4 Essential Qualities of a Top-Tier Chemical Logistics Provider

Between 2020 and 2024, the chemical logistics market is projected to grow by $24.7 billion. As demands increase, so do the number of companies who claim to be able to handle your chemical logistics needs. Chemical logistics is different from regular logistics. With unique HAZMAT requirements, permits, regional and regulatory knowledge, and industry expertise. To effectively tackle these challenges, you have to have an experienced chemical logistics specialist in your corner.

To help you find the right industry partner, we’re looking at 4 essential qualities of a top-tier chemical logistics provider. 

1. A Reputation in the Chemical Transportation Space

Any logistics company can list “chemical transportation” as a bullet on their list of services, however, take some time to read about their chemical logistics claims. Do they have online reviews, or have they been written about in any industry newsletters? Have they published any whitepapers, case studies, or blogs that go into detail about how they serve the unique needs of chemical shippers? The best chemical logistics specialists will have a name in the space and can provide details about how they serve the unique needs of the chemical industry.

2. Integrated 4PL & Managed Transportation

Logistics is a complicated industry with lots of moving parts that need to align, often in the form of multiple modes and carriers coming together to haul one load to its destination. Chemical freight further complicates things with differing regional regulations and compliance issues. Top-tier chemical logistics providers can handle all of it under one roof with a single point of contact and a la carte services. Integrated 4PL and managed transportation solutions enable chemical logistics specialists to improve supply chain efficiency, gain network visibility, and infuse transparency into your operations, all while reducing administrative needs and headaches on your end. For more on managed transportation, check out our blog, 4 Benefits of 4PL and Managed Transportation.

3. Reliance on Big Data and Analytics

When it comes to transporting chemicals, the fewer miles, the better to minimize HAZMAT risks. To ensure your chemical freight is always on the safest, optimal route, your chemical logistics provider needs to be doing everything possible to reduce miles and time on the road. Industry leaders use big data and advanced transportation analytics tools to do just that. Tools such as CLX Gravity bring decades worth of data to the table to help logistics planners make informed decisions regarding:

  • Routing
  • Optimizing bids
  • Optimizing performance
  • Measuring KPIs
  • Reducing risk

4. Experience Handling Different HAZMAT Classes

Transportation of chemicals comes with significant risks and regulations. With hazardous materials regulations frequently changing around the world, your chemical logistics partner must be certified to handle all the different classes of chemicals, including:

  • Explosives
  • Gases
  • Flammable liquids
  • Flammable solids
  • Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
  • Toxic and infectious substances
  • Radioactive substances
  • Corrosive substances
  • Miscellaneous hazardous materials (asbestos, dry ice, noxious substances)

Advanced compliance solutions are available through products such as CLX ChemLogix. Check out this infographic to see how CLX ChemLogix helps answer common chemical logistics challenges around regulatory management, compliance monitoring, and maintenance.

Talk to a Dedicated Chemical Logistics Specialist

It’s clear that chemical shippers need logistics specialists with a heightened level of industry expertise and access to market-leading data, superior supply chain analytics, and a suite of managed services to suit any situation. The more you can verify a potential logistics partner’s history, reputation, and experience through articles, reviews, and self-published content, the more your company will be poised for chemical supply chain success.

Contact CLX Logistics to speak with a chemical logistics specialist about your current situation, and let us help plan, develop, and manage your next-generation chem

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