MUSCATINE, Iowa–41 years ago, Mike Riggan opened TanTara Transportation. The founder of Riggan Feed & Grain in Lone Tree, Mike Riggan wanted a new opportunity for himself and his family after the farm economy hit a downturn. Since 1981, Tan Tara has grown tremendously, expanding from just offering tanker carrier services to transporting goods via dry vans, flatbeds, and refrigerated trucks. In just the last 10 years, the business has doubled in size, and David Riggan hopes to see it double again within the next four years. To accommodate this expansion and plans for future growth, TanTara will add a 7,500 square foot addition to their current location at 2420 Steward Road in Muscatine and will renovate their existing 10,000 square foot facility.

Once the addition goes into service, TanTara will have more drive through bays and pits. This will allow for more technicians to work at the same time and still have more space than they did previously. It will also allow TanTara to offer faster repairs and service. The new addition will also include a safety lane, where a full-time safety employee will inspect each vehicle that comes to the facility, review its compliance paperwork, and meet with its driver to ensure that every vehicle that leaves the facility can hit the road safely.

After finishing the new addition, TanTara will overhaul its existing facilities. This modernization will relocate the service manager’s office, tool room, parts room, and other vital facilities so that TanTara’s growing staff can easily access them. David Riggan believes this update will prove extremely beneficial for everyone working at TanTara. “I am really looking forward to getting things and people in the right place where they can operate more efficiently and comfortably,” he said.

Since 1981, the Riggan family has truly felt at home in Muscatine County and has made a conscious effort to remain here, even when business opportunities could have allowed them to go elsewhere. “Relationships have allowed us to continue to be here and grow to being the largest trucking company in Muscatine County,” David Riggan shared. “For many reasons we could have considered building this shop along the interstate; we didn’t. Over the years, we’ve acquired other trucking companies outside of Muscatine and relocated them here upon acquisition. Muscatine is home. There will come a day when we have to open a terminal outside of the Pearl City, but the parent company and mothership will always remain right here on Stewart Road.”

Part of the support TanTara has received over the years has come from the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which TanTara has belonged to since 1997. Since the spring, David Riggan has felt particularly inspired by Gage Huston’s leadership as board chair and hopes to see the Chamber continue to innovate and make positive changes in Muscatine County. He remarked, “In the short time Gage has been chairman, I’ve become very optimistic about the chamber’s future and purpose.”