The chemical supply chain has been substantially upgraded in the heart of America's agricultural belt. With decades of experience hauling agricultural, food-grade, and hazmat products nationwide, Liquid Trucking opened Siouxland Transloading in August to set new industry standards for efficiency and safety.
Liquid Trucking, based in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, operates 225 tractors and 415 tanker trailers. The company’s roots go back to 1989 when the owner, Roger Schmidt, founded a dry-van carrier with three trucks. In 1994, with ten trucks, Schmidt combined his expertise in managing equipment with a new business partner, Mike Beins, who previously worked for a global agriculture and food manufacturer.
The company expanded its routes nationwide to fuel growth. Schmidt’s two sons joined and helped grow the business: Gabe, who is now the director of operations, and Josh, who is the general manager.
Siouxland Transloading was spearheaded by Chris Baltushis, the company’s South Sioux City terminal manager. As a driver, he was frequently dispatched to transload facilities. Upon arrival, he routinely waited two or three hours for liquid chemicals to be pumped from rail tank cars to semi-tank trailers and vice versa.
One of the most helpful experiences was when the owners of a short-staffed transload facility in north Sioux City, Iowa, allowed Baltushis to operate the loading racks and scales and complete paperwork, considerably speeding up the process.
In 2003, Baltushis became a terminal manager for Barto Trucking and continued in this role when Liquid Trucking acquired Barto in 2005.
Checks and balances
Two people are on-site to check drivers and equipment in. They verify drivers’ bills of lading and go through proper checks and procedures before loading and unloading. Drivers must exit their trucks, chock their wheels, and lock their trailers.
The second loading rack is designed to transfer caustic soda and sodium bisulfite through separate pipes. More loading racks will be added to meet future customer demand. The facility also can load products from tank trailers to rail cars. For example, one customer brings fats, oils, and greases into the facility in tank trailers to be loaded on rail cars going to biodiesel plants.
Two people are on-site to check drivers and equipment in. They verify drivers’ bills of lading and go through proper checks and procedures before loading and unloading. Drivers must exit their trucks, chock their wheels, and lock their trailers.
“The last thing I want is for a driver to drive away from a loading rack because they thought they were loaded,” Baltushis said.
Knowing what products were previously loaded in tank trailers is necessary to determine if trailers must be washed out. Liquid Trucking maintains an accurate, up-to-date record of its loads and equipment. Third-party carriers can use the company’s state-of-the-art, Kosher-certified tank wash facility at the adjacent fleet terminal to clean out all food-grade and feed-grade commodities, chemicals, and hazardous materials.
Siouxland Transloading also has a scale and warehouse, which are completely fenced in and monitored by 24-hour video surveillance. Its proximity to local law enforcement adds an extra layer of security.
A driver-centric approach
Baltushis says transload facilities are often staffed by people with minimal experience, contributing to long wait times. By contrast, Siouxland Transloading gets drivers in and out in less than 35 minutes.
“With all the transload facilities I've been to over the years, I wanted to design a more streamlined and efficient facility focused on getting drivers in and out. If drivers are sitting, they're not making money,” he says.
Propelling Future Growth
With the addition of Siouxland Transloading, Liquid Trucking is a one-stop transportation and logistics provider for customers with chemical supply chains. Rail shipments to the nation’s agricultural heartland in South Sioux City can be delivered by truck on the same or the next day.
An agreement with BNSF ensures that inbound and outbound lines to the facility are serviced on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If demand grows, the railroad could add another service day.
“We can adapt and do everything customers want us to do, and we will do it to the best of our ability to ensure they keep coming back,” Baltushis says. “As a company, we've been through so many facilities and have done so many different things that we can figure out how to transload any type of product.”
Having a warehouse on site creates more opportunities for expansion and growth. One possibility is to break down products from tank rail cars into 250-gallon IBC totes to be stored and loaded in trailers for delivery. Dry goods can also be stored and cross-docked at the warehouse facility.
With its strategic location, streamlined processes, and potential for future expansion, Siouxland Transloading is poised to meet customers' evolving needs in the agricultural heartland and beyond.
