ABOUT US
United Fuel is a fuel and oil distributor in Central Illinois serving Champaign, Ford, Vermilion and Piatt Counties. We ensure quality, expertise, efficiency and competitive pricing. We carry diesel fuel, bio-diesel fuels, gasohol, racing fuels, kerosene, propane, and full lines of lubricants by Mobil and Champion. Overall, we are just good people to work with!
We were established in 1978 and are still going strong today. When other family-operated fuel companies have sold out to the big corporations, United Fuel still remains local and family oriented.
We’re proud to be Locally and Family owned and operated.
OUR HISTORY
1978 – 1979
Philip and Janet Warner, the owners of United Fuel, purchased their first bulk plant in 1978 in Rantoul. Phil had been working for Gale Heiser, the local Amoco jobber, when Gale decided to sell his Rantoul facility. They made the huge decision to go into business for themselves. They were supplying farmers, construction companies and homeowners with gas, diesel fuel and lubricants.
OUR HISTORY
Eventually, United Fuel expanded into propane as well. When Scott Air Force base converted their base housing to natural gas, Phil and Janet had the opportunity to remove and purchase over 200 propane tanks. This would be the beginning of their LP business. Early in 1980, Phil assembled a small group of local men and they spent the summer in Belleville, IL digging up all of the tanks and transporting them to their plant in Rantoul.
OUR HISTORY
During the 1980’s and 90’s Philip and Janet purchased several other local oil companies: Werts Oil in Sidney, Osterbur Oil out of Fithian, St. Joe Oil in St. Joseph and Magee Oil in the Hoopeston area. In 1985 they merged with Parker Oil from Mahomet and their respective companies formed United Fuel. They bought out Mr. Parker’s interest in 1991. As a result of these acquisitions, United Fuel now has four bulk plants: Rantoul, Urbana, Mahomet, Philo.
OUR HISTORY
During the late 1990’s United Fuel purchased c-stores and branched out into the retail side of the fuel industry. At one time, United Fuel was operating four c-stores in Piatt, Champaign and Vermillion Counties. However, by 2002 United Fuel made the decision to get out of the gas station business.
OUR HISTORY
Today, United Fuel is mainly focused on their tank wagon and lubes/oil business. We supply farmers and home heating customers as far east as the Indiana border, Ford, Champaign, Vermillion and Piatt counties. Our Urbana facility has an extensive business that supplies all of the contractors who are busy developing Champaign County. 2008 marked the 30th year of business for United Fuel.
Janet has worked with Philip in the company since they made their first purchase in 1978. As the business grew, she oversaw all of the bookkeeping functions and was responsible for United Fuel going from paper to computer transactions twenty years ago. She, too, is involved in many civic activities including being a Vice President of the Rantoul Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chairman for the Workforce Development Board and Youth Council for Champaign County.
our Staff
Shelley Warner-Craft, is the CFO for United Fuel. She has been with the company since 1996. She is a CPA, a graduate of Illinois State University and received her Master’s Degree in International Finance from the American Graduate School of International Management in Arizona. Shelley is based at United Fuel’s Rantoul office where she and Janet run the bookkeeping and financial operations of the company. She and her husband, Garett, live outside of Rantoul with their three children – Caruso, Clementine and Cabott.
George Washington
Fuel Transportation
George has been with United Fuel since May of 2022, delivering fuel to surrounding counties like Vermilion county, Piatt county, & Champaign County. He graduated top of his class in the fall of 2022 from the Parkland College Driver’s Training Course. He has his CDL license with a Haz Mat certification. He won the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year Award in 2022. He is the Head Women’s Track Coach, and Head Men’s and Women’s Sprints Jumps Coach. He is also an RTHS graduate. His full name is George Albert Washington IV. He is also the founder and head coach for the Rantoul Rockets Youth Track Team. It is an AAU travel track club, and they have competed in 3 different Junior Olympics competitions.
Caleb Gossett
Fuel Transportation
Caleb joined the United Fuel family in June 2024 after serving 9 years in the US Army. During his time in the military, Caleb gained extensive experience in delivering jet fuels to aircraft in austere environments around the globe, including combat deployments to Iraq and the Horn of Africa. He holds a Class A CDL w/ HAZMAT endorsement and serves as one of our delivery drivers, eagerly meeting the bulk fuel and oil needs of United Fuel customers across East Central Illinois. Caleb is the current varsity golf and basketball coach at Armstrong Township High School. Go Trojans!
Poppy the Pup
Poppy the Pup is responsible for the warehouse and ensuring the safe and efficient receipt, storage and dispatch of warehoused goods. He enjoys lounging and sitting on warm things such as keyboards and laps.
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