Inbound Logistics | July 2026

HAZMAT LOGISTICS: HANDLE WITH CARE shipments to the carrier, enforcing the rules so a worker can’t accidentally route a regulated product the wrong way. For added safety, a supervisor reviews every hazmat package before it leaves the facility. “Technology catches a lot, but we still

5. Safeguards Against Contamination Because bulk products directly touch the tanker barrel, operators must carefully consider cross-contamination and previous cargo compatibility. Whatever chemical or material was previously in a tank can compromise whatever is in it next, potentially causing compliance and safety risks. Properly cleaning the tanker between loads is essential. Customers who ship general chemicals with industrial applications might simply state that the trailer must be presented for loading in a “clean, dry, and odor-free” manner, says Ian Reid of Odyssey Logistics. That changes for companies shipping specialty chemicals or products that will be consumed by humans or animals, are for personal care, or have pharmaceutical applications. These shippers often have detailed “preloading” sanitization requirements, which likely include specic prior cargo restrictions. “Getting the trailer properly cleaned is only half the battle. You also must ensure that none of the restricted prior cargos were present in the tanker within the past few loads,” he says. Skimping on these procedures can put the load at risk. “In bulk chemicals, if anything goes wrong, the entire load is gone,” Reid says. 6. Technology to Improve Safety Digital tools can help both shippers and their logistics partners. For example, software can evaluate content descriptions for keywords that identify goods as dangerous. In addition, X-ray and other screening technologies can be used to semi-automate the identication of hidden dangerous goods. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and real-time monitoring systems can monitor product temperature and other conditions to provide early warnings before incidents escalate. Red Stag Fulllment, for example, uses data visualization to track throughput, quality, and compliance in real time. Its leaders can see when speed and accuracy start to diverge. And AI can help nd recurring issues and review data—but classication still depends on properly trained people. 7. Expertise While technology is essential, it doesn’t eliminate experience. At Red Stag, COO Ian Garrett says roles that involve specialized handling of materials require a long qualication path, adding that employees must demonstrate sustained performance on quality, safety, attendance, and cross-functional work before moving into these positions. “Our experienced specialists are the layer that catches things,” he adds. 8. A Commitment to Accuracy For all logistics providers, but especially those that handle dangerous goods, a focus on accuracy is essential. In contrast, many logistics conversations center around speed, such as picks per hour or throughput. “With hazmat, that framing gets you in trouble,” Garrett says. “The operations that scale safely are the ones that measure accuracy rst.”

want trained eyes on it,” says Ship Monk’s Devin Knight. Finally, each shipment carries its product identication, hazard class, quantity, and emergency certications, among other information. “If the paperwork isn’t complete, it doesn’t ship,” Knight says. 2. Emergency Response Capabilities and Regulatory Expertise A carrier might meet regulatory requirements on paper but still lack solid incident-management capabilities, communication protocols, or the ability to effectively coordinate with local emergency-response agencies, says Professor Ginger Ke. Shippers should evaluate the emergency response protocols potential partners have established. 3. Solid Processes for Vetting Carriers Shippers also should understand how their logistics providers vet the carriers they choose. Odyssey Logistics, for example, requires its carrier partners to hold a specic level of insurance, to have an established safety record, and to have worked with bulk chemicals for a specied number of years, among other requirements. 4. Thorough and Ongoing Training The violations most cited by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Ofce of Hazmat Safety center around training, including both a lack of documentation and insufcient training. A strong logistics provider prioritizes thorough, accurate, and ongoing training. Logistics providers should regularly audit their hazmat training efforts to conrm they’re working properly, says safety consultant Ryan Paquet. A job candidate who’s hired into an administrative role, for instance, might not have received training if the job didn’t require handling hazardous materials. However, if the employee shifts to a role that involves hazardous material, they would need training, he notes. Any training should help employees understand not just the relevant regulatory requirements, but the consequences that can occur when mistakes are made with hazardous materials. As such, training should incorporate scenario-based learning, emergency-response awareness, and a practical understanding of the hazards specic to the materials being transported, Ke says. Training should also prepare employees for scenarios that are low-probability but high-consequence, such as delays from emergency response teams. “Given the current global operating environment, transportation resilience and contingency planning are becoming increasingly important components of hazmat logistics management,” Ke says.

134 Inbound Logistics • July 2026