A trucking company’s decision to expand means a new business for Iola.
Black Gold Energy Carriers LLC hauled its first load of crude oil from its Iola dispatch center Nov. 2.
Iolans Jeff Keithly and Dennis Nassir are optimistic the company’s reach will grow rapidly in Kansas.
“They’ve predicted for us to be hauling about 5,000 barrels a day by March of 2016,” which would require at least 15 trucks, said Keithly, who serves as Black Gold’s head of logistics for Kansas.
Black Gold has shipped petroleum-based products throughout Colorado and Wyoming for more than 20 years, and recently partnered with Shell Oil Company to deliver crude oil in Kansas.
“Shell is trying to get a better market for everybody,” Keithly said.
The first truck was ready for business at the start of the month. By the end of Thursday, Nassir — the driver — had delivered loads ranging from Medicine Lodge to Osawatomie.
“We’ll go across state lines but stick to the Midwest region,” Keithly said. “We’ll try to get at least two loads a day delivered.”
Nassir has held his Commercial Driver’s License since 2006, and has been certified to haul hazardous materials — crude oil, for example — since 2012.
Keithly is dispatching out of his home in Iola until a suitable location for a trucking terminal can be found in the area.
It shouldn’t take long.
Nassir said Black Gold’s plan is to have four or five trucks shipping out of Iola by the end of the year.
“We want to haul as much as we can,” Keithly said.
And while Black Gold has a contract in place with Shell, the company is available to haul crude oil for all takers.
For more information, contact Keithly at (620) 363-6043.
Trucking company opens Iola headquarters
