Safety is a crucial concern for any shipper. For hazmat shipments? It’s the concern.
If your business is looking for a hazmat trucking company to partner with, it’s essential to ensure that you’re dealing with the real deal. However, with so many logistics firms, 3PLs, and freight brokers and agents on the market, it can be tough to compare the services offered.
This article will discuss the top features when choosing a hazmat trucking company for your business. That way, you can keep doing what you do best – running your business – safe in knowing your shipments are being taken care of.
Top features to consider when choosing hazmat trucking companies
Hazmat trucking companies provide the secure transportation of hazardous and flammable materials. A hazmat load could be a hazardous gas or liquid, radioactive material, poison, or waste material – all loads that need handling with extreme care.
Experience in hazmat transportation
The first factor to consider when choosing a hazmat trucking company to partner with is the company’s experience in hazmat trucking specifically.
A generic logistics company may be able to provide a fantastic service for non-hazardous loads. Still, it’s likely best to look elsewhere if they don’t work with certified hazmat carriers.
To consider the experience of a trucking company, you can look at factors such as how many years they’ve been operating, how many loads they carry, their certifications, overall reputation, and client testimonials.
It’s always well worth discussing your hazmat logistics needs with a trucking company to ensure they can cater to the type and volume of material you need to transport.
Up-to-date safety credentials
When choosing a hazmat trucking company, the second factor to consider is its safety credentials.
Not all trucking companies require their carriers to be hazmat certified. Thankfully, every carrier associated with Landstar must hold up-to-date hazmat certification before being cleared to transport a hazmat load.
In addition to safety credentials being in place, you’ll also want to ensure that these are up to date. Best practices around the safest transportation of hazmat materials are continually evolving. A hazmat trucking company that prioritizes staying up to date with these developments will likely provide the safety you need for a hazmat shipment.
A reliable hazmat trucking company will typically be more than happy to talk you through their safety protocols before, during, and post-transit to help put your mind at rest.
Capacity for hazardous material types
The third factor to consider when choosing a hazmat trucking company to partner with is its capacity to meet your company’s specific hazmat transportation needs.
Not all hazmat trucking companies can ship all types of hazardous material – some will specialize in a given class of material or cater to a few.
There are nine classes of hazardous materials, each with specific logistics requirements to consider:
- Class 1: Explosives
- Class 2: Gases
- Class 3: Flammable liquids
- Class 4: Flammable solids
- Class 5: Oxidizing substances/organic peroxides
- Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
- Class 7: Radioactive substances
- Class 8: Corrosive materials
- Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials
As you assess whether a hazmat company can meet your needs, consider which hazardous materials you ship now and those you might need to ship in the future. This will allow you to stick with the same hazmat company for all shipments rather than splitting loads between multiple companies.
Similarly, it’s essential to consider whether the hazmat trucking company you’re considering can also cater to the volume, frequency, and location of shipments that your company requires.
Discernment around accepting hazmat shipments
The final factor to consider when choosing a hazmat trucking company is their process for accepting hazmat shipments to transport.
It might seem counterintuitive to opt for a picky company about which shipments they’re willing to transport. Still, a quality hazmat company will opt only to accept safe and legal shipments.
Ensuring each shipment that is transported is safe helps minimize the risk of potential harm, compliance issues, or legal violations. Non-compliant shipments are a liability, and all transported loads should comply with the Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.
The act extensively outlines all federal requirements for the transportation of hazmat materials and details the responsibilities of hazmat carriers.
Safety-first hazmat trucking services from Jansson
If the four factors detailed in this article have left you wondering if your hazmat trucking company of choice might not be entirely up to scratch, then Jansson is here to help.
Here at Jansson, we offer safety-first logistics services, including specialized hazmat transportation, to shippers needing a service they can rely on.
As an independent agent of Landstar, Jansson has access to an extensive network of certified hazmat carriers that can transport hazmat shipments in classes 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9.
Strict compliance and safety requirements ensure that safety remains the top priority in hazmat transportation – from arranging a suitable carrier to arrival at your final destination.
Leveraging over a decade of experience in the logistics industry and a comprehensive understanding of hazmat-specific shipping concerns, Jansson is here to provide custom hazmat solutions for the 21st century.
To discuss your hazmat shipping needs with a team member, or to request a free quote, reach out to Jansson today!
