Melzer’s Fuel Service

What Melzer’s Fuel Service does

Melzer's Fuel Service, Inc. is a family-owned petroleum products distributor founded in 1977 in Painesville, Ohio, by Dick Melzer and his wife Adele. The company distributes diesel, gasoline, kerosene, home heating oil, biofuels, marine fuel, and industrial and automotive lubricants across six states (OH, PA, NY, WV, IN, MI), operating one of the larger privately held transport and tank wagon fleets in the regional petroleum industry. Core operations span commercial on-site refueling (railroad, trucking, construction, contractors), residential heating oil delivery with degree-day automatic fill programs, marine fuel supply on the Great Lakes and inland waterways, and wholesale petroleum distribution through its Service Tank Line subsidiary.

Revenue is generated on a transactional/unit-pricing model across bulk deliveries ranging from 150 to 20,000 gallons, with go-to-market executed through direct sales, owned-fleet delivery, branded retail programs (Gulf, Keystone, Shell), and the Fluid Secure SMART-TANK wireless tank monitoring service. The company is an authorized distributor of ExxonMobil's Mobil Diesel Efficient branded diesel and carries lubricant lines including CITGO, Castrol, and Coastal. Customer segments are diversified across commercial/industrial, marine, residential, agricultural, and lubricant buyers, with no named anchor accounts disclosed. The business remains under family leadership, with Rick Melzer serving as President and CEO since 1999.

Underlying technology is limited to IoT tank-level monitoring (SMART-TANK/Fluid Secure), branded fuel additive formulations licensed from ExxonMobil and Power Green Marine, and fleet logistics via the Service Tank Line distribution platform. The company has no public funding, no disclosed revenue figures, and no AI/ML capabilities described in available materials.

Name

Melzer’s Fuel Service

Legal name

Melzer's Fuel Service Inc.

Website

https://melzersfuel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Melzer's Fuel Service is a family-owned petroleum distributor founded in 1977 in Painesville, Ohio, selling diesel, gasoline, heating oil, marine fuel, and lubricants via owned transport fleets across six states. It serves commercial, residential, marine, and agricultural customers through direct delivery, branded retail programs, and wholesale logistics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petroleum Distribution and Fuel Delivery Services

NAICS

Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710), Fuel Dealers (45721)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD)

Keywords

• Fuel distribution services
• Petroleum product delivery
• Home heating oil
• Marine fuel supply
• Commercial diesel fueling

Headquarters

HQ city

Painesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fuel Products Sales: Sale of diesel (Ultra Low Sulfur #2, Dyed, Supreme, Biofuels, Marine Diesel), gasoline (87-93 octane with/without ethanol), kerosene (Clear K-1, Dyed K-1), and home heating oil. Bulk deliveries ranging from 150-20,000 gallons.
2. Marine Fuel Sales: Supply of marine gas and diesel fuel on The Great Lakes and inland lakes, including fuel for large ships at dock. Offers ethanol and non-ethanol blends (90 octane non-ethanol standard).
3. Lubricants Sales: Wide variety of lubricants for commercial, industrial, farming applications, and passenger cars. Products include automotive transportation oils, transmission fluid, heavy duty engine oils, railroad engine oils, and specialty oils in all package sizes from bulk to quart.
4. Commercial On-Site Refueling Services: Direct to vehicle fueling day or night for railroad, trucking, construction, and contractor accounts. Tanks and equipment supplied for qualified customers. All tanks meet fire code and EPA requirements.
5. Service Tank Line Logistics: Stores and distributes petroleum products for hire. Manages inventories for commercial and retail fuel locations and arranges deliveries. Serves all of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Indiana.
6. Retail Branding Programs: GULF and KEYSTONE branded retail fuel facilities offering competitive promotional programs, credit card coverage, and pricing to grow retailer and convenience store business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Melzer's Fuel Service is a family-owned regional petroleum distributor that sells diesel, gasoline, kerosene, home heating oil, marine fuel, biofuels, and lubricants, and delivers them through an owned transport and tank wagon fleet to commercial, industrial, residential, marine, and agricultural customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan. The company also operates a wholesale petroleum logistics business (Service Tank Line), on-site commercial refueling, retail branding programs (GULF and KEYSTONE), and wireless tank-monitoring technology (SMART-TANK/Fluid Secure).

Product overview

Melzer's Fuel Service is a family-owned petroleum products distributor founded in 1977, operating a multi-state fuel and lubricants business. The company offers a portfolio of fuel products (diesel, gasoline, kerosene, heating oil, biofuels), commercial and residential delivery services, the Mobil Diesel Efficient branded diesel fuel, Smart-Tank wireless monitoring technology, marine fuel products, automotive and industrial lubricants, and retail branding programs (Gulf and Keystone). The offering is organized around three core pillars: (1) Fuel Products & Branded Fuels including Mobil Diesel Efficient; (2) Delivery & Logistics services including commercial on-site fueling, residential heating oil, bulk deliveries (150-20,000 gallons), and Service Tank Line distribution; and (3) Technology-Enabled Monitoring via Smart-Tank/Fluid Secure for wireless tank level monitoring. Additional offerings include marine fuel, lubricants, retail branding programs, and minority supplier programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GULF: Retail branding program offering competitive fuel programs through Gulf brand locations across multiple states
• KEYSTONE
• Power Green Marine
• Service Tank Line
• Valvtect

Products and services

• Fuel Products Range of petroleum fuel products including Ultra Low Sulfur #2 Diesel, Dyed Diesel, Marine Diesel 50 Cetane, Bio Diesel (B-2 through B-100), ethanol and non-ethanol gasoline (87-93 octane), Clear and Dyed K-1 Kerosene, and Home Heating Oil with custom biofuel blending available; sold via on-site delivery across the company's service area.
• Mobil Diesel Efficient Proprietary ExxonMobil branded diesel fuel with a patented detergent additive package injected at the fuel terminal, engineered to clean fuel injectors, improve engine power, reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, enhance cold weather operability, and protect against fuel system corrosion; available for light-duty, heavy-duty, on-road, and off-road applications.
• Marine Fuel Marine gas and diesel fuel supply for The Great Lakes and inland lakes, including delivery to large ships at dock; offers Valvtect, Gulf, and Power Green Marine branded products with non-ethanol 90 octane standard option.
• Lubricants Wide variety of lubricants for commercial, industrial, farming, and passenger car applications, including automotive transportation oils, transmission fluid, drive train lubricants, way lubricants, metalworking oils, heavy duty engine oils, worm gear oils, railroad engine oils, fire resistant hydraulic fluids, air line oil, and heat transfer oils; brands include CITGO, Castrol, Coastal, Lubriguard, and ARGuard in all package sizes from bulk to quart.
• Commercial Fueling (On-Site Refueling) On-site refueling services for commercial operations including railroad, trucking, construction, and contractor accounts; direct-to-vehicle fueling available day or night, with tanks supplied for qualified customers meeting fire code and EPA requirements.
• Residential Fuel Delivery Residential home heating oil delivery service with computerized automatic delivery, degree-day based filling, and 'keep full' will-call delivery options at quarter-tank levels for homeowners using oil-fired heating systems.
• Service Tank Line / Petroleum Logistics Petroleum product storage and distribution for hire; fleet of various trailer sizes and compartments serving Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Indiana with a technology-driven truck fleet and experienced drivers; manages inventories for commercial and retail fuel locations.
• Retail Branding Program (GULF and KEYSTONE) Retail fuel branding programs offering GULF and KEYSTONE brands to retail fuel facilities; Gulf has over 1,400 branded locations across 36 states; Keystone is available in Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York under United Refining guidance; includes competitive promotional programs, credit card coverage, and wholesale pricing for retailers and convenience stores.
• SMART-TANK (Fluid Secure) Wireless Fuel Monitoring Wireless fuel tank monitoring system that accurately measures fuel levels 24 hours per day, 365 days per year without requiring power, phone lines, or installation costs; monitors screw into any 2-inch opening on above ground storage tanks and can be checked online to prevent run-outs while reducing delivery frequency.
• Power Green Marine Fuel Additive High-quality fuel additive brand for marine engines providing deposit control, moisture contamination protection, ethanol blend compatibility, corrosion inhibition (ASTM D665A rated), effectiveness in GDI and PFI engines, and fuel stabilizers for long-term storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Keeps fuel injectors clean, maximizing engine performance
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ExxonMobil (Mobil Diesel Efficient)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Distributor of Mobil Diesel Efficient™ fuel - first fully formulated diesel fuel from an oil major engineered to clean fuel injectors with patented detergent additive package injected at fuel terminal.
• ShellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwo Shell branded locations providing 24-hour diesel key fob program at 1502 Greengarden Rd. and 8228 Peach St.
• ValvtectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine fuel branding program partner. Valvtect additives used to blend fuel to specific needs for performance vessels and watercraft.
• Gulf OilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGULF brand retail fuel facilities in Northeast Ohio, Western and Central Pennsylvania, Northern West Virginia and Western New York. Gulf has over 1400 branded locations across 36 states and Puerto Rico.
• United Refining (Keystone)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKEYSTONE brand under guidance support of United Refining located in Warren, PA. Iconic brand in Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York offering competitive fuel programs.
• Power Green MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh quality fuel additive brand for marine engines with outstanding deposit control, moisture contamination protection, and ethanol blending capabilities.
• Fluid SecurecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership providing true wireless fuel monitoring system. Fluid Secure monitors screw into any 2-inch opening on above ground storage tanks with no power or phone lines required.
• CITGO LubricantsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTop-quality commercial and automotive lubricants brand carried by Melzer's Fuel Service.
• CastrolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium lubricant brand available through Melzer's Fuel Service product offerings.
• Coastal LubricantsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLubricant brand available through Melzer's Fuel Service.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shipley Energy: York, PA-based family-owned fuel distributor and HVAC provider serving residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across Pennsylvania and Maryland. Comparable to Melzer's in multi-product fuel delivery (heating oil, diesel, gasoline), regional mid-Atlantic footprint, and family-owned operating model.
• Hager Petroleum: Midwest-based regional fuel and lubricant distributor serving commercial, agricultural, and residential customers across multiple states. Comparable to Melzer's in product portfolio (diesel, gasoline, lubricants, heating fuels), regional distribution model, and commercial fleet fueling focus.
• Quarles Petroleum: Fredericksburg, VA-based regional fuel distributor providing diesel, gasoline, heating oil, and lubricants to commercial, government, and residential customers across the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to Melzer's in product breadth, commercial fueling focus, and multi-state regional distribution model.
• R.W. Mercer Co. Jackson, MI-based family-owned petroleum products and propane distributor serving Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana with fuel, lubricants, and bulk plant operations. Comparable to Melzer's in Great Lakes regional footprint, family ownership, and multi-product fuel distribution including commercial on-site delivery.
• Yorktown Petroleum: Pennsylvania-based regional petroleum products distributor offering heating oil, diesel, gasoline, and lubricants to commercial and residential customers. Directly comparable to Melzer's in product mix, regional PA service territory, and direct-delivery operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Apex Oil Company: St. Louis-based integrated petroleum company operating terminals, storage, and wholesale distribution across the U.S. Comparable to Melzer's Service Tank Line wholesale logistics business, but with broader national scale and vertically integrated refining and trading operations.
• Suburban Propane Partners: Publicly-traded (NYSE: SPH) distributor of propane, heating oil, and refined fuels serving residential and commercial customers across 40+ states. Comparable to Melzer's in residential heating fuel delivery and commercial fueling, but at significantly larger national scale with a public capital structure.
• Gulf Oil Limited Partnership: National branded fuel marketer with 1,400+ Gulf-branded locations across 36 states. Comparable to Melzer's in branded fuel distribution and Gulf brand partnership, but operates as the upstream brand licensor and broader competitor in fuel retailing.
• Pilot Thomas Logistics: Large-scale fuel, lubricant, and chemicals distributor with nationwide operations serving commercial, industrial, and marine markets. Comparable to Melzer's in fuel and lubricant product mix and logistics capabilities, but operates at materially greater scale across broader geographies.
• United Refining Company: Warren, PA-based integrated petroleum refiner and wholesale marketer, parent of the Keystone brand that Melzer's distributes. Comparable to Melzer's in regional wholesale fuel distribution and Keystone brand alignment, but adds refining capacity and broader wholesale market reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/melzersfuel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Melzer’s Fuel Service