultimately passed down to consumers at the pump.
• Regulatory Wins and Safety: Mairs expresses optimism regarding the dry bulk axle variance, a common-sense solution with bipartisan support. He also praises the new FMCSA leadership’s focus on removing “bad actors” to protect the industry’s reputation and help stabilize insurance premiums.
• Economic Resilience: Despite the recent “fuel shock” that is squeezing already thin margins, Mairs remains bullish on a recovery, stating that the American economy is “ready to take off and roar” once fuel prices and political uncertainties stabilize.

From meeting his wife at an NTTC seminar 16 years ago to now leading the association’s charge on Capitol Hill, Mairs’ journey is a testament to the community and resilience of the tank truck industry.

Timestamps:

• 0:33 — Qualifications for tank truck association leadership?
• 1:16 — Jeremy met his wife at an NTTC event
• 2:33 — Experience as a driver
• 6:01 — Cox Petroleum's footprint
• 7:41 — How did your upbringing influence your trucking view?
• 10:09 — Jeremy's priorities as chairman
• 12:00 — FMCSA's Derek Barrs
• 15:15 — Where NTTC can make the most progress
• 18:08 — What is it like operating in California?
• 23:54 — The Iran fuel shock
• 25:33 — Jeremy's industry outlook
• 27:30 — Why stay engaged with NTTC?

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