What Highway Transport does

Highway Transport is a privately held, family-owned bulk liquid chemical transportation company founded in 1948 in Knoxville, Tennessee and owned by the Watkins family since 1963. The company operates a fleet of 500+ chemical tanker tractors and 1,000+ stainless steel trailers from 20+ service centers across the United States and Canada, serving specialty chemical manufacturers and distributors with long-haul and regional bulk liquid transport, dedicated fleet operations, expedited Chemical Critical services, freight brokerage through a Premier Partner Carrier network, full-service tank leasing, tank wash and shop services, transloading, and asset-based logistics. Named enterprise customers include Dow Chemical, L'Oreal Cosmetics USA, and Ecolab, with customized on-site service centers at multiple customer facilities. Highway Transport's technology stack centers on the proprietary TempTrack™ system (connected digital thermometers with geo-fenced GPS, transmitting cargo temperature and location every 15 minutes across a -58°F to +257°F range on solar rechargeable batteries), the MyHighway customer portal (real-time visibility, POD retrieval, Report Builder, GPS and temperature tracking), AI-powered predictive load optimization and dispatch, PeopleNet on-board tablets, Bendix collision avoidance systems, and electronic stability sensors. The company has been a Responsible Care Partner since 2005, holds EPA SmartWay registration, and is the first-ever winner of the ACC Responsible Care Partner Sustainability Award (2025).

Revenue mechanics are asset-based and operationally diversified: transportation is charged per shipment/load with >99% on-time delivery, dedicated fleets and logistics are managed-services engagements with on-site logistics managers, tank lease is a subscription/recurring model with terms from days to years on 307/407 trailers, tank wash and shop are transaction-fee, and brokerage operates as transaction-fee leveraging vetted Premier Partner Carriers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting chemical manufacturers with dedicated account managers and on-site placements, supplemented by a freight brokerage channel through Premier Partner Carriers and Canada cross-border service. Highway Transport's competitive positioning rests on regulatory credentials (Responsible Care, SmartWay), safety and sustainability awards (Partner of the Year 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024; inaugural Sustainability Award 2025), driver retention (sub-40% turnover versus a 120% industry average), embedded customer relationships via on-site service centers, and a 75+ year family-owned operating history under Watkins family stewardship.

Name

Highway Transport

Legal name

Highway Transport

Website

https://highwaytransport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Highway Transport is a family-owned bulk liquid chemical transportation company operating 500+ tanker trucks and 20+ service centers across the U.S. and Canada, serving chemical manufacturers like Dow Chemical, L'Oreal, and Ecolab with specialized fleet, logistics, and proprietary temperature monitoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Liquid Chemical Transportation

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical & Petrochemical Tanker Transport (TLADALAB)

Keywords

• Bulk chemical transportation
• Liquid tanker trucking
• Chemical logistics services
• Dedicated fleet solutions
• Hazardous materials freight

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bulk Liquid Chemical Transportation: Core transportation services for specialty chemicals across the U.S. and Canada using a fleet of 65-foot, five-axle chemical tanker trucks. Revenue generated per shipment/load. On-time service rating above 99%. Operates from service centers in major chemical manufacturing areas.
2. Logistics Services: Dedicated transportation and supply chain solutions. Asset-based logistics provider with tank trucking expertise. Custom logistics component connecting customers to qualified carriers. Includes overflow service and on-site logistics managers for enterprise accounts.
3. Dedicated Fleets: Furnishing customers with tractors, trailers, drivers, and oversight. Managed freight operations where Highway Transport handles equipment, compliance, training, and day-to-day management for customers.
4. Freight Brokerage: Brokerage services leveraging Premier Partner Carriers to expand capacity. Connects customers to a large network of trusted carriers for liquid bulk chemical tanker loads. Single point of contact managing multiple carriers.
5. Full-Service Tank Lease: Customized tank lease program with terms from days to years. Offers 307/407 liquid bulk chemical trailers with GPS, full-service maintenance and wash program, and delivery/pickup. Tanks delivered clean, dry, and odor free.
6. Equipment Cleaning & Tank Wash Services: Tank wash and shop services for chemical tank trailers including external cleaning, steam cleaning, hot water flush, detergent wash, caustic wash, latex stripper wash, pump & hose cleaning, trailer repair, DOT coded tank repair, and maintenance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Highway Transport provides bulk liquid chemical transportation services across the U.S. and Canada using a fleet of 500+ tanker trucks and 1,000+ stainless steel, fully insulated 65-foot tankers. The company offers specialized services including dedicated fleets, expedited transport (Chemical Critical), freight brokerage, full-service tank leasing, transloading, and equipment cleaning, supported by proprietary TempTrack™ real-time temperature and GPS monitoring.

Product overview

Highway Transport is a bulk liquid chemical transportation company operating a fleet of 65-foot, five-axle tanker trucks with stainless steel, fully-insulated equipment. The company offers a unified platform of services centered on core transportation capabilities (Bulk Liquid Transport, Logistics, Dedicated Fleets, Freight Brokerage), complemented by specialized offerings including Chemical Critical expedited services, Full-Service Tank Lease, and Transloading. Key technology features include TempTrack™ for real-time GPS and temperature monitoring accessible through the MyHighway customer portal. Equipment maintenance and cleaning is handled through company-operated tank wash and shop facilities. The Premier Carrier Partners program extends capacity through vetted partner carriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TempTrack: Temperature monitoring system using connected digital thermometer and geo-fenced GPS tracking that updates cargo temperature and location every 15 minutes.
• Green Treads
• Chemical Critical
• Highway Helping Hands
• C.A.R.E.

Products and services

• Bulk Liquid Transport Core bulk liquid chemical transportation service operating 65-foot, five-axle tanker trucks with stainless steel, fully-insulated equipment. Provides long-haul and regional liquid bulk transportation throughout the U.S. and Canada, with on-time delivery above 99%.
• Chemical Critical Expedited Service Expedited chemical transportation service for time-sensitive deliveries to chemical manufacturers. Offers creative solutions for challenging loads with real-time updates, dedicated drivers, and 24/7 customer support.
• Logistics Services Asset-based logistics services providing custom transportation and supply chain solutions, including web-based reporting, order detail tracking, material loads by code, deviation monitoring, and root cause analysis.
• Dedicated Fleets Turnkey dedicated fleet solutions furnishing tractors, trailers, drivers, and oversight. Manages equipment, compliance, training, and all freight operation aspects for chemical industry customers.
• Freight Brokerage Brokerage services expanding capacity through Premier Partner Carriers. Offers GPS location and product temperature tracking, 98% on-time service, and management of loads with single point of contact.
• Full-Service Tank Lease Customizable tank lease program offering 307/407 liquid bulk chemical trailers with DOT compliance, tank capacities of 6,500, 7,500, or 8,000 gallons, GPS equipped, with full-service maintenance and wash program.
• Equipment Cleaning and Shop Services Tank wash and maintenance services including external cleaning, steam cleaning, hot water flush, detergent/caustic wash, latex stripper wash, pump/hose cleaning, trailer/truck repair, welding, and DOT coded tank repair.
• Transloading Chemicals Bulk liquid transloading service transferring goods between different transportation modes (tanker trucks to rail cars and barges), maximizing supply chain efficiency with streamlined shipping and wider market reach.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 99% of chemical tanker truck loads delivered on time, safe, and well presented at delivery.
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Salesforce (Net Zero Cloud)coreTechnology or IntegrationHighway Transport partnered with Salesforce to serve as the first transportation partner in Salesforce's sustainability cloud space (Net Zero Cloud). This partnership enables science-based emissions monitoring and reporting, environmental data tracking, and positions Highway to set the tone for sustainability in the transportation industry.
• EPA SmartWay ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered SmartWay Transport Partner for four consecutive years (as of 2019). Highway Transport measures, benchmarks, and tracks efforts to increase fuel economy and environmental efficiency per EPA requirements.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC) - Responsible CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Care Partner since 2005. Highway Transport undergoes mandatory audits at headquarters and facilities. Awarded Partner of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, and first-ever Sustainability Award in 2025. Committed to open and transparent safety reporting.
• Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Level Sponsor of Truckers Against Trafficking for many years. TAT awareness decals applied to every Highway truck. 500+ trained drivers serve as extra eyes on the road to help combat human trafficking. Highway's mobile army of drivers trained to spot signs of trafficking.
• Women in Trucking AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Women in Trucking Association. Named a Top Company for women in transportation. Highway Transport actively encourages female involvement in the transportation industry and aims to increase the number of women employed in trucking (currently ~7% of all truck drivers are female).
• St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief FundsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit 501(c)(3) that helps truck drivers and families out of work due to illness or injury. The Watkins family has been longtime supporters. Donation of $2,500 made on behalf of Highway Transport driver Tom Frain as part of NTTC Driver of the Year award.
• Mack TruckssupportingTechnology or IntegrationPrimary tractor supplier. Highway Transport continuously adds new Mack Anthem trucks (first Anthem rolled out April 12, 2018) featuring mDrive 12-speed automated transmissions and advanced safety technology. Mack trucks are allocated to system drivers who play a vital role in the growth plan.
• FreightlinersupportingTechnology or IntegrationTractor supplier alongside Mack. New Freightliner models added to fleet as part of Highway Transport's commitment to continually upgrading fleet and maintaining newest equipment on the road.
• Total Quality Logistics (TQL)supportingOthersFellow winner of the 2021 Responsible Care Partner of the Year Award alongside Highway Transport. Both companies recognized by ACC for superb safety performance.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ruan Transportation Management Systems: Family-owned, asset-based supply-chain company with a dedicated tank and bulk division serving chemical, food, and retail customers. Highly comparable business model and ownership profile to Highway Transport's dedicated-fleet offering.
• J&M Tank Lines: Specialty bulk liquid carrier focused on chemicals, petroleum, and agricultural liquids across the southeastern U.S. A regional direct peer operating a similar asset model with overlapping customer base in chemical manufacturing corridors.
• Groendyke Transport: One of the largest tank truck carriers in North America specializing in bulk liquid chemicals and petroleum. Direct competitor to Highway Transport in chemical tanker trucking across the U.S. with similar fleet scale and hazmat focus.
• Bulkmatic Transport: Family-owned bulk liquid transporter specializing in food-grade and chemical liquids with transloading and tank-wash services. Direct competitor with comparable service mix in Midwest and southeastern chemical lanes.
• Kenan Advantage Group: Specialty carrier focused on bulk liquid transportation of chemicals, petroleum, and food-grade products. Operates a comparable asset-based fleet with dedicated and spot chemical freight, directly competing with Highway in U.S. chemical lanes.
• Quality Distribution (Quality Carriers): One of the largest chemical bulk trucking networks in North America (former Quality Carriers, now part of Quality Distribution). Provides dedicated and for-hire chemical tanker services and is a direct competitor for customers like Dow, BASF, and similar chemical manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• CSX Transportation: Major Class I freight railroad with significant chemical and hazmat bulk liquid carloads. An intermodal alternative mode that competes with Highway on long-haul chemical lanes, particularly where transloading or rail-to-truck handoffs apply.
• Werner Enterprises: One of the largest U.S. truckload carriers with a dedicated and specialty division that includes some bulk liquid capacity. A broad incumbent offering dedicated transportation that competes with Highway for enterprise chemical-manufacturer accounts.
• Schneider National: Large multi-modal carrier with a tank division hauling bulk chemicals and food-grade liquids alongside truckload, intermodal, and logistics. A broader incumbent that competes with Highway on enterprise chemical accounts and dedicated-fleet RFPs.

Emerging players

• AIT Worldwide Logistics: Global freight forwarder and 3PL with chemical logistics capabilities and bulk-liquid brokerage. Competes with Highway's brokerage and logistics arms for chemical shipper capacity and supply-chain visibility offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HighwayCorporate
• Xx.com/hyttdrivers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Highway Transport