Inbound Logistics | June 2026

Chemical Logistics: Solving the Equation

Bad actors are more sophisticated, and because the chemical distribution industry plays an important role in delivering essential products, it is a frequent target. ACD’s Responsible Distribution ™ program outlines best practices to ensure members are upholding the highest safety and security standards. BUILDING RESILIENCE AND FORMING PARTNERSHIPS To address these challenges, chemical logistics providers are optimizing resilience, as well as cost. “Cost remains very much part of the chemical logistics equation,” Boyle says. Now, however, reliability is also in the calculation. For example, some chemical companies are adjusting their sources of supply to build in redundancy and mitigate the potential impact of supply chain disruptions. While the chemical logistics industry had a reputation for being slow to adapt or adopt new technology, that’s changing, Boyle says. Technology, including the incorporation of AI, offers compelling opportunities for chemical companies, Braun says. For example, some are using AI to forecast demand more accurately and reduce unnecessary inventory. AI can also make strategic routing recommendations that can help companies avoid disruptions and closures, improving delivery times and lowering fuel consumption, she adds. Another change is the continued shift from a transactional approach to a focus on partnerships between chemical companies and their logistics providers, Jones says. Many chemical rms look to their logistics providers to provide regulations, sustainability, and operational resilience expertise. One reason is heightened scrutiny around compliance and risk management. Many federal, state, and local regulatory ofcials have increased the frequencies of their audits. In addition, many chemical companies are committed to secure operations, product stewardship, and regulatory compliance, and are placing a greater emphasis on

KAG Logistics brings expertise in chemical logistics across all modes of transportation. Each year, the KAG Logistics team moves more than 10 billion gallons of liquid bulk chemicals.

being audit-ready, Jones says. Transportation providers can also be impacted. For instance, California’s Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program includes compliance and reporting requirements for warehouse owners and operators, as well as transportation providers. “You have to be disciplined and ensure you’re keeping records and are audit-ready,” Jones says. Most importantly, logistics providers need to continually monitor regulations for changes. While the challenges confronting the overall chemical sector are real, chemical companies are tackling them. Many are evaluating their networks and distribution nodes to assess the viability of suppliers, the presence of likely back-up options, and their own ability to execute on these options, if necessary. “There’s real value in spending time to gain an understanding of your network and risk prole, and how you can mitigate the risks,” Boyle says. Many chemical manufacturers and distributors also are searching for logistics providers that can offer a range of transportation options. “They’re looking to condense their vendor base to providers that can handle multiple modes and move shipments from start to nish, with a core competency in chemicals,” Yanik says.

The providers highlighted here bring deep experience in moving chemical products across a range of modes, safely, securely and reliably. KAG LOGISTICS: COMBINING EXPERIENCE, PROVEN PROCESSES, AND TECH As manufacturers and distributors in the chemical sector face a growing range of supply chain disruptions and challenges, many have begun looking for logistics providers that can provide value-added services and multimodal transportation options, Yanik says. KAG Logistics brings expertise in chemical logistics across all modes of transportation. Each year, KAG Logistics moves more than 10 billion gallons of liquid bulk chemicals across over-the-road, rail, specialized, and other

transportation modes, he says. The experts at KAG Logistics

understand the challenges chemical companies face and are committed to meeting them with solutions that exceed expectations. In addition to traditional transportation solutions, KAG Logistics offers rail management, transloading services, cross-border solutions, expedite services, and supply chain design, among other value-add services. KAG Logistics offers comprehensive

logistics services for the chemical sector and operates 24/7 and 365

52 Inbound Logistics • June 2026