OUR HISTORY

From 1951 roots to a nationwide enterprise—discover the milestones that built OILMENS and our family of companies.

Isolated Vintage horse-drawn petroleum tank wagon – OILMENS early history in distributing equipment since 1951

The Story of OILMENS

OILMENS Equipment Corporation was founded by R.E. Littlejohn in 1951. Through acquisitions, expansions, and family leadership—from John P. Faris Jr. in the 1970s to Trey Hill today—we’ve grown into an enterprise supporting our subsidiaries with shared services. Explore our timeline below to see how we’ve evolved while staying true to our values of integrity and excellence.

Vintage horse-drawn petroleum tank wagon – OILMENS early history in distributing equipment since 1951

Oilmens Equipment Company, founded by R. E. Littlejohn in 1951, focused its operation on distributing petroleum equipment to service stations and truck tanks for home heating oil delivery.

1970s portrait of John P. Faris Jr. – Acquiring OILMENS and expanding tank truck production for petroleum industry

John P. Faris Jr. bought Oilmens Equipment Company and began nurturing its growth. Oilmens launched into building its own truck tanks while expanding sales and service capabilities with a team of 14 employees.

1980 aerial photo of OILMENS new office, warehouse, and repair facility for petroleum equipment

Oilmens Equipment Company moved into a newly constructed office, warehouse and repair facility.

1986 OILMENS subsidiary logos – Restructuring for diverse petroleum markets in fluid handling, truck tanks, and petroleum systems

John P. Faris Jr. incorporated Oilmens Equipment and restructured the enterprise to more effectively service its diverse markets by establishing three distinct subsidiaries: OEC Fluid Handling became the industrial sales and distribution arm. OEC Petroleum Systems focused on distributing petroleum dispensing equipment to the service station and convenience store sector. Oilmens Truck Tanks became the sales, production, and repair of truck tanks and related parts.

1999 aerial photo of OILMENS expanded facilities in Spartanburg – Subsidiaries in Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Columbia, Spartanburg for petroleum and fluid handling equipment, support, and service

The business steadily grew through the years. Oilmens Equipment and its subsidiary OEC Fluid Handling expanded with a branch location in Charlotte and Greensboro, NC. OEC Petroleum Systems established full-service branches in Asheville, NC and Columbia, SC. Oilmens Equipment employs over 100 associates at its five locations, with sales reps directly serving multiple territories throughout the US and beyond.

Trey Hill joining owner John P. Faris Jr. on left – Family business growth in petroleum operations

Trey Hill, nephew of owner John P. Faris Jr., joins the family business, learning every aspect of the operation to help improve and grow well into the future.

OILMENS Developed First DEF Tank Truck – Nation's ISO standard components for petroleum delivery approved October 29, 2009

Oilmens Truck Tanks completes the Nation’s first tank truck for delivering DEF that has all ISO standard components and is weights and measures approved.

On October 29, 2009, after six months of research and development, the Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures certified Oilmens Truck Tanks’ proprietary DEF pumping system.

OILMENS-History_2021-Celebrating-70-Years-of-Excellence

Oilmens celebrated its 60th Anniversary with an Open House at their Spartanburg, SC headquarters. Synergy between Oilmens' subsidiaries continues to lead to several breakthroughs in design, allowing the company to remain on the cusp of new tanker technology. 

Trey Hill becomes OILMENS President 2020 – Leading over 100 employees in petroleum operations

An ownership transition between John P. Faris, Jr. and Trey Hill began, culminating in Trey Hill becoming President by 2020 and leading a team of more than 100 employees.

OILMENS Truck Tank Parts website launch – Direct online access for 24/7 petroleum parts and equipment orders

Oilmens launched the Oilmens Truck Tank Parts website with direct online access to Oilmens Parts Counter, enabling customers to place orders for parts and equipment 24/7 every day of the year.

2025 aerial composite photo of OILMENS expanded warehouse and construction site – Adding production bays for petroleum tank trucks and fluid handling equipment

Oilmens begins a major expansion project, adding an 11,900 sq. ft. warehouse with six new production bays and doubling the office space.

Vintage horse-drawn petroleum tank wagon – OILMENS early history in distributing equipment since 1951

Oilmens Equipment Company, founded by R. E. Littlejohn, focused its operation on distributing petroleum equipment to service stations and truck tanks for home heating oil delivery.

1970s portrait of John P. Faris Jr. – Acquiring OILMENS and expanding tank truck production for petroleum industry

John P. Faris Jr. bought Oilmens Equipment Company and began nurturing its growth. Oilmens launched into building its own truck tanks while expanding sales and service capabilities with a team of 14 employees.

1980 aerial photo of OILMENS new office, warehouse, and repair facility for petroleum equipment

Oilmens Equipment Company moved into a newly constructed office, warehouse and repair facility.

1986 OILMENS subsidiary logos – Restructuring for diverse petroleum markets in fluid handling, truck tanks, and petroleum systems

John P. Faris Jr. incorporated Oilmens Equipment and restructured the enterprise to more effectively service its diverse markets by establishing three distinct subsidiaries: OEC Fluid Handling became the industrial sales and distribution arm. OEC Petroleum Systems focused on distributing petroleum dispensing equipment to the service station and convenience store sector. Oilmens Truck Tanks became the sales, production, and repair of truck tanks and related parts.

1999 aerial photo of OILMENS expanded facilities in Spartanburg – Subsidiaries in Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Columbia, Spartanburg for petroleum and fluid handling equipment, support, and service

The business steadily grew through the years. Oilmens Equipment and its subsidiary OEC Fluid Handling expanded with a branch location in Charlotte and Greensboro, NC. OEC Petroleum Systems established full-service branches in Asheville, NC and Columbia, SC. Oilmens Equipment employs over 100 associates at its five locations, with sales reps directly serving multiple territories throughout the US and beyond.

Trey Hill joining owner John P. Faris Jr. on left – Family business growth in petroleum operations

Trey Hill, nephew of owner John P. Faris Jr., joins the family business, learning every aspect of the operation to help improve and grow well into the future.

OILMENS Developed First DEF Tank Truck – Nation's ISO standard components for petroleum delivery approved October 29, 2009

Oilmens Truck Tanks completes the Nation’s first tank truck for delivering DEF that has all ISO standard components and is weights and measures approved.

On October 29, 2009, after six months of research and development, the Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures certified Oilmens Truck Tanks’ proprietary DEF pumping system.

OILMENS-History_2021-Celebrating-70-Years-of-Excellence

Oilmens celebrated its 60th Anniversary with an Open House at their Spartanburg, SC headquarters. Synergy between Oilmens' subsidiaries continues to lead to several breakthroughs in design, allowing the company to remain on the cusp of new tanker technology. 

Trey Hill becomes OILMENS President 2020 – Leading over 100 employees in petroleum operations

An ownership transition between John P. Faris, Jr. and Trey Hill began, culminating in Trey Hill becoming President by 2020 and leading a team of more than 100 employees.

OILMENS Truck Tank Parts website launch – Direct online access for 24/7 petroleum parts and equipment orders

Oilmens launched the Oilmens Truck Tank Parts website with direct online access to Oilmens Parts Counter, enabling customers to place orders for parts and equipment 24/7 every day of the year.

2025 aerial composite photo of OILMENS expanded warehouse and construction site – Adding production bays for petroleum tank trucks and fluid handling equipment

Oilmens begins a major expansion project, adding an 11,900 sq. ft. warehouse with six new production bays and doubling the office space.

Our daily goal is to earn each customer's business and trust.

We continue to build our business by employing the best sales and technical personnel, maintaining the industry’s most extensive inventory, stocking name-brand equipment, and never taking our customers for granted. 

Whether building tank trucks, equipping service stations, or supplying process pumps for Fortune 500 companies, we deliver technical expertise and support beyond the sale.

Discover the OILMENS Difference.