Why Chemical Manufacturers Are Rethinking Their Transportation Strategy
For chemical manufacturers, transportation has never been as simple as putting a shipment on a truck and sending it down the road. Chemical products can require specialized equipment, hazmat-trained drivers, strict documentation, temperature protection, security controls and carefully planned routes. At the same time, manufacturers are dealing with increasingly complex supply chains, changing regulations, tighter delivery requirements and greater expectations for shipment visibility. That is prompting many chemical companies to reconsider how transportation is managed—and whether their current network of carriers, brokers and logistics providers is capable of handling the complexity. Recent activity in the chemical logistics sector illustrates the trend. Chemical companies are increasingly looking toward strategic transportation partners that can coordinate multiple modes and provide greater visibility across their supply chains. One recent example is the movement to...