Overview

TSC is recognized by both customers and competitors for its fleet of immaculately clean, Company-owned, late model tractors and stainless steel trailers. To maintain its reputation for cleanliness, the Company uses stainless steel pumps exclusively on every Chemical Division tractor and on all Food Grade Division trailers. Hydraulically driven, stainless steel pumps offer better control, higher reliability and less risk of product contamination when compared to iron pumps, which are generally used in the chemical transportation industry.

Tractors

TSC's fleet consists of 700 tractors. TSC's philosophy is to own its tractors which allows us to exercise control over such areas as maintenance and average age while insuring a consistent performance and appearance level to customers. TSC is currently on a replacement cycle of six-years or 600,000 miles, whichever comes first, which takes maximum advantage of the manufacturer's warranty. As a result of this replacement cycle, management believes that its fleet is significantly younger than the industry average.

Trailers

The Company's fleet of 1400 trailers consists of late model trailers designed to maximize efficiency and reliability. TSC's fleet of trailers covers a range of designs and are often specialized to meet the needs of customers. Chemical utilizes a wide range of specialized trailers which are equipped to meet specific customer needs including trailers which maintain certain temperatures through the use of a heat exchanger as well as multi-compartment trailers. TSC's Sweetener operation utilizes trailers that are typically 4,700 - 5,000 gallons in size while trailers used in the Edible Products operations are 7,000 gallons. All of TSC's trailers are stainless steel with stainless piping and valves. Valves are designed to be quick release to facilitate rapid cleaning. Welds and protuberances on the trailers are polished to eliminate areas which could trap dirt of product and result in contamination. TSC's Food Grade trailers are equipped with hydraulically driven stainless steel pumps. In addition to reliability and safety, the stainless pumps TSC utilizes on its Food Grade trailers are specifically designed to prevent product contamination and, by mounting the pump on the trailer, assures customers that the prior product record of the trailer applies to the pump as well.