As Vice President of Engineering at the Fruehauf Trailer Corporation his inventions played a major role in containerization.

Fruehauf had been one of the dominant players in building truck bodies and trailers for a long time, and, as already described, had previously innovated in the design and construction of the early commercial semi-trailers.

President Roy Fruehauf was impressed with the idea of containerization, so in addition to manufacturing containers for Sea-Land his company agreed to make the trailer chassis that were needed, and also to provide financing to Sea-Land for the purchase of these containers and chassis.

[3] In the course of his professional career, Tantlinger was granted 79 United States patents, all related to transportation equipment.

[3] In 2010, Tantlinger was awarded the Gibbs Brothers Medal by the National Academy of Sciences for his role in developing the expansion of world trade.