Chemical Logistics: Increasing Safety and Effectiveness with a 3PL

Bryan Corbett • July 16, 2014

You see flashing lights up ahead. Almost immediately they are accompanied by brake lights, yours included. After a few minutes of idling, you tune in for a traffic report and learn that this is not a typical fender bender. Instead, a tanker truck is leaking a corrosive and reactive substance. As fire trucks and other first responders begin to speed by toward the scene, your inconvenient stay in traffic just became a frightening ordeal.

This is a scary scenario, not only for the general public, but for chemical manufacturers everywhere. When it comes to chemical logistics, there are some additional complexities and unique priorities involved. Transporting, storing and distributing flammable and hazardous materials can have significant environmental and financial consequences. The chemical industry touches every part of our lives from petroleum and natural gas refining to developing additives and synthetic materials. According to the American Chemistry Council’s 2013 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook, by 2018 the U.S. chemical industry will reach $1 trillion in sales.

With such tremendous volume, the chemical industry’s supply chain has an immense need for scalability and flexibility. As changes in federal and state regulations become more complex and stringent, the challenges that face supply chains in other industries become magnified. The United States’ chemical output is expected to increase by 2.5% this year, and 3.5% next year. With a forecasted annual growth rate of over 4% through the end of this decade, the chemical industry will outpace the overall U.S. economy.

While the outlook is certainly bright, and the economic indicators are optimistic, chemical producers must make wise decisions and remain diligent in their logistics operations and management. Safety is a key consideration for all industries, especially chemical manufacturers who must place it above all else, even cost. Executing safe and effective transportation, storage and handling is a critical asset. As this industry continues to expand, the feasibility of maintaining these safety standards will become more difficult. A direct result of this will be the utilization of third party logistics, or 3PLs.

Here is a list of what you should keep in mind evaluating a 3PL.

Check maintenance defects and accident records.
Analyze drive logs.
Review equipment maintenance logs.
Verify technological capabilities by requesting a demo.
Ask for industry references and a few names of current customers.
Check that the 3PL has the proper certifications and licenses to handle your goods.
CFATS (Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards) compliant facilities offer features and standards that adhere to the Department of Homeland Security. These performance based standards bolster the security efforts of your company.

With promising growth on the horizon and new developments being made each day, the chemical industry is major factor in the national economy. With that being said, the safety protocols and processes for chemical logistics have never been more important. With major economic and ecological consequences around each corner, leveraging the expertise of a 3PL can take a major burden away from chemical manufacturers. At Barrett Distribution Centers, the resources and knowledge are available to safely and securely manage the chemical supply chain. With a CFATS facility, safety equipment and experienced personnel in place, Barrett Distribution cannot only improve your logistics, but your overall business.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Recent Blog Posts

What Happens After You Sign With a 3PL?

By Faith Artieda • September 22, 2026

Signing with a 3PL can feel like the finish line after weeks of conversations, proposals, pricing, and warehouse visits. But the signature is really where the relationship begins. Before your first customer order leaves the building, your 3PL needs to turn everything discussed during the sales process into an operation that works for your brand every day. That transition matters. A good onboarding should make you feel more confident about the decision you just made, not leave you wondering what happens next. First, Your 3PL Gets to Know the Details During the sales process, your 3PL learns the larger story of your business. Once you sign, the questions become much more specific. What does your inventory look like? When are your busiest periods? How are orders received? Do certain products need special handling? Are there retailer requirements to follow? Do orders include branded packaging, inserts, kits, gift messages, or other details? This is where conversations become processes. Your team and your 3PL begin working through the information needed to build an operation around how your business actually functions. Then the Behind the Scenes Work Begins There is a lot happening before the first order ships. Systems need to communicate, inventory needs a home, and the people inside the warehouse need to understand what makes your business different.

Who should I meet before signing with a 3PL?

By Faith Artieda • September 21, 2026

You have talked with sales. You have reviewed the proposal. The pricing makes sense, the technology checks the right boxes, and the warehouse looks like it could support your business. Before you sign, there is another question worth asking: Who will actually be taking care of my business once the sales process is over? A 3PL relationship can last for years. The people you meet during the sales process are only the beginning. Your products will eventually be in the hands of facility leadership, operations teams, systems experts, warehouse associates, and others making decisions about your business every day. You should know some of those people before you become a customer. Start With the People Running the Building If possible, meet the general manager and members of the operations team at the facility where your inventory will live. These are the people who will learn the details of your business. They will be involved when volume suddenly increases, inventory arrives differently than expected, a retailer introduces a new requirement, or your team comes to them with something new. Bryan, who works across sales and marketing at Barrett Distribution Centers, recently discussed this on the Behind the Docks podcast. 锘�

Should I Visit a Warehouse Before Choosing a 3PL?

By Faith Artieda • September 18, 2026

A polished presentation can tell you what a 3PL promises to do. A warehouse visit gives you the chance to see what happens when those promises become real. If you are trusting a 3PL with your inventory, your orders, and ultimately part of your customer experience, visiting the facility can be one of the most valuable steps in the selection process. You get to move beyond the proposal and see the people and environment that could soon become an extension of your business. See Beyond the Sales Presentation Most 3PL conversations begin with capabilities. You will hear about locations, technology, fulfillment services, integrations, pricing, and experience. All of that information matters, but there are certain things that are difficult to understand from a presentation alone. Walking through a warehouse gives you a different perspective. Look at how inventory is organized. Watch how orders move through the building. Pay attention to how the team communicates and how employees interact with one another. Ask how the facility handles busy periods, unusual requests, and unexpected changes. You are not looking for a perfect warehouse. You are trying to understand how the operation works and whether you can picture your brand becoming part of it. Barrett's Bryan has identified “not doing site visits” and “not being encouraged to broadly meet larger teams besides the sales guy” as potential red flags when choosing a 3PL. Meet the People Who Will Know Your Business The salesperson may introduce you to the company, but they will not be the only person responsible for your experience once inventory arrives. That is why a warehouse visit should include conversations with the people who would actually support your business. Meet the general manager. Talk with operations. Ask about systems support and onboarding. Learn who you would contact when something unexpected happens. As Bryan explains, “You want to meet a good set of experts from every team because this is your supply chain. This is your company.” Those introductions matter because a strong 3PL relationship eventually becomes much more personal than a contract. When your volume suddenly increases, a retailer changes a requirement, or an inventory issue appears, you want to know there are people on the other side who understand your business and can work through the situation with you. Ask Questions You Cannot Answer From a Rate Sheet A site visit is also your opportunity to get curious. Ask how the team prepares for peak season. Find out what happens when order volume exceeds the forecast. Ask how inventory discrepancies are handled or how special projects fit into the normal flow of the building. If your brand requires custom packaging, kitting, retail compliance, gift messaging, or other details, talk about how those requirements would work in the actual facility. You can also ask about the building itself. Different facilities may have different strengths, teams, and experience. The goal is not simply finding out whether a 3PL has space available. It is understanding why this particular operation makes sense for your business. Pay Attention to the Culture Numbers are easier to compare than culture, but culture can have a tremendous influence on your experience with a 3PL. Notice how people speak to one another. Does the team seem comfortable asking questions? Are the people leading the tour familiar with what is happening on the floor? Do employees appear engaged with the work around them? Bryan describes Barrett as a place where people should be able to “be yourself, have an opinion, have a view, have a point of view.” Those qualities can be difficult to capture in an RFP. They are much easier to notice when you are standing inside the operation. Walk It Before Your Inventory Does Choosing a 3PL is not simply a decision about where your products will sit. You are choosing the people who may receive your inventory, solve problems, prepare orders, support your growth, and help deliver the experience your customers associate with your brand. At Barrett Distribution Centers, we encourage brands to get to know the people and operations behind the solution. A warehouse visit creates room for questions, conversations, and a clearer understanding of how the partnership could work once the sales process ends and the everyday work begins. So before your inventory arrives, walk the floor yourself. Meet the people. See the operation. Ask the questions. Your products may spend years inside that building, so it is worth knowing who and what will be waiting for them.

91国产