KAW Services

What KAW Services does

KAW Services, Inc. is a family-owned industrial service company headquartered in Pleasant Valley, Missouri, that specializes in tank cleaning and tractor-trailer repair for the bulk transport industry. Founded in 1930 as KAW Transport Company by Fred Suddarth and Lefty Holwick to haul gasoline for Standard Oil Company of Indiana, the business was restructured in 1998 under third-generation family ownership, which divested its fleet of 200 tractors and 350 trailers and pivoted exclusively to specialized cleaning, repair, and maintenance services for tanker trailers and ISO containers. The company operates from a single 24/7 facility serving haulers across Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma, holding certifications including Orthodox Union Kosher, food-grade, and shipper-specific preparations recognized by Procter & Gamble, Ingredion, and Coca-Cola, alongside DOT and R-stamp authorizations.

The core service portfolio is organized around two flagship lines — comprehensive tank cleaning (food-grade, Kosher, chemical, caustic, detergent, diesel flush, steam, passivation, ISO container cleaning, valve pressure testing) and full-service tractor/trailer repair (DOT inspections, preventive maintenance, hydraulics, engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, tank welding). These are supported by a fully-stocked parts warehouse carrying 18+ major brands (Civacon, Dixon, Knappco, Betts, Blackmer, Heil, Polar, Cat, Scully, Merritt, OPW, etc.), custom PTO unit fabrication, APU services, an ISO container depot with complimentary storage near rail, and an online service request portal. Customer segments are vertically focused on bulk transport and tanker operators; go-to-market is direct B2B sales-led with a strong referral and repeat-customer base. Pricing is job-based professional services with no disclosed public rates; an entry-level Tank Cleaner position is posted at $25.10/hour with full benefits.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: repair and maintenance services, tank cleaning services, parts sales, and container depot services. Leadership consists of President Angela Castle, Vice President Danny Banister, and Corporate Finance Joe Hegi, with ~50 employees overall, including tenured staff with 40+ year tenures and tank cleaners averaging 10+ years of experience. The company maintains no external funding, is privately held, and has not pursued acquisitions or new geographic locations since the 1998 restructuring.

Name

KAW Services

Legal name

KAW Services, Inc.

Website

https://kawservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned Missouri-based industrial service provider specializing in certified tank cleaning, tractor-trailer repair, parts, and ISO container depot services for bulk transport haulers across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Truck and Trailer Repair and Maintenance Services

NAICS

Other Warehousing and Storage (493190), Transportation Equipment and Supplies (except Motor Vehicle) Merchant Wholesalers (42386)

SIC

Terminal Maintenance Facilities For Motor Freight Transport (4231), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck & Trailer Parking/Storage Yards (TLALAKAB)

Keywords

• Tank cleaning services
• Tractor trailer repair
• Preventative maintenance programs
• Commercial trucking parts
• ISO container depot

Headquarters

HQ city

Liberty

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Repair and Maintenance Services: KAW generates revenue through repair and maintenance services for tractors and trailers, including DOT annual inspections, preventive maintenance, hydraulic repairs, engine repair, transmission work, brake and suspension services, and tank welding. Services are performed at their facility with 24-hour availability through the week.
2. Tank Cleaning Services: Revenue from comprehensive tank cleaning services including food-grade, Kosher, chemical, caustic, detergent cleaning, diesel flush/steam, hopper bottoms, hot/cold rinse, booster, presolve, steam, product heating, passivation, stain removal, tote cleaning, ISO container cleaning, and valve pressure testing. Services available around the clock.
3. Parts Sales: Parts warehouse generates revenue through sales of tractor trailer parts and components. Carries major brands including Civacon, Dixon, Knappco, Betts, Blackmer, Heil, Polar, Cat, Scully, Merritt, Roper pumps, OPW, PT Coupling, Ranger pumps, Emco Wheaton, Truck-Lite, Sure Seal, Fleet Engineers, and Baldwin filters.
4. Container Depot Services: ISO container storage and related services. First ten days of storage are complimentary with paid services including cleaning, heating, testing, and repair of containers. Containers can be dropped or picked up Monday-Friday 7am-4pm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KAW Services provides tank cleaning and tractor-trailer repair and maintenance for the bulk transport industry from a single facility in Pleasant Valley, Missouri. Offerings include 24/7 tank cleaning (food-grade, Kosher, chemical, shipper-specific), tractor and trailer repair, preventative maintenance, APU services, custom PTO fabrication, a fully stocked parts warehouse, and an ISO container depot.

Product overview

KAW Services is a family-owned service company offering an integrated suite of tractor trailer and tank maintenance solutions. The core portfolio centers on tank cleaning services (food-grade, Kosher, chemical, and shipper-specific preparations) and comprehensive repair/maintenance for tractors and trailers. These core services are supported by preventative maintenance programs, a fully-stocked parts warehouse, custom PTO unit fabrication, APU services, ISO container depot storage and cleaning, and an online service portal for work order management. All services operate from a single facility in Pleasant Valley, Missouri, serving the bulk transport industry with 24/7 tank cleaning and around-the-clock shop operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tank Cleaning Services Comprehensive tank cleaning for tanker trailers and ISO containers, including food-grade, Kosher, shipper-specific preps (P&G, Ingredion, Coca-Cola), chemical, caustic, detergent, diesel flush, hopper bottoms, hot/cold rinse, steam, product heating, passivation, stain removal, tote cleaning, and valve pressure testing. Available around the clock for bulk transport carriers.
• Tractor & Trailer Repair Services 24-hour repair and maintenance for tractors and trailers including DOT annual inspections, preventative maintenance, hydraulics, blowers, engine repair, transmission, brakes, suspension, A/C repair, PTO installations, and tank welding with certified welders. R stamp and DOT-authorized service center. Brenner-authorized warranty service provider.
• Preventative Maintenance Programs Fleet maintenance solutions covering engine care, brake systems, tire/wheel maintenance, fluid checks, electrical system diagnostics, suspension, steering, and exhaust system including DPF cleaning and DEF fluid services for commercial trucking fleets.
• APU Services Auxiliary Power Unit maintenance, repair, and parts replacement services for semi-trucks to ensure maximum efficiency and minimize downtime.
• Custom PTO Units Custom Power Take-Off unit design and fabrication for semi-trucks, including hydraulic systems for end dump, lowboy, and tank trailers.
• Parts Warehouse Retail sale of tractor trailer parts and components featuring major brands including Civacon, Dixon, Knappco, Betts, Blackmer, Heil, Polar, Cat, Scully, Merritt, Roper pumps, OPW, PT Coupling, Ranger pumps, Emco Wheaton, Truck-Lite, Sure Seal, Fleet Engineers, and Baldwin filters.
• Container Depot ISO container storage with first ten days free, plus cleaning, heating, testing, and repair services. Located near rail with a secure facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tank cleaners with 10+ years of experience provide superior knowledge of tank cleaning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orthodox UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAW receives annual kosher certification visits from Orthodox Union, the largest kosher certifier in the US. KAW must prove wash procedures are up to standard, equipment is clean, and tanks are washed for specific durations at certain temperatures. This certification allows KAW to perform kosher tank washes and recertify non-kosher tanks.
• BrennercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKAW is a Brenner-authorized service center, enabling them to perform warranty service and repairs on Brenner equipment as an authorized provider.
• National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAW mechanics attend NTTC-sponsored training sessions on DOT tests and inspections including external and internal visual inspections, pressure and leakage tests, and thickness tests related to HM 183 testing requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage-Crystal Clean: U.S. provider of industrial parts cleaning, waste management, and environmental services. Comparable to KAW because both operate industrial cleaning/wash infrastructure with environmental compliance requirements and serve transportation-adjacent customers; however, Heritage-Crystal Clean is a national public incumbent with vastly larger scale.
• Clean Harbors: Largest North American provider of environmental and industrial services, including tank cleaning, waste handling, and field services. Comparable to KAW because Clean Harbors performs commercial tank and industrial cleaning under environmental permits (Clean Water Act compliance) and serves bulk-transport customers; vastly broader scope and national footprint.
• Tradebe: International environmental services group with industrial cleaning, tank cleaning, and waste treatment operations across North America. Comparable to KAW in the tank cleaning and certified-wash capability stack; larger and more geographically diversified.
• Rush Enterprises: Largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America (Peterbilt, International), with comprehensive service, parts, and body shop operations. Comparable to KAW in tractor-trailer repair, DOT inspections, and parts; vastly larger with national dealer footprint.
• TravelCenters of America: National operator of highway travel centers with truck repair and maintenance service centers under TA Truck Service. Comparable to KAW in tractor-trailer repair, DOT inspections, and 24/7 roadside service for commercial drivers; operates at massive national scale.
• Pilot Flying J: Largest U.S. travel center network with on-site truck repair, tire, and maintenance services for commercial drivers. Comparable to KAW in 24/7 truck repair and parts/services bundling for long-haul fleets; operates hundreds of locations versus KAW's single site.

Direct peers

• Velocity Vehicle Group: Commercial truck dealer and service network offering repair, maintenance, and parts for heavy-duty trucks and trailers. Comparable to KAW because both run full-service tractor-trailer repair shops, sell parts, and target bulk-transport fleets, although Velocity is much larger and dealer-affiliated.
• FleetPride: Largest independent distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts in North America with in-house repair services. Comparable to KAW in the truck-trailer parts warehouse and repair business; FleetPride operates at a national scale.
• Premier Truck Group: Network of commercial truck dealerships and full-service repair shops across the U.S. offering maintenance, repair, and parts for heavy-duty trucks. Comparable to KAW in the tractor-trailer repair and parts business model; serves similar bulk-transport fleet customers.

Others

• Trimac Transportation: Major North American bulk carrier hauling chemicals, fuel, and dry bulk. Listed as a peer because Trimac operates the kind of tanker fleet that drives KAW's wash and repair volumes; not a service provider, but the bulk-transport customer base overlap makes it a useful comparable for end-market exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kawservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaw-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KAW Services