When Brian Haymon founded Loadstar at 57, he was not interested in building a second version of the company he had just left. Instead, he saw an opportunity to create a company designed to move faster, innovate more freely and operate without the constraints that often come with large corporate structures.
Haymon’s path to entrepreneurship was built on decades of industry experience. In 1952, his father founded what would become the nation’s first barge tankerman service while working on the docks of Standard Oil in Baton Rouge. Over time, that business — Petroleum Service Corp. — grew into a respected name across the industrial sector. Haymon spent summers working there while in college and law school before eventually returning to Louisiana in 1990 to work alongside his family.
Following the sale of the family business in 2004, Haymon continued leading the organization for another 13 years, including 11 years as CEO. But over time, he began to see both a market gap and an opportunity to do things differently. That realization ultimately led him to start Loadstar.
“I felt very strongly that this journey would be one of discovery,” Haymon said. “Technology and innovation were needed in our line of work, and I wanted Loadstar to be a leader in that space.”
Haymon officially launched Loadstar Product Handling Services in 2017, though the company did not hire its first employee until August 2019 due to a noncompete agreement. Early plans to begin operations in March 2020 were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the start date to February 2021. During that time, Haymon focused on building the company’s foundation, developing training manuals, safety procedures and a detailed business plan designed around innovation.
The name Loadstar itself reflects that vision. Derived from the word “lodestar,” a guiding star historically used by mariners for navigation, the name represents discovery and forward momentum.
“It’s all about pointing to the future,” Haymon said. “That’s what we’re about.”
Innovation remains central to Loadstar’s approach. In 2022, the company partnered with a California-based software firm to develop a virtual reality training program that allows trainees to practice loading in a simulated industrial environment before ever stepping onto a job site. While hands-on training remains essential, the VR system helps employees arrive on site better prepared and safer from day one.
Loadstar also worked with Baton Rouge-based software company Envoc to develop Aegis, a proprietary cloud-based logistics and fleet management platform designed specifically for tankerman services, terminal operations and barge fleeting. More recently, the company partnered with DisruptREADY to integrate artificial intelligence into its safety program, allowing AI to analyze safety data, identify training gaps and proactively notify supervisors when additional instruction is needed.
That focus on innovation and local partnerships has helped Loadstar earn recognition across Louisiana’s industrial community. The company is an active member of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance and continues to emphasize hiring employees who reflect the communities where it operates.
Over the past several years, Loadstar has steadily expanded its footprint. The company launched tankerman services in Houston in 2021 and opened operations in Corpus Christi soon after. Additional expansion into new regions is expected in the coming years.
Along the way, Loadstar also earned the Certified Evergreen designation — recognition for companies committed to long-term, privately held ownership and sustainable growth.
But for Haymon, the ultimate goal goes far beyond growth or recognition.
“I don’t want Loadstar to be just another industrial contractor,” he said. “I want our employees to experience the greater good that comes from doing something bigger than themselves.”
That sense of purpose continues to guide the company’s culture as Loadstar grows, building a mission-driven organization committed to innovation, safety and opportunity for the people who power it every day.
