ANDERSON, SC Miller's Construction Co. - a locally owned and operated site prep company in Anderson, South Carolina, is currently working on a full site prep for new trade school, Anderson Technology Institute, located in Anderson County, South Carolina.

"Our challenge to all our areas is that we are scattered, not only this job but other jobs through Anderson County, Pickens and upstate South Carolina," said Mike Miller, Miller's Construction Co.  

With a fleet of nearly 45 pieces of equipment and various job sites, fuel trucks were spread thin and the cost for another truck was anywhere between $80-$200,000 depending on the set up. With scattered job sites and rising costs, Miller's Construction began searching for fuel tanks, found Thunder Creek Equipment and purchased a Multi-Tank Trailer - a unique design that allows the company to haul bulk diesel without a CDL or HAZMAT endorsement.

"Before Thunder Creek, we went in to fuel and lube trucks, but as the fleet grows, with everybody, you start struggling to keep up," said Matt Miller, Miller's Construction Co.  "To extend it out to the fleets, [the trailer is] easier, capable of moving the product down the road."

"One thing we liked about the trailer that we purchased, I will be able to haul 460 gallons of fuel, I don't need a CDL or hazmat license to pull it," said Mike Miller. "I don't have the expensive insurance that's on my other fuel and lube trailer, and I can take a standard, at least three-quarter-ton, pickup truck and move this around to whatever job may need extra fuel."  

The ability to transport this amount of fuel is made possible by isolating diesel in four, six or eight separate 115-gallon, DOT-compliant non-bulk tanks. Tanks are joined by a manifold to a common pump, creating complete isolation during transport and controlled dispensing of fuel at the jobsite.

The trailer also provides an industry-leading DEF handling solution that ensures optimal DEF quality to protect SCR systems.  Each trailer can be outfitted with a 100-gallon DEF tank that features Thunder Creek's closed DEF delivery system, including its proprietary 2-in-1 DEF pump, ensuring that DEF is never exposed to environmental contaminants.

In addition to the Multi-Tank Trailer, Miller's Construction added a light tower, a rear utility box which includes Thunder Creek's 3-in-1 welder/generator/air compressor, toolbox and a 35-pound grease kit.  

"The reason we went with a full kit is that way we can grease while we're filling up the equipment," said Matt Miller. "We can grease the equipment, we can blow out the air filters, we can add the DEF to the equipment that's needed instead of carrying around a two-and-a-half-gallon bucket."

Thunder Creek utility boxes can be customized to each individual customer with the inclusion of toolboxes, a workbench with vise and the 3-in-1 welder/generator/air compressor. Additional options/customizations include Thunder Creek's WorkSight light tower, Field Max tires, 35-pound grease kit, aluminum wheels, solar battery charger, an electric/hydraulic jack and a stainless steel trim/fender upgrade.  

"A lot of times my lube and fuel guys are out on site at 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning," said Mike Miller. "By using the light tower, then I can light up the dark area. You can see what you're doing and you can check oil on equipment."  The light tower, which mounts on the top of the trailer's hand rails, is the most popular option on any Thunder Creek trailer.  The tower can illuminate up to 100' with four LED lights, push button controls and built in charger and solar panel to maintain battery life.  

"One thing I like about it is pulling it down the road. Nobody realizes what you're actually hauling."  

Each trailer is built to maintain a low profile and is configured to provide optimal balance and a smooth ride at highway speeds, as well as in the most rugged off-highway conditions. "The look of trailer is very slimming to the eye," said Matt Miller. "It looks like a Harley-Davidson trailer when it goes down the road."  

For Miller's Construction, Thunder Creek's Multi-Tank Trailer makes the headache of multiple fuel and lube trucks a forgotten memory and cuts costs for the company. "Fuel is the life support to any piece of heavy equipment," said Mike Miller. "We do, in the future, hope to buy more of these that if I need extra on a job site, then I can actually move it around, if I have to move it myself. If we run out of fuel, we don't move any dirt."

By Luke Van Wyk, Sales Vice President for Thunder Creek Equipment