Many chemical shippers move hazardous chemicals through traditional LTL channels. While there is nothing legally wrong with that, as long as the carrier is a Hazmat Carrier, there is a better more responsible way to move LTL chemical products.
How does traditional LTL freight move?
Traditional LTL freight moves through a hub and spoke system. This means that your Hazardous LTL freight goes through multiple distribution facilities and is cross docked many times from origin through to destination. We’ve got a great page on our website that explains this in more detail.
Every-time freight is moved on a truck, or from one truck to another, there is a potential for damage. Freight that’s untouched rarely gets damaged! This is the risk when moving hazardous materials or chemicals with a typical hub and spoke LTL carrier. In addition, if you are moving liquid chemicals or hazardous materials in the winter time, your shipment is rarely heated on the truck in between hubs.
LTL Freight: The Better Way, Direct Service
The better way to move LTL hazardous or chemical shipments is to use a “direct service”. Many traditional LTL carriers will say they have a “direct service”, but it’s kind of a play on words and not really moving on the same truck from origin through to destination.
If you employ a logistics company (3PL) to move your chemical or hazmat shipments then typically it’s moved with a truckload carrier on a backhaul. It works like this…
Let’s say you have 4 drums in Atlanta, Georgia. Your 3PL will find a truckload carrier who just delivered a full truckload in Atlanta, Georgia and is looking for LTL freight to fill his backhaul home. A typical truckload carrier will pick up 3-4 LTL shipments to fill up his truck and head back home. The benefits of this are that the shipments are more controlled, because they remain on the same truck. Plus, they are not handled through cross dock facilities so there is much less chance for loss and damage. As an added benefit, since the freight doesn’t have to go through a hub and spoke system it will typically arrive to destination faster than the hub and spoke method.
Benefits of Direct Service
- Cross Dock Free
- One truck, one driver (control)
- Less chance for damage
- Faster transit times.
How Can you Find out More?
DSN Chemical Transportation has been moving LTL chemical shipments by Direct Service for almost 30 years. DSN (Direct Service Network) realized from the beginning there was a better and safer way to move LTL chemical shipments.
If you’d like to discuss how this option could work for you, contact us today.