Kwik Equipment Sales, a manufacturer of tank container chassis trailers, compressed gas tube trailers, and other specialized equipment, is celebrating 10 years of operation.
Pratap Lingam, Kwik Equipment president and CEO, previously worked at Pratt Industries and SandBox Logistics before starting the company in March 2015 in the Houston suburb of Pearland, Texas. After surviving pandemic disruptions, workforce challenges, and market shifts, Kwik produced 750 trailers in 2023 and 560 last year at its 55,000-sq.-ft. facility located on 14 acres, and it’s now a leading manufacturer of highly complex tube trailers—with a 65% market share in the United States.
“It’s a great success story for my team and myself,” Lingam told Bulk Transporter. “They say hard work pays off, and I believe my hard work is paying off—and putting this company in a good position.”
Kwik Equipment serves stakeholders in the intermodal, chemical, oil-and-gas, alternative-fuel, and agricultural industries, among others, with the stated goal of delivering highly customized, lightweight, and durable equipment. Leading tube trailer customers include clean-energy firms Hexagon Agility, Hydria, and Quantum Fuel Systems; and top chassis trailer customers include global ISO tank operator EXSIF and Twinstar Leasing.
Innovative equipment
Kwik’s expanding portfolio includes over 100 customizable designs that enhance operational efficiency, improve safety, and optimize capacity, Lingam said.
Kwik Equipment trailer designs include:
- Lightweight 20-ft. Intermodal container chassis: Weighing only 6,800 lbs., the trailer legally hauls up to 59,000 lbs. without a permit, making it ideal for weight-restricted regions
- Lightweight 40-ft. tandem-axle ISO trailers: At only 4,400 lbs., this patented design carries up to 63,000 lbs. legally, offering superior strength-to-weight efficiency
- Heavy ISO module trailers: Engineered for extreme loads up to 100,000 lbs., with configurations up to 10 axles, these trailers feature Roll Stability and “Reverse-O-Matic” systems for enhanced safety on challenging routes
- Gas tube module trailers: Engineered to meet specific customer requirements, these units range from 10 ft. to 63 ft., supporting various sizes and shapes of composite-tube modules for transporting CNG, hydrogen, helium and other gases
“We believe we’re bringing a lot of innovation to the industry, and we’re continuing to bring more and more,” Lingam said.
Smart box trailer
Kwik is part of a growing group of companies that includes KBox Technologies, Kwik Media Group, Kwik Infotech Solutions, and Kwik Leasing and Rentals—who are collectively focused on pioneering solutions in logistics, technology, media, and commercial transportation assets management, Lingham said.
KBox is a new venture with partner Walter Cabrales, the CEO of KBox, which plans to soon introduce a “revolutionary” smart box trailer marketed as a cost-effective, flexible, and technology-driven alternative to traditional box trucks.
As the industry demand for agile, sustainable transportation grows, KBox’s goal is to reshape middle- and final-mile logistics with a detachable box vehicle that features a lifting mechanism for dock-level access and multiple lengths, including 16-, 20-, and 26-ft. bodies.
Smart box trailer benefits, according to KBox, include:
- Faster deliveries: Preload cargo before the driver arrives, reducing downtime
- Lower costs: Savings on insurance, maintenance, repairs, and fuel
- Expanded driver pool: Expanded access to independent pickup truck drivers without CDL requirements
- Advanced technology: Live video monitoring, GPS tracking, geofencing, and trip analysis
- Scalable versatility: Customizable sizes (6 ft. to 53 ft.), forklift loadable, dock-level access, and refrigerated options
“This box-truck trailer is going to revolutionize the industry,” Lingam predicted.
“We’re already seeing a lot of interest from leading companies, and we expect to build our first prototype in March.”
More to come
Lingam already is mapping out the next 10 years for Kwik Equipment, too.
The manufacturer soon will begin testing and refurbishing tube trailers. It’s also planning to introduce new tank trailer designs for transporting liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid hydrogen and expand its Pearland production facilities.
“We’re gearing up to be a major player in the tank container industry,” Lingam concluded.
