How Force Energy Built a Faster, More Flexible Fuel Operation

June 2026

Houston, Texas -  In a business where time, access, and response matter, Force Energy Services has built its operation around one simple principle: be ready to move.

Based in Houston and operating across the country, Force Energy delivers fuel and DEF to generators, fleets, and job sites in both planned operations and emergency response situations. From hurricanes along the Gulf Coast to storms across the U.S., their crews go where the work is and where customers need them most.

That kind of responsiveness is not easy to build. It takes experience, the right people, and the ability to adapt quickly.

Force Energy was built on all three.

Built on Experience

The company was founded in 2021 by a team that had already spent decades in the fuel industry. After working together at a previous company, the ownership group saw an opportunity to build something of their own.

“We didn’t even think about it. We just said, let’s go,” said co-owner Diana Duran. “We started with nothing. No equipment. Just experience and relationships.”

Like many fuel distributors, they started small and scaled quickly. But from the beginning, the goal was not just to add trucks. It was to build an operation that could move fast, handle pressure, and take on both daily work and emergency response.

A Different Kind of Operator

Force Energy is 100 percent women-owned, a rarity in the fuel distribution space. For the team, that distinction is a point of pride, but performance comes first.

“We’re here to do the job and do it well,” said CFO Susan Lay.

In a competitive market, that consistency has helped them grow quickly.

The Challenge: Access, Labor, and Time

As the company grew, familiar challenges started to show up. Finding CDL and Hazmat drivers limited how fast they could scale. Larger trucks created access issues in tight job sites. Time spent loading at terminals slowed down daily operations.

In emergency situations, those problems only get worse.

“You don’t have time to wait,” Duran said. “You have to go.”

From Emergency Tool to Daily Driver

The team was introduced to Thunder Creek equipment through industry connections and saw its potential during storm response work. After a major storm in 2021, they made the decision to incorporate it into their fleet alongside traditional trucks.

Force Crews have taken the trailers into areas where infrastructure is damaged and access is limited, reaching locations that larger trucks struggle to enter.

“We were in areas where you’re not taking a transport,” Duran said. “The trailers were perfect.”

In time, the solution for emergencies quickly became part of everyday business.

“They’re not just for emergency response,” Duran said. “They work so well in our daily operation.”

From city jobs to plant environments, the trailers allowed crews to reach areas that would otherwise slow or stop a larger truck. That shift changed how Force Energy approached its workflow.

Expanding the Workforce

One of the biggest impacts came through staffing. Without the need for CDL or Hazmat certification, the company could expand its driver pool and get people on the road faster.

“It was huge for us,” Duran said.

“You’ve got people with experience who just don’t have those certifications. Now we can put them in a truck and go.”

For a growing company, that kind of flexibility matters.

Faster Starts, More Stops

Efficiency improved across the board. Instead of relying on terminals, the team built a yard-based fueling system. Trailers are loaded ahead of time, so drivers can start their day immediately.

“We don’t have to deal with lines at terminals,” Duran said. “That saves a lot of time.”

In the field, that time adds up. Drivers are able to move quickly between stops, fueling generators, fleets, and equipment without delays.

“I can drop off 200 gallons in ten minutes and I’m out of there,” said driver Todd Ley.

That kind of speed allows crews to cover more ground in a day and keep equipment running without interruption.

Return on Investment That Shows Up Fast

For Force Energy, the financial impact was clear almost immediately.

“Our ROI happened very quickly,” Duran said. “We paid for those trailers within a month.”

That return is driven by consistent use. The equipment supports daily operations, emergency response, and specialized jobs without sitting idle.

“They’re still paying for themselves,” said CEO Brandy Burns. “And we’ve had very minimal repairs.”

Supporting Modern Equipment

As equipment evolves, DEF has become a required part of fueling operations. For Force Energy, delivering both fuel and DEF in one trip is essential, especially when servicing generators in the field.

In many cases, it is not just important, it is critical.

“Generators will run out of DEF before they run out of diesel,” said Ley.

That reality has made DEF a standard part of every stop, not an add-on. For Force Energy, being able to handle both in one trip keeps crews moving and customers up and running.

Built to Grow. Ready to Move.

Looking ahead, Force Energy plans to continue expanding its fleet with a mix of trucks and mobile fueling solutions.

“Thunder Creek is a big part of our growth,” Duran said.

The focus is not on replacing one piece of equipment with another, but on building a fleet that can respond to any situation.

“We have to be ready to go at any time,” said operations team member Brian Fleissner.

That mindset drives how the company operates every day.

“We need ten more,” Burns said. “Let’s grow.”

 

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