Tierra Transportation Expanding Workforce To Better Service Eagle Ford Shale

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the largest domestic discoveries of oil in the past 40 years, the Eagle Ford Shale continues to gain momentum as a significant hydrocarbon producing formation. Servicing what may be one of the largest economic developments in the history of the state of Texas, The Tierra Companies (www.tierracos.com), a leader in midstream energy services in Central Texas, is a trusted partner to producers, refiners and commercial end-users within the Eagle Ford Shale. Tierra Transportation, a division of The Tierra Companies that provides crude oil trucking and logistics, is expanding its workforce and developing specialized employee recruiting and retention programs to better service customers doing business in the Eagle Ford Shale.

"We are proud to serve our customers involved in the Eagle Ford Shale and to help drive economic development in the San Antonio community as well as the state by providing steady, well-paying jobs," said Glen Gonzalez, CEO of The Tierra Companies.  "We have recently grown our workforce by 30 percent and we continue to offer positions for drivers, maintenance supervisors and data analysts as we continue to grow and expand our services."

Focusing on crude oil transportation services to producers who have historically been underserved by larger transporters, Tierra Transportation has delivered energy and value for its customers since 2002. With its fleet of trucks and trailers specially outfitted with quality control technology, safety equipment and pumps designed for lease crude hauling, Tierra Transportation's dedicated team of 80 employees hauls between 12,000 to 15,000 barrels per day of Eagle Ford Shale production. Tierra Transportation also hauls refined products for area refiners.

A specific strength for Tierra Transportation is the company's ability to leverage the resources of its sister company Tierra Marketing to deliver distressed and specialty barrels. This service is particularly valuable for producers and end-users in the Eagle Ford Shale who are looking to increase their volumes but do not have resources in place to identify or transport the barrels.

Tierra Transportation has built a blue-chip customer base of steady, repeat customers, including Anadarko, Shell Trading, Enterprise Products Partners, Flint Hills, OGO Marketing, Goodrich Petroleum and NuStar.

In its effort to provide outstanding service to its customers, Tierra Transportation is in the process of hiring drivers and other staff. With that, the company has embarked on a print, radio, billboard advertising campaign and has seen unprecedented success with recruitment. Further, Tierra Transportation has increased its presence and participation in job fairs throughout the region. While some competitors have lowered screening standards for drivers, Tierra has raised its standards to ensure the highest quality and the safest performance standards. Presently, the company employs the highest number of drivers in its history and continues to have opportunities for growing its staff and business.

In addition to drivers, Tierra Transportation has hired specialized diesel mechanics who work on its customized equipment that the company owns versus leasing, like many of its competitors. The mechanic staff has quadrupled since 2002, ensuring that safe and efficient equipment is available to Tierra's driving staff. Further, Tierra Transportation has been given the Department of Transportation's (DOT) highest rating when it has been audited for the past three years.

To help lead its Equipment Maintenance Group, Tierra Transportation is currently hiring a Maintenance Supervisor at the company's headquarters in Converse, Texas, just East of San Antonio. Job duties for the Maintenance Supervisor position include managing mechanics, ordering products and supplies as well as developing maintenance efficiency programs. Interested persons can apply by emailing [email protected].

In addition to the Maintenance Supervisor position, Tierra Transportation is also hiring a Data Analyst.  Key responsibilities for this multi-faceted role include fleet optimization, quality control for crude gathering, project management, compliance reporting, streamlining maintenance schedules, and enhancing fleet information technology (IT). As with all jobs at The Tierra Companies, full-time positions receive access to an array of benefits, including health insurance, 401(K) and performance incentives.

In addition, this year the company developed Tierra Sweet TEA (Tierra Employee Appreciation), a program that offers employee appreciation incentives for job performance and safety compliance. For instance, during monthly meetings among the driver staff, those with perfect attendance and in good standing with the company's safety program participate in a raffle for valuable prizes of all kinds. "Tierra Sweet TEA is a fun way to promote a safe and profitable work place," explained Gonzalez.

In all, The Tierra Companies puts its expertise and assets to work for its valued customers. Providing a safe and complete array of services for companies working in the Eagle Ford Shale, Tierra has the commitment and strength to serve as a leading transportation and logistics company in Central Texas through its three business units – Tierra Transportation, Tierra Marketing and Tierra Pipeline.

About The Tierra Companies
The Tierra Companies provides integrated midstream energy services. Its business units serve producers, refiners and commercial end-users within the Eagle Ford Shale. With divisions that specialize in crude oil trucking, marketing, logistics and pipeline infrastructures, Tierra is a leader in the market. The company has a strong asset base and an operational flexibility that allows it to serve a diverse mix of clients and use its crude oil distribution and marketing expertise to address market demands. Further, The Tierra Companies' management team has extensive industry and safety experience. More information can be found at www.tierracos.com.

SOURCE The Tierra Companies; Glen Gonzalez, San Antonio