Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider (3PL), is proud to announce its recognition as a Green Supply Chain Partner for 2024 by Inbound Logistics. This prestigious accolade highlights Trinity’s commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly logistics practices. 

Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select 75 Green Supply Chain Partners, otherwise known as the G75, that go above and beyond in their efforts to improve supply chain sustainability. These companies demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to environmental responsibility and are selected based on their initiatives to reduce their impact, improve efficiency, and overall promote a more sustainable future. 

Trinity has a long history of implementing innovative solutions to minimize its environmental footprint including:

• Reducing emissions with an Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership
• Practicing chemical safety as a member of Responsible CareⓇ
• Offsetting carbon emissions by collaborating with ClimeCo 
• Making sustainable choices in Trinity’s owned offices
• Offering environmentally friendly transportation options, like intermodal

“At Trinity, we’ve always believed in doing the right thing,” said Kristin Deno, Director of Operational Risk at Trinity Logistics. “Being so exclusively recognized for our sustainability efforts is a true testament to our focus in this area. This recognition provides additional drive for us to continue improving practices to support building a greener future.”

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 45 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized as a Top 100 3PL by Inbound Logistics, and as a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

At Trinity Logistics, we’ve always believed in doing the right thing. That concept is foundational and woven into the fabric of our company culture, from the services we provide to the impact we aim to make on the world around us. Being sustainable is an important focus for the company. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, so our sustainability initiatives are no afterthought.

Logistics Environmental Sustainability

The United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Our company takes that message to heart. We recognize the critical part we play in taking care of our communities, making a positive impact, and reducing our environmental footprint. We want to leave a positive legacy behind that extends beyond our logistics services. This includes our part in taking care of our environment and the communities we touch.

Here’s a glimpse into how we take action to be sustainable.

Paving the Way to Less Emissions with SmartWay

The SmartWay program by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps companies improve supply chain sustainability and reduce transportation emissions by providing a system to track fuel and emissions so companies can select more efficient carriers and logistics strategies.

Trinity invested in a SmartWay partnership in 2008, making this our earliest sustainability initiative. This partnership enables us to access and build relationships with SmartWay-certified carriers that commit to tracking and minimizing their emissions. We’re able to leverage that network, empowering our shipper relationships to make sustainable choices by using these SmartWay-certified carriers whenever possible.

Chemical Safety with Responsible CareⓇ

Responsible CareⓇ is the chemical industry’s environmental, health, safety, and security initiative, hosted by the American Chemical Council.

Since 2009, Trinity has been a proud member of Responsible CareⓇ. Some of the ways we take this sustainability initiative into action include;

• carrying pollution liability coverage to cover costs associated with pollution clean-up or other pollution-related liability claims;
• stringent carrier vetting to select the right carrier with the right requirements, like being hazmat-certified;
• ongoing required Team Member training to maintain knowledge of proper procedures, especially regarding chemical transportation.

Offsetting Carbon Footprint in Logistics with ClimeCo

ClimeCo is a non-profit organization that helps companies offset their emissions by donating funds towards sustainable projects.

Trinity Logistics understands that climate change is a pressing issue, so we’re committed to doing our part. In 2022, we began collaborating with Carbonfund, now known as ClimeCo. At the end of each fiscal year, we calculate the electricity usage of our owned facilities. With that calculation, ClimeCo helps us identify sustainable projects to donate to and offset the emissions we produced that year.

We’ve already made a difference by contributing to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project and N20 Abatement Project. In 2022 alone, we offset 143 tonnes of carbon emissions, and in 2023, we mitigated another offset of 90 tonnes. That’s a win for the environment and a win for future generations.  

Building Sustainability in Our Offices

Sustainability isn’t only about grand gestures; it’s about the everyday choices we make. That’s why we seek out sustainable practices within our own facilities.

We offer convenient battery recycling through a partnered vendor, ensuring they’re disposed of responsibly. We also ensure any used paint gets recycled instead of ending up in landfills.

We offer multi-stream recycling to our Team Members as well. Each Team Member has their own container to recycle any paper documents, while a large bin outside collects glass and recyclable plastics. Knowledge is power, so we educate our Team Members on proper recycling practices, too.

Our Facilities Team also aims to make sustainable purchases as often as possible. They’ve already converted any lighting in our owned offices to energy-efficient LEDs. They also focus on purchasing eco-friendly supplies that are compostable and certified sustainable. For example, they buy compostable paper plates and takeout containers for our weekly lunches.

Recognizing the Power of Remote Work for A Cleaner Environment

We recognize the many benefits of remote work. It fosters a vibrant company culture, empowers our Team Members with greater flexibility, and contributes to a greener future. By embracing remote and hybrid work positions, we help reduce emissions from daily commutes and cut our office space requirements.

Currently, around 50 percent of our positions offer remote or hybrid options, allowing our Team Members to focus on time with their families, contribute to their communities, and be part of this impactful sustainability initiative.  

Empowering Shippers with Sustainability

For Trinity, sustainability is about more than our own initiatives. It’s also about helping our relationships find sustainable options in their supply chains.

For each shipment, we’re able to offer guidance on the most efficient transportation modes available. We offer regular business reviews to analyze our shipper relationship’s unique logistics profiles to find and suggest efficiencies. Our Team also works closely with shippers and carriers to tackle deadheading, a large contributor to carbon in the trucking industry.

Additionally, we’re always looking to explore new ways to push the sustainability envelope for our relationships. Currently, we’re looking into platforms that can help us provide our shipper relationships an extra avenue to offset their carbon emissions, too, like Patch.io.

Ecovadis – Recognition of Trinity’s Commitment to Sustainability

EcoVadis, a trusted and globally recognized provider of business sustainability ratings, recognizes our dedication. In 2023, they awarded us a bronze medal, placing us within the top 50 percent of companies assessed. While we acknowledge this is a significant achievement, at Trinity, we aim to continuously improve. Our sights are set on achieving a silver rating in 2024, reflecting our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

The Trinity Logistics Difference

As our mission statement says, we’re dedicated to “improving lives and supply chains by solving tough problems.” Sustainability is undeniably a complicated challenge. The good news is that our passionate Team Members at Trinity Logistics thrive on tackling tough problems and overcoming obstacles. We’re relentless in our pursuit of solutions, and we won’t stop until we’re satisfied with the results.

We understand sustainability is a never-ending journey of improvement. That’s why you can count on Trinity Logistics to remain a leader in sustainable practices. We’re constantly expanding our sustainability initiatives and deepening our commitment to a greener future.

Our dedication to sustainability is just one facet of the Trinity difference. If this is how seriously we take environmental responsibility, imagine the level of commitment we bring to solving your logistics challenges.

Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is proud to share that the company has received a bronze sustainability rating by EcoVadis. 

EcoVadis is a trusted and globally recognized provider of business sustainability ratings and insights. Over 1,000 enterprises rely on EcoVadis to assess and manage sustainability practices within their supply chain. EcoVadis measures the sustainability management system of a company through 21 criteria focused on its four key performance areas of Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainability Procurement.

The assessment includes a questionnaire completed by the company assessed and an expert analysis by EcoVadis. A bronze rating is given to companies that place within the top 50 percent of all companies assessed. In addition, the company must meet the following requirements:

• Cannot operate in the manufacturing of tobacco products, weapons, ammunition, or the mining of coal and lignite
• Cannot have any severe findings
• Cannot have one or more major findings in two or more performance areas
• Cannot have five major findings in any single performance area
• Cannot have 25 minor findings in any single performance area
• Cannot have two or more performance areas with at least five minor findings in each

“The rigorous EcoVadis assessment called for documented proof of processes, actions taken, and additional forms of backup to score Trinity Logistics’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles,” said Kristin Deno, Director of Operation Risk at Trinity Logistics. “EcoVadis allows us to maintain a strict level of accountability to our Team Members, stakeholders, and the world at large. The scorecard shows where we sit currently, but more importantly, it provides an opportunity to highlight areas where we can continue and even expand efforts on our path to sustainability.”

Sustainability is something Trinity has always taken very seriously. Since 2008, Trinity Logistics has participated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Smartway Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that is caused by freight transportation. Trinity has also been partners with the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention. Additionally, Trinity recently became a Carbonfree Partner® with Carbon Fund to become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset emissions. 

“We are honored to be awarded a bronze medal and be ranked among the top 50 percent of companies in sustainability by EcoVadis,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “Doing the right thing has always been foundational to Trinity’s culture, and that includes our part in sustainability. We know it is a never-ending journey of continuous improvement and we look forward to making even more progress as we work towards next year’s assessment.”

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve.   

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.  

We are currently recognized as a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, a Top Freight Brokerage Firm by Transport Topics, and a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2023 by Inbound Logistics.  

SEAFORD, DE, June 16, 2023 – Trinity Logistics, a leading 3PL provider of transportation and logistics solutions, is proud to share its selection as a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2023 by Inbound Logistics. This recognition showcases Trinity’s commitment to sustainability and its efforts to reduce its environmental impact. 

“We’re honored to be recognized by Inbound Logistics for our commitment to sustainability,” said Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “We believe that improving our sustainability is the right thing to do, so we’re always looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact in all aspects of our business.”

Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select 75 companies that go above and beyond to prioritize green initiatives and help global supply chains become more sustainable. Inbound Logistics recognizes these companies as dedicated to developing and implementing best practices to leave a positive footprint on the world. 

Trinity has a long history of sustainability initiatives. In 2008, the company became a member of EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary program that helps companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from freight transportation. Trinity has also been a member of the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible CareⓇ program since 2009. Responsible CareⓇ is a global initiative that promotes the responsible management of chemicals and their safe use. The program also helps companies improve their environmental performance in areas such as pollution prevention, employee health and safety, and security. 

Just last year, Trinity became a CarbonfreeⓇ Partner with CarbonFund, a non-profit that works with its partners to help them become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset their emissions. This year, Trinity expanded its efforts to not only offset the corporate location in Delaware but included the Iowa and Florida offices as well. This year, the company offset 90 tonnes of carbon emissions by donating to the N20 Abatement Project. 

Trinity is proud to be named a leader in the green supply chain space and remains committed to making a positive impact on the environment in all ways possible. 

These common mistakes when shipping hazardous materials can end up costing your business a lot of money.

Shipping hazardous materials have very little room for mistakes but very large consequences if done incorrectly. Mistakes when shipping hazmat materials can cause injury, damage to property, or endanger lives, so hazmat shipping should always be handled with tremendous caution.

Safe hazmat shipping is possible but requires diligence, communication, and attention to detail.

These are the most common mistakes companies make when shipping hazardous materials.

• FAILING TO LABEL AND DECLARE GOODS PROPERLY
• NOT ACCOUNTING FOR DIFFERENCES IN MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
• LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR EACH SUBSTANCE
• ASSUMING GOODS AREN’T HAZARDOUS
• LETTING UNTRAINED EMPLOYEES HANDLE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
• NOT FOLLOWING EXACT INSTRUCTIONS FOR PACKAGING BY THE MANUFACTURER
• THINKING ANY MISTAKES WILL BE OVERLOOKED

DEFINITION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS/DANGEROUS GOODS

First, let’s clarify what hazardous materials or dangerous goods are.

Many think of hazardous materials as things like explosives, gasoline, or acids. Yet, many common goods are hazardous when shipped, such as aerosol sprays, nail polish, alcohol, paint, dry ice, or cosmetics. Any substance or material that can pose a risk to health, safety, or property is a hazardous material or dangerous good.

SHIPPING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS VIOLATIONS

Hazmat safety regulations exist to keep people, property, and the environment safe. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) handle these regulations.

One reason you don’t want to make any hazardous shipping mistakes? Violations. Currently, hazmat regulation penalties are:

• Maximum civil penalty violation is $84,424 per day, per violation,
• Maximum civil penalty violation that results in death, serious illness, severe injury, or large destruction of property is $196,992 per day, per violation,
• Civil penalty for a violation of hazardous training is $508 per employee, per day.

HAZARDOUS SHIPPING MISTAKE EXAMPLES

Many companies have made hazardous shipping mistakes. Here are some true scenarios. 

Example 1: Online Retailer

Fined $91,000

An online retailer shipped a package by air containing flammable liquid adhesive. The motor carrier discovered the product leaking from its container. The online retailer offered the shipment, not including the required shipping papers or emergency response information. The freight’s packaging was incorrect and not marked or labeled as required. Nor were the company’s employees trained in handling hazmat packages for shipment by air.

Example 2: Chemical Company

Fined $325,000

On two separate occasions, a chemical company shipped undeclared hazardous material that is illegal to transport by air. The chemical company allegedly shipped pints of acrolein, which can become explosive when combined with air. Neither shipment had the required shipping papers or emergency response information. Additionally, one of the shipments was not marked, labeled, or packaged as required. Employee training was also found to be non-compliant.

Example 3: Flooring Company

Fined $63,000

A flooring company shipped a package of hazardous freight. The motor carrier found a package leaking. The flooring company did not provide the required shipping papers or emergency response information, nor did they mark, label, or package the shipment as required. Additionally, employees were not trained to handle hazardous materials.

COMMON HAZMAT SHIPPING MISTAKES

Failing to Label and Declare Goods Properly

Failing to label and declare hazardous goods is one of the most common shipping mistakes. Transparency is critical at every level to ship hazardous materials without mistakes.

All hazardous freight must have the proper UN hazmat labels or hazmat placards to identify their contents. Shippers must also disclose the information on the shipper’s declaration form.

Failing to properly mark, label, and declare your hazardous materials keeps employees from knowing what kind of materials they are handling, which hazard class they belong to, and what kind of precautionary measures they need to take. In the end, improper labeling and declaration can be an endangerment.

Not Accounting for Differences in Modes of Transportation

Regulations on certain hazardous goods and packaging methods can vary based on which mode they’re shipped with.

Take dry ice as an example. It has different regulations when shipped by ground than when by air. Another example is magnetized material. It’s only subjected to regulation restrictions when transported by air due to the interference it can cause to aircraft instruments.

That’s why it’s important to confirm the mode of transportation when shipping hazardous materials before packing, marking, labeling, and documenting everything. This way, you and your logistics provider know the exact shipping requirements needed.

Lack of Familiarity with Specific Regulations for Each Substance

The USDOT provides detailed tables of hazardous materials and their specific regulations for each classification. This includes specific information such as what packaging to use or transportation modes to ship. It’s your company’s responsibility to be knowledgeable and familiar with those regulations. Even still, ignorance of these regulations is a common mistake when shipping hazardous materials.

Assuming Goods Aren’t Hazardous

There are many materials that the average person wouldn’t think of as hazardous. Assuming goods aren’t hazardous materials when they are is a common mistake that happens when employees aren’t properly trained on hazmat and dangerous goods. As a result, they lack the required knowledge to differentiate what is and isn’t hazardous. This risks transporting hazardous material without being packaged, labeled, and communicated in the correct manner.

This mistake has the potential to cause catastrophic consequences depending on the product, the transportation mode, and several other factors. Ensure your employees are trained and when in doubt, don’t assume. Take the extra time to research the material if needed and follow hazardous protocol when applicable.

Some common items that are assumed to be non-hazardous are:

• Magnetized materials
• Lithium batteries
• Contaminated medical equipment
• Dry ice
• Aerosols
• Equipment with gas cartridges or compressed air
• Genetically modified organisms

Letting Untrained Employees Handle Hazardous Materials

What’s the easiest and most important way to avoid hazardous material shipping mistakes? Make sure your employees are trained in hazmat shipping.

Many of these mistakes happen due to untrained employees handling hazmat shipments. Therefore, employees need to undergo formal training and show competence under supervision before handling hazardous goods on their own. Additionally, employees should frequently be reeducated to stay keen on hazmat shipping requirements.

Not Following Exact Instructions for Packaging by the Manufacturer

Hazardous material packaging is designed to meet regulatory requirements. Many hazmat packaging manufacturers will include detailed instructions on how to use their packaging for safe and compliant shipping. It’s important that employees have access to these instructions and understand them completely.

Thinking Any Mistakes Will be Overlooked

It can be easy to think your business won’t get caught with a hazmat shipping violation. Yet, as noted by the examples above, it can and does happen. As the U.S. government remains vigilant in cracking down on hazmat shipping violations, fines continue to increase, making it even more financially smart to stay compliant. Not to mention that those violations can cause harm to the environment or people. No matter what, risking a hazmat shipping violation is never worth it.

AVOID HAZARDOUS SHIPPING MISTAKES WITH AN EXPERT

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but when it comes to shipping hazardous materials, it’s crucial to do all you can to reduce them. Now that you know the most common mistakes when shipping hazmat, you can be more aware of avoiding them.

An easy way to help stay compliant when shipping hazardous materials is partnering with an expert knowledgeable in its regulations, like Trinity Logistics. We’ve been in the business of arranging hazardous shipments in several modes for over 40 years. We’ve also been Responsible Care certified since 2009.

If you’re looking for a reliable partner to help you with shipping your hazardous materials, consider Trinity Logistics. We can help take the guesswork out of keeping your hazmat shipments compliant.

Inbound Logistics has named Trinity Logistics as a Green Supply Chain Partner of 2022.  

Inbound Logistics selected 75 honorees that “walk the walk” when it comes to commitment to supply chain sustainability and given the global environment this year, Trinity Logistics is very honored to have been selected.

Sustainability is something Trinity has always taken very seriously. Since 2008, Trinity Logistics has participated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that is caused by freight transportation. Trinity has also been partners with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention. 

With one of Trinity’s Guiding Values being Continuous Improvement, the company knows there is always room for improvement, even in sustainability efforts. That’s why Trinity recently become a Carbonfree Partner with Carbon Fund. 

The Carbonfund.org Foundation is a non-profit that works with its partners to help them become “carbon-neutral” by donating funds to offset their emissions. Donated funds go toward third-party validated projects that comply with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With the help of Carbonfund.org, Trinity was able to calculate electricity usage in its corporate Delaware location and donate funds to the Carbonfund.org Foundation to offset the company’s own emissions by planting trees and funds sent to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project. Thanks to the Carbonfund.org Foundation, Trinity was able to offset 143 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Additionally, Trinity is working with the EPA and Carbonfund.org Foundation to create a calculated way that our shipper customers can donate to offset their shipment’s emissions and make a difference as well. 

“As many companies shift focus to clean energy and reducing carbon footprints, Trinity is excited for our new partnership with the Carbonfund.org Foundation and our continued partnerships with American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Management System and EPA’s SmartWay Program to support our customer efforts in going green,” says Kristin Deno, Director of Operational Risk at Trinity.

Trinity is grateful to be recognized for its continued sustainability efforts. Trinity stays determined to find and implement impactful ways to help combat climate change and hopefully soon, can offer more ways for shipper customers to make a direct impact too. 

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only magazine in the supply chain industry covering the entire global supply chain, has selected Trinity Logistics as a recipient of the SDCE Green Supply Chain Award for 2020.  

The Green Supply Chain Award recognizes companies making green or sustainability a core part of their supply chain strategy and are working to achieve measurable sustainability goals within their own operations and supply chains. The award also recognizes providers of supply chain solutions and services assisting their customers in achieving measurable sustainability goals.

“This year’s 13th-annual award recognizes small, mid-size and large enterprises that leveraged green practices and solutions to further drive sustainable improvements in their supply chain,” says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. 

“From software solutions to transportation management systems to several other initiatives designed to reduce carbon footprint and improve the re-use of materials, sustainability continues to rank as a key component to a stronger, safer and more efficient supply chain.”

Some of the initiatives that landed Trinity’s award are our SmartWay partnership program, Responsible Care Partnership, and offering intermodal as a mode for freight transportation. 

Since 2008, Trinity has proudly participated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program, a federal initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that is created by freight transportation. 

Since 2009, Trinity has been a part of the Responsible Care Partnership with a commitment to not only ensure the safe arrangement of chemical shipments, but improve company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, employee health and safety, pollution prevention, and process and product safety. 

At Trinity, we have an entire Team dedicated to arranging intermodal or rail shipments. We often encourage our customers this alternative and more eco-friendly mode of freight transportation whenever possible.

Trinity Logistics is honored to receive the Green Supply Chain Award for 2020, making it another reason we are proud to be a part of Team Trinity. We realize the transportation industry holds a heavy responsibility in our planet’s health and look forward to continuing our commitment to our sustainability initiatives while keeping our company’s carbon footprint low.

Trinity Logistics is always looking to grow our company, our brand presence, and most importantly, our knowledge within our focus industries; chemical being one of them. We find being involved with industry associations helps keep us in tune with current challenges our customers may be facing while giving us new opportunities to connect. Recently, we came across NACD and thought it a perfect fit for Trinity.

What Is NACD?

NACD stands for the National Association of Chemical Distributors. It is an international association, established in 1971. It is made up of chemical distributors (called members) and their supply-chain partners (affiliates), like Trinity Logistics.

There are nearly 450 member and affiliate companies of NACD. They represent more than 85% of the chemical distribution capacity in the nation and 90% of the industry’s gross revenue.

Why It’s A Great Organization For Chemical Manufacturers

Becoming an NACD member provides many benefits to chemical manufacturers. You gain access to educational programs, important industry data, and networking with current or potential customers and supply chain partners. You also gain access to their list of “Responsible Distributors”, which can help you ensure your products are handled safely throughout the supply chain.

What Is Responsible Distribution?

In 1991, members of NACD created Responsible Distribution. Responsible Distribution is a mandatory third-party verified environmental, health, safety, and security program. It lets their members show their commitment to improvement in all phases of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal.

Why NACD Made Sense For Trinity

As a supply chain partner and service provider, we are always looking for ways to better support our customers. We also want to continue learning and growing while networking. Striving to be our best is just something Trinity does.

NACD fits those objectives while aligning with our company culture. Learning about their Responsible Distribution program further solidified our decision to join. Since Trinity has been Responsible Care certified since 2009, gaining the opportunity to connect with like-minded companies that keep to similar standards of improvement made sense.

We are excited to be a new affiliate of NACD and to have the opportunity to connect with more members of the chemical industry.

Keep an eye out for NACD’s upcoming August edition of their magazine, Chemical Distributor. One of Trinity Logistics’ articles will be featured, written here by yours truly!

Interested in learning more about NACD and how to become a member? Join NACD

What is Responsible Care®?

According to their website, Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. It is an international improvement initiative of the chemical industry. Companies of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) carry out Responsible Care®. Choosing a 3PL that is part of the Responsible Care® program can be a benefit to your company, especially when shipping chemicals.

Why is it beneficial to choose a 3PL that is Responsible Care® certified?

Working with a Responsible Care® certified broker holds many advantages for your company. The 3PL will:

• understand the requirements to ship your chemicals
• provide extensive carrier vetting
• have a selection of many approved carriers
• understands the liability of moving hazardous chemicals
• be committed to doing all it can for sustainability

As of 2018, there are only 103 Responsible Care® Partner companies.

Only 24 of those are 3PLs.

How does Trinity Logistics use Responsible Care® when arranging chemical shipping?

Trinity Logistics has been Responsible Care® certified since 2009. Unlike most brokers, we carry Pollution Liability coverage. We chose to carry such insurance with Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security (EHS&S) in mind. Spills happen and need to be remedied immediately. Pollution Liability covers costs associated with pollution clean-up, and liability claims for pollution-related injuries, illnesses or death.

Our main goal as a company is continuous improvement. To do better today than we did yesterday. We do this by selecting approved carriers given the information our customers provide regarding their chemical shipment.

Trinity Team Members mitigate risk to our customers and carriers through carrier vetting and thorough communication.

Carrier vetting

Carrier vetting avoids the selection of carriers not approved for particular shipments. Doing so reduces the risk for the loss of containment.

Only trained Team Members can select approved carriers for hazardous shipments. Required training takes place each year for those Team Members involved. This annual training keeps those Team Members up to date with any regulations or process changes regarding hazmat certification. Operating procedures are in place for shipments that need specific certifications, such as hazmat or Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).

We have an entire team dedicated to vetting motor carriers. Our Carrier Relations & Development Team must verify the motor carrier’s operating authority, insurance, certifications, etc. before the carrier may be added in our database as an “approved” carrier.

Operations training

Our onboarding for new Team Members is extensive. Ongoing training is required to maintain the knowledge needed by a Team Member.

Trinity has a complete program to manage its process with chemical transportation. This includes compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements using system wide operating procedures.

Operations Team Members have a role in the sharing of this information. Team Members make sure information is correct and meets standards with our customers. They create shipping documents and communicate that information with the drivers. Communication is the most important part of process safety and is kept open with our customers, carriers, and our Compliance Team.

Outside of Arranging Chemical Shipping

Responsible Care® is much more than preventing and taking care of chemical spills. Responsible Care® is all about sustainability; how we take care of this earth now, so it is still here in the future.

Trinity has Responsible Care® rooted in its company culture. It is a green, environmentally friendly way of life that we have taken ahold of.

As stated by our point person for our Responsible Care® Management System,

“Trinity’s purpose is to “continually improve people’s lives by constantly striving to be our best”. Implementing the Responsible Care® Management System, RCMS, drove greater visibility and accountability. It became an integral part of our daily operations. Having this system in place allows us to reduce risk and strive towards a sustainable future.”

Examples of our Responsible Care® initiatives at our offices include:

• Battery recycling
• Safety Data Sheets for every chemical in office
• Employee wellness programs
• Active shooter programs

We perform regular checks on our environmental, health, safety, and security performances. We then measure and define our improvement objectives.

Trinity Logistics upholds Responsible Care to keep all of our stakeholders safe. This includes our customers, carriers, Team Members, and our community.

Discover how our chemical customer, Albaugh, came to chose Trinity Logistics as their one source logistics provider in our case study.

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Read more about what goes into shipping chemicals safely in our blog post, Chemical Shipping and Storage: What You Need to Know.

Originally posted February 3, 2020. Updated July 14, 2020 by Christine Griffith

If you play a big role in the transportation and logistics industry, you know that a lot of behind-the-scenes work has to take place to arrange a shipment. There are additional requirements, monitored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Department of Transportation (DOT), to ensure shippers are compliant in how they ship hazardous materials. For those who arrange transportation, you’ll want to find a trusted source for shipping hazmat – which is something we’ve been arranging for more than 40 years.

In the automotive, agricultural, industrial, and specialty chemical fields, there are different requirements for transportation of hazardous materials, known as hazmat shipping. Not only do we have the best operating procedures in place to ensure safety in arranging transportation for hazmat chemicals, but we also have the right contacts in place with reliable trucking companies. Read more to find out how we can save you time, money, and headaches when it comes to shipping hazmat.

What shipments are Hazmat Shipments?

While the word “hazmat” may sound daunting, the materials considered in this realm are necessary to keep the economy moving. Industries requiring hazmat materials include farming, manufacturing, mining, the medical field, and more. While hazmat shipments are needed every day, there are necessary security measures put into place to make sure these materials are transported safely.

Hazmat Certification

FMCSA regulates hazmat shipping. To qualify to haul a hazmat load, both the carrier must have a hazmat certificate registered with the DOT, and the driver performing the load must have a hazmat certificate on their CDL. Our compliance team monitors carrier certificates and ensures trucking companies and drivers are adhering to these regulations before arranging hazmat loads. This ensures best possible safety in transit with trained, qualified drivers, while helping mitigate risk for customers.

Tanker Endorsement

In 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rolled out a new regulation meant to keep the roads safe from commercial drivers carrying large amounts of liquid or gaseous freight without the proper training. All states began enforcing this regulation in July 2015. In order to make these changes, the FMCSA changed the definition of “tanker endorsed,” meaning even those who are driving dry vans, reefers, flatbeds, and box trucks were required to hold a “tanker endorsement” on their CDL. Our Carrier Relations team works with our carriers to make sure those hauling hazmat loads have this education under their belt. Read more about these requirements in our blog about the regulation.

Hazmat Capacity

When shipping hazmat, it can become tough to find a carrier for your shipment, especially in harder to service specialty moves or those requiring additional certification. We’re in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Department of Transportation HM-232 Hazmat security plan regulations. Thanks to our relationships with specialty hazmat carriers, we can help you with capacity for your hazmat shipping needs – even if they are harder to service.

Responsible Care ®

In 2009, we became part of the Responsible Care ® Partnership Program to further our dedication to the chemical shipping industry.  As part of this partnership, Trinity has committed to following Responsible Care’s program, through endorsing their guiding principles; measuring and publicly reporting our performance on an annual basis;  implementing the Responsible Care Product Safety Code, Process Safety Code and Security Code; implementing the Responsible Care Management System ® to achieve and verify results; and obtaining independent certification that a management system is in place and functions according to professional specifications. As a Responsible Care ® partner, we are committed to improving our environmental, health, safety, and security performance for all of our functions. You can find out more on how Trinity implements Responsible Care ® in our blog here. 

Choose to save time, money, and headaches with your hazmat shipping.

The hardest part can be filling out a form. We’ll handle the rest.

Originally published April 20, 2017. Updated by Christine Griffith.