Company History

Southern Tank Transport, Inc. originally began as The Geo. A. Rheman Co., Inc. in Charleston, SC in 1934.  We started out as the house carrier for Exxon, being the first trucking company in South Carolina to transport a bulk load of gasoline.

In 1959, The Geo A. Rheman Co.  and Matlack combined in a joint venture to become Southern Bulk Haulers.  Southern Bulk Haulers was the house carrier for Giant Cement Company and was the first trucking company in South Carolina to transport a bulk load of cement.  A few years later, Mr. Calhoun Lemon, owner of The Geo A. Rheman Co., purchased Matlack’s share in Southern Bulk Haulers.

Southern Tank Transport, Inc. was formed in 1994, to be the house carrier for Blue Circle Cement, Inc.  Then in July of 2000, The Geo A. Rheman Co., and Southern Bulk Haulers were all merged together as Southern Tank Transport, Inc.  All operating decisions are made in the corporate office located in Holly Hill, SC.

Southern  Tank Transport, Inc. has a combined fleet of 271 tractors located in Holly Hill, SC, Charleston, SC,  Kimballton, VA, Houston, TX, New Braunfels, TX, Fort Worth, TX, Clifton, TX, Calera, AL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.  We are a major carrier for Cemex, Argos, Lhoist and  MeadWestvaco.  We employ over 350 People Company wide.

I n  L o v i n g  M e m o r y
Clinton Calhoun Lemon, Jr.

Clinton Lemon (1944-2020)

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our former Chief Executive Officer (1993 - 2015) and Chairman Emeritus of the Board, Clinton Calhoun Lemon, Jr.  Clinton accomplished many achievements during his lifetime and had a tremendous passion for working hard and helping others.

Clinton began his long and distinguished trucking career driving trucks for one of his father’s companies during his high school summer breaks. Upon graduating from Clemson University, Clinton, his wife, Brenda, and son, Clint, moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he began his trucking career as a dispatcher with Matlack Tank Lines.
In 1969, Clinton and his growing family (Brian - b. 1968) returned to South Carolina where he began his long career in the family trucking companies within dispatch, operations and sales at Cooper Motor Lines (Greenville, SC).  In the early 1970’s, the family – including baby girl, Charlotte (b. 1970) - moved to Mt. Pleasant, SC as Clinton became Operations Manager and eventually President (1976) of The George A. Rheman Company.  While at The George A. Rheman Company, Clinton fortuitously hired Dan Horton, who became a colleague and close friend for 50 years and his business partner for nearly 30 years.

In 1980, Clinton and family returned to his hometown of Barnwell, SC where he joined his father in running the family companies assuming the role of President (1982) of Southern Chemical Haulers, Inc.  He was a member of the National Tank Truck Carriers and the South Carolina Trucking Association, serving as SCTA President (1986-1987) and Chairman of the Board (1987-1988).  After his father’s death, Clinton became CEO and Chairman of the Board.  In 2003 - 2005, the various Lemon family businesses were consolidated under Southern Tank Holding Company and subsidiaries, including today’s main operating entity, Southern Tank Transport, Inc., for which Clinton was the majority shareholder, CEO (1993 - 2015) and Chairman Emeritus of the Board. His sons, Clint and Brian, continue the tradition of family leadership as members of the board with Brian also serving as CEO since 2015.

We at Southern Tank Transport, Inc. are forever grateful to Clinton for his leadership and will seek to honor his legacy.