“We abbreviate’ hazardous materials’ to ‘hazmat,’” said Gene Sanders, kicking off Day 2 of the 2017 Dangerous Goods Symposium. “I say we shorten ‘Dangerous Goods training’ to ‘Dang Good training.’” Sanders, co-founder of W. E. Train Consulting, gave the 300 DG pros on hand an entertaining look at an assortment of horrific explosions, spills and…
Dangerous Goods Symposium Day 1—Why aren’t DG pros more confident?
At 8 a.m. on a clear September day, Chicago’s historic Drake Hotel looks out over Lake Michigan waters still sparkling from the sunrise. But a different sort of outlook drew the focus of the Dangerous Goods professionals assembled for the 12th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium—a view that was far more serious. Day 1 of the…
How will hazmat benefit from tomorrow’s smarter supply chain?
Over the last few months, we’ve published several posts about new trucking technologies and their potential impact on the Dangerous Goods industry. But the wave of innovation that’s reshaping the trucking business is sweeping through the rest of the supply chain as well. For example: In 2016, venture firms poured at least $4 billion into…
What every hazmat shipper should know about tagboard hazmat placards
Lightweight, durable tagboard hazmat placards keep Dangerous Goods shipments compliant at a fraction of the cost of permanent vinyl placards. With Labelmaster’s huge selection of tagboard placards now sharply discounted (for a limited time only), we’ve been getting lots of good questions about them. (Also some weird ones, but we’re used to that.) Here are…
Beyond autonomous—trucking technology that actually helps drivers
According to a recent Business Insider article, no fewer than nine companies are vying to put autonomous trucks on the road. From giants like Uber, Google and Daimler to startups like Peloton, Embark and Starsky Robotics, it seems like all the new trucking technology is dedicated to taking the wheels out of drivers’ hands. Not…
Will Uber Freight (and other startups) deliver hazmat more efficiently?
Last week, Uber made headlines by officially launching Uber Freight, a move that had been foreshadowed for months. Uber Freight joins a host of startups who, over the last few years, have set out to do for freight hauling what Uber did for passenger hauling. Is this development good for the trucking industry in general,…
Why isn’t anyone talking about blockchain in hazmat shipping?
Imagine you’re a distributor for a line of electronic devices powered by lithium batteries. You don’t make the devices, and you don’t source the batteries, but if one of those devices catches fire on its way to a retailer, you’re the one whose bottom line will suffer. Wouldn’t you like to be 100% sure that…
Lithium batteries (what else?) dominate talks at IATA Dangerous Goods Board
As a bridge between the developers and the users of Dangerous Goods regulations, Labelmaster strives to understand the needs of both the regulated industries and the regulators. This way, we can provide the optimum solutions for our customers. And, since we closely follow the discussions and decisions of both industry and regulators, it will come as…
Logistics innovations: big players launch big initiatives
In early March, we ran a post on exciting developments from logistics startups, from electric trucks to driver feedback software. But innovation is hardly limited to new companies. Some of the biggest innovations actually come from the biggest players in the business. Here’s a look at how some of the giants of the logistics industry…
How online hazmat training can lower your blood pressure
When you manage a shipping operation that handles Dangerous Goods, stress is part of the job description. And keeping hazmat employees compliantly trained can be a major source of that elevated blood pressure. If you’re responsible for hazmat training, you have to: Determine who qualifies as a hazmat employee as defined by 49 CFR (§171.8) Determine…