Keeping a Growing Land Development Fleet Fueled

October 2026

Franklin, TN – Kevin Glisson’s path into land development was a gradual one, built over years of taking on more jobs and expanding what his business could handle.

He started with a small mowing and landscaping business. As the jobs grew, so did the equipment and the opportunities, eventually leading him to add the company’s first mini-excavator and skid steer.

In 2010, he sold the original business and began doing land development full time.

Today, Glisson Land Development is a family-owned and operated business, handling everything from dirt work and utilities to ponds and complete outdoor site development. They primarily serve large, high-end residential properties throughout Middle Tennessee, within roughly a 75-mile area. Kevin works alongside his wife, kids, and the rest of the team, managing a fleet of approximately 15 pieces of equipment.

With that equipment spread across jobsites and the company regularly traveling 30 to 50 miles to reach the work, keeping fuel where it was needed became an increasingly important part of keeping projects moving.

Outgrowing Their Fueling Setup

Glisson previously relied on a custom-built fuel trailer that worked well for their smaller operation. As the distances between the shop and jobsites increased, he started looking for something better suited to the work they were taking on.

Thunder Creek was not at the top of his list.

“I have to admit, when I first looked at these trailers years ago, I said, ‘Man, I’ll never give that kind of money for a fuel trailer,’” Glisson said.

The custom trailer had served them well, but the demands around it had changed. With more miles to cover and more equipment to support, Kevin began putting greater value on time savings and having a purpose-built fueling solution he could rely on from job to job.

“We wanted it, number one, for the time savings, and number two, for the travel, for the safety of traveling back and forth, especially with the mileage that we have to travel these days,” he said.

Keeping Fuel Where the Work Is

Glisson ultimately chose a 690-gallon Thunder Creek Multi-Tank Trailer, sized to carry enough diesel for several days while still being easy to move between jobsites.

On a busy day, they burn through 200 to 250 gallons of diesel. With multiple machines running, having 690 gallons on site means the crew can often go for two or three days before the trailer needs to return for more fuel.

That gives Glisson more control over when and where fueling happens. Instead of coordinating on-site deliveries or sending someone away when equipment gets low, the team can fill the trailer, move it to the active project and keep diesel available throughout the workday.

“We can fill our trailer up at the shop, just like I did this morning, and we’re here at the job site, and it’ll be parked here for the next couple of days, and we keep rolling,” Glisson said.

The time saved is not always measured in one dramatic event.

“If you lose an hour or two due to miscommunication from the fuel not being here, that adds up quick in a given year,” he said.

More Flexibility in the Field

The trailer also helps Glisson reduce some of the smaller logistical issues that can interrupt a job.
With DEF carried alongside diesel, the crew does not have to make separate trips when a machine runs low.

“If you don’t have DEF readily available, every other day you’re going to be hunting for DEF fluid,” Glisson said.

The MTT’s No HAZMAT design also gives the family more flexibility in who can move it. Rather than depending on one designated HAZMAT driver, more members of the team can handle the trailer when jobs or crews split up.

“It’s just much easier to put somebody in a truck not having to have that,” Glisson said. “That way we can split and be able to just pull the trailer and not have to designate a particular driver.”

Kevin also points to the trailer’s construction and ease of use as a noticeable step up from their previous setup. From the way it pulls to the reels and jack system, the details make a difference on a trailer that is regularly moved from one project to another.

“Everything’s just made, you can tell it’s made to last,” he said.

Rethinking the Investment

After roughly a year of use, he said the value has become much clearer than it was when he first dismissed the idea of buying one. He points to the cumulative value of having fuel ready when the crew needs it, reducing unnecessary travel and removing opportunities for fueling delays.

“To me, that’s priceless,” he said. “It’s a big peace of mind. I cannot stress that enough.”

That experience has also changed what he would tell another contractor looking at the price of a purpose-built fuel trailer and wondering whether the investment makes sense.

“I cannot reiterate the safety and the time,” Glisson said. “Those are just the two main things that come to mind.”

For Glisson Land Development, the trailer that once seemed difficult to justify now fits the scale of the business they have built, helping keep fuel close and the crew focused on the job.

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