Meet the Team: Liquid Chemical Safety at All Chemical

Written by SysAdmin on May 28, 2025. Posted in Don Wrege, Director of Safety, The All Chemical Team.

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Meet the Team: Liquid Chemical Safety at All Chemical

Here at All Chemical, we’re always saying that our team is our strength. Chemical logistics isn’t a solo enterprise. In our over 45 years of stellar service in this industry, we’ve built a team of dedicated professionals whose passion and expertise have directly contributed to the success we’ve enjoyed as a company.

That’s why we like to celebrate our people by turning the spotlight on a few individuals. This time, we’re excited to introduce you to a few members of our safety team: Matt Quadrel, Gerard M. Madonna, and Don Wrege.

Meet Matt: Safety Manager

Matt was raised around trucks, coming to work with his father (our founder, Steve Quadrel). He learned about truck driver safety firsthand, working in the shop on the equipment, getting familiar with the industry’s mechanical side. After earning his bachelor’s, he entered the transportation industry, taking on a safety and compliance role.

“I knew I wanted to follow my family’s roots,” says Matt. “Working in this industry from a young age has given me lots of passion for the company, and that’s made my tenure a great experience.”

He especially loves seeing the complete lifespan of new drivers, from their first onboarding all the way through their All Chem driving career, as they bring their unique backgrounds to the team. “There’s nothing more rewarding,” Matt says.

As Safety Manager, Matt oversees all compliance related to NJ Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. “Our focus is to lead employees to hold our workplace truck driver safety to a high standard,” Matt explains, “and to maintain a positive safety rating, which is provided by the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).”

His typical workday has him wearing many hats:

Overseeing vehicle maintenance
Addressing unsafe driving
Monitoring Hours of Service (HOS) regulations
Conducting crash investigations
Assessing driver fitness

Since his start in 2009, Matt has seen the advent of countless new technologies. “Technology has its own unique challenges, but there have been plenty of upsides,” he says. In pursuit of liquid chemical safety, All Chemical has taken advantage of many of these technological advances:

Dashcams
Asset tracking
Vehicle telematics
Driver coaching

Matt says that the chemical logistics industry is a side of the world a typical person wouldn’t even think about—yet the supply chain is a vital part of our economy and everyday lives. Household products like hairspray, toothpaste, cleaning wipes, and countless other must-haves are only accessible to consumers because of safe liquid chemical transport, delivering raw materials to manufacturing facilities to produce those necessary finished products.

What advice would he give someone pursuing a career in this field? “The industry will have its ups and downs, since it runs parallel with the economy,” Matt says. “Just know that liquid chemical safety plays a huge role in economic well-being. Our nation couldn’t exist without it!”

Meet Gerard: Driver Trainer

Gerard Madonna (Gerry) was raised on truck driver safety. He learned to drive stick shift, forklifts, and load trucks at the tender age of twelve, and he’s never looked back. It’s in the family: His father still owns and operates his own trucking company, and his older brother launched one, too. As Gerry developed his career, he worked for both his father and his brother before looking for opportunities of his own, which led him to chemical logistics dispatching, running warehouses, and managing storage facilities.

The road to All Chemical was winding. “At 37, I enlisted in the US Army Reserves and spent 14 years as a part-time soldier,” says Matt. “That amazing experience opened my eyes to a new level of safety, leadership, and a greater ability to adapt to new things and better learn from those around me. It provided me the skills to conquer any adversity; it taught me to do anything with nothing.”

Eventually, eager to find work closer to home after a 75-mile commute each way, Matt’s resume landed on Don Wrege’s desk—and the rest is history.

“I’ve never been surrounded by such a high level of performers, outside of a military environment,” Matt says wonderingly. “Our entire team teaches me as much as I could ever teach them.”

His typical day involves plenty of responsibilities:

Ensuring the ability, knowledge, and proficiency of new drivers
Maintaining continuing driver familiarity with procedures and protocols
Troubleshooting deliveries, trailers, and liquid chemical safety issues
Cross-training shuttle drivers to ensure a versatile force on the roads
Using the Motive application to coach established drivers: tracking driving habits and mentoring for higher public safety and driver safety
Conducting the Smith System Advanced Driver Safety Training on a rotating basis
Performing alcohol and drug screening for the company through his Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) certification
Performing the safety inspections of emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, eye washes, safety lighting, etc.)
Keeping the team current with forklift certifications

“My job never really ends!” Matt laughs. “I speak to all of our drivers every day and night, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every day truly is a blessing.”

As far as training and experience go, Matt says there are no limits with All Chem. “Don and Anthony consistently give me the opportunity for training and updates through organizations like the New Jersey Motor Truck Association (NJMTA), the National Safety Council, and Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS).” Experience opportunities abound, since the industry virtually guarantees what Matt calls “spicy” challenges.

“I remember one job especially,” Matt reminisces. “I needed to empty product from a customer’s tank that had already been contaminated by another carrier. When I showed up, there were 12 members of management and engineers waiting, looking over my shoulder as I worked. Let me tell you, I was so thankful that day for how thoroughly All Chem trains us!” The customer came away impressed and satisfied, and Matt advanced his career experience even further.

“If I could give any advice to someone interested in chemical transportation, I would say do not hesitate!” Matt says emphatically. “Without question, it can be very dangerous; but the rewards are significant. What we do affects just about every part of our lives: products to treat everyone’s drinking water, swimming pools, additives for pharmaceuticals and foods, you name it. This work matters!

“And I have to say, our All Chem company—our family—is head and shoulders above the rest. How lucky am I that my introduction into the chemical logistics industry has been with the best?”

Meet Don: Director of Safety and Maintenance

“I’ve been in this business for over 50 years at this point,” Don Wrege grins. “Jim [Notarfrancesco] and I worked together at Linden Bulk back in the day, in fact! But I first started off as a driver at 19 years old—applied to drive a flatbed with a single-axle tractor, first time—and I said to myself, Boy, am I gonna be able to do this?”

So, Don went that night to a truck driver friend of his, Tommy Bellas. “Tommy, I need to ask a favor.”

“What’s that?” Tommy said.

“I need to learn how to drive a tractor-trailer over the weekend.”

“You what?”

Don laughs, remembering. “Well, turns out I had a natural gift for driving tankers! I liked it so much, I bought my own truck—I was an owner/operator for three years, in fact. Later, Tony Douglas at Quality Carriers was a mentor of mine as I got involved in the safety end of things, and I really credit him with the thoughtful management style I’ve tried to emulate. I honestly think being an ex-driver myself really helps, because I know firsthand the types of tanks, the protocols, and the issues that matter to drivers.”

Choosing All Chemical was a no-brainer for Don. “It’s the easiest place to work, with top-notch management, stellar safety records, and a team that really listens to each other,” he says. The company doesn’t even need to advertise for drivers; because they treat their drivers so well, the word spreads: All Chem is the place you want to work for.

“Our management philosophy is the reason for that,” Don explains. “We don’t nickel and dime our drivers, and we support them. Some places, they fire drivers at the first infraction, and they don’t pay them well, so drivers rush to make the money they need to make, and that leads to mistakes. We don’t do that at All Chem. Our founder, Steve Quadrel, always believed the employee is the company’s greatest asset—and he’s right!”

In Don’s view, people don’t realize the chemical logistics industry is by far one of the safest industries—because of oversight. As Director of Safety and Maintenance, he’s responsible for much of the oversight that happens at All Chem:

Managing compliance, recruiting, and truck driver safety training.
Working with the driver trainers to handle inspections.
Running safety drills with employees and the local community.
Coordinating with COO Anthony and Director of Operations Jim each week to keep the company running smoothly.
Keeping abreast of regulations through multiple outside sources, such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) or member organizations like the American Trucking Association (ATA) and National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).

“I’d want people to know that this is a rewarding career,” says Don. “There’s real satisfaction in learning the complexities of the industry; you become in high demand as you increase your knowledge. It’s a good living, with good opportunity to climb the ladder long-term.”

When it comes to truck driver safety and chemical logistics, we’re a company led by our values—and our success comes from our team! Call us today to find out how we can service your transportation needs.

Common Pain Points in the Distribution of Chemicals

Written by SysAdmin on October 2, 2024. Posted in The All Chemical Team.

Common Pain Points in the Distribution of Chemicals Customers come to us disillusioned from their experiences with other carriers in the distribution of chemicals, suffering from similar logistics issues. Once you’ve been in the chemical distribution game for as long as we have (four decades and counting!), you start to notice certain themes.

When it comes to the distribution of chemicals, there are some common pain points most people encounter before they find us. As it turns out, these pain points are interrelated.

But even more importantly, they can be avoidable in most cases.

At All Chemical, we know these pain points well—and we’ve designed our operation to rescue you from them!

Logistics Issue #1: Multi-Vendor Syndrome

This pain point is so common we gave it a name: “multi-vendor syndrome.” We see it constantly, with customers contracting with one carrier for transit, and yet another for storage, washing, and servicing. Suddenly there are multiple points of contact, invoices coming from all directions—even product transfers gone wrong that were unnecessary in the first place. The more links in the chain, the more places the chain can break.

Instead, at All Chemical, we handle every aspect of a haul from start to finish. As specialists in the distribution of chemicals, we provide every service our customers need in-house. No more juggling several vendor relationships with their separate fluid logistics issues! We give our customers the full-service treatment, offering a wide array of services from tank washing and steaming, to storage, loading, transloading, equipment servicing, and delivery.

Logistics Issue #2: Equipment Limitations

Then there’s the problem of carriers’ limited equipment offerings. We hear regularly from customers who contracted with a chemical distributor, only to find out after they’d taken load possession that the carrier’s operation doesn’t have the precise equipment needed for a later stage of the haul. Sure, sometimes the carrier can refer out, contract with a second or third vendor to fill in the gaps. But the problem with this? You guessed it—it leads directly to multi-vendor syndrome.

We at All Chemical prefer to head off this issue at the pass. Our growing intermodal fleet and cutting-edge equipment can handle an astonishing load capacity array, safely hauling chemicals of most varieties such as hazardous, non-hazardous, food-grade, Kosher, organic, and inorganic.

Logistics Issue #3: The “Size Paradox”

A final common pain point plaguing customers is the “Size Paradox.” Customers trying to avoid frustrating customer service experiences associated with big carriers often opt for a small, hands-on, Mom-and-Pop-style carrier, hoping that they’ll get quality attention and prompt service.

But then they find themselves victim to issues of equipment limitation, as the small carrier can’t cover all the bases the job needs. (This discovery always seems to happen right in the middle of a job!) Suddenly, the customer is trapped in multi-vendor syndrome, frantically juggling several vendors just to complete a single haul.

They come away swearing never to go through such a headache again. So, for their next haul, they opt for a big-name, big-operation chemical distributor, hoping equipment limitation won’t be a problem and multi-vendor syndrome won’t ever come up.

And that’s when they discover just how awful it is to be nothing more than a number on another invoice, waiting interminably on hold, not even sure who to talk to about any logistics issues that arise.

We hear story after story from customers who land in messes like these. Through tireless effort and commitment, we keep our business in the sweet spot: where our dedicated team is small enough to know every customer we serve, yet our operation is large enough to cover all the bases you could possibly need.

So, if you’ve suffered from these common pain points in the distribution of chemicals, give us a call. Discover for yourself how we at All Chemical can put those pain points in your rearview mirror—for good!

Making Connections in the Logistics and Supply Chain Industry at ChemEdge

Written by SysAdmin on September 5, 2024. Posted in The All Chemical Team.

Making Connections in the Logistics and Supply Chain Industry at ChemEdgeWhat do chemical logistics, static electricity and dumpsters all have in common? They were all topics of discussion during Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD)’s ChemEdge 2024. This four-day event included Responsible Distribution and Regulatory workshops, a valuable conference, and a trade show for people in the chemical industry. From the exceptional speakers, engaging panel discussions, and casual networking sessions, it was a unique opportunity for members of this trade association to gain insights and knowledge from subject matter experts and each other.

Each year our team at All Chemical Transport Corp. attends ChemEdge. Katie Woods (project manager) and Jayda Santiago (billing support) participated in the conference and discovered new approaches to enhance operations and keep safety top of mind.

Here is more from Katie Woods, where she shared her experience of the conference.

Katie, tell us about your career journey in the logistics and supply chain industry at All Chem.
I started working at All Chem seven years ago in Customer Service. I quickly transitioned into a position within our dispatch department where I was able to put my logistical skills to the test. When the opportunity arose to spearhead the development of our container depot, I jumped at the opportunity. What began as a small project to oversee two small accounts, was grown quickly over the course of two years into a fully functioning depot. We now operate seven heavy lifts and have dedicated an entire team to the transportation and handling of up 2,000 ISO containers. Now, as a project manager, I am in a hands-on role supporting the continued growth of the business and I am actively learning more about the chemical transportation industry every day. ChemEdge was an important event for me to attend as I am finalizing the development and implementation of All Chem’s ACD Responsible Distribution program. This program created by ACD is a comprehensive framework for continuous improvement in chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal.

Top row: Presenter at ChemEdge 2024; Katie Woods, All Chemical Transport Corp. and Gerard Braud, Situation Hub Bottom row: Jayda Santiago and Katie Woods from All Chemical Transport Corp.; Jayda Santiago from All Chemical Transport Corp.

It was your first time at ChemEdge. What were your impressions of the conference?

When I first arrived, my first impression was that everyone there truly wanted to be there. The first sessions we attended during the Responsible Distribution workshop really showed the members’ dedication to the program itself and it was great to see everyone actively participating in the sessions. The level of interaction and engagement at the events was impressive, with everyone from salespeople to CEOs actively taking part in group discussions and sharing valuable and useful information. It was truly motivating to see people genuinely trying to learn about the current changes in the industry and share information. You could really see that each speaker truly cared about dedicating their time and put considerable effort into making each session interesting and relevant to the topic at hand.

Which sessions had the greatest impact on you?

While all of the speakers had valuable information to share, I found these three sessions to be the most informative.

“What Lies Within: The Danger in your Dumpster and other Enforcement Tales”
This session by Russell Ide from Valley Solvents stood out as my favorite. It really shed light on the risks lurking in seemingly harmless items, such as paint cans or fuel additives, when disposed of improperly. The emphasis on hazardous waste management and safe disposal methods was particularly helpful, making it a memorable and impactful presentation. The slides were powerful and the information he presented showed the risks we take as a chemical handler.

“Hazard Area Static Control”
Presented by Richard Puig from NewsonGale during the Responsible Distribution Pre-Conference Workshop, this session used scientific data and visuals to share how important hazard area static control is and how to properly protect yourself and your facility when working with volatile chemicals. The presentation utilized graphs and charts in a way that even a layman could understand, and Richard did an excellent job of showcasing just how easy it is to make a devastating mistake. It was a harsh reminder to be cautious when handling chemicals.

“How to Evaluate the Hazards on an SDS”
Peter Downing’s (from Environment & Safety Solutions) session on Safety Data Sheets (SDS) was also extremely informative and helped to better my understanding of how SDS are created. At All Chem, we take chemical safety seriously, and it was an important reminder to review each SDS individually because the people who write them are usually not the people who use them. Inaccuracies and incorrect information could cost someone their lives and it’s our responsibility to protect our workers.

What did you like most about the conference?
Each session offered valuable insights for everyone, no matter their role in the chemical transportation industry. It’s great to know that anyone, even someone outside of the industry, could attend this event and could learn something new. I also enjoyed the trade show, where I was introduced to other companies and learned more about their services and solutions and what they had to offer. I also bumped into Gerard Braud from Situation Hub. His company provides crisis communication services, which we use at All Chem.

What were your takeaways from ChemEdge?
The primary goal of ACD is to educate members on the responsible handling of chemicals. Chemicals are everywhere in our lives, and it is crucial to have a sense of awareness about their potential dangers. Most people don’t realize that chemicals are in the everyday products we use such as soap and beauty items, and understanding the nature of chemicals we interact with is essential. These substances can be found throughout our homes and offices and should be treated with respect. Without people like us taking on the role of handling the dangerous chemicals that we use every day, the world would come crashing to a halt.

At All Chemical, we understand that we are not just people working in the chemical industry, but we play a critical role in a larger community. Our work is important in providing the world with necessities such as food, drinks, healthcare products, pharmaceuticals, and clean water. This conference was a reminder to me that without the contributions of individuals in the chemical industry, many aspects of our daily lives would be significantly impacted.

all-chem-truck-driving-past-iso-container-stacks

Driving To Success: Jana’s Journey in Chemical Logistics

Written by SysAdmin on March 11, 2024. Posted in Employee Spotlight, The All Chemical Team.

Driving To Success: Jana’s Journey in Chemical Logistics People come to the chemical logistics industry—and to All Chemical—from many backgrounds and for many different reasons. A few reasons include job security, a promising career trajectory, or more job autonomy.

In Jana Huckaby’s case, many reasons bring this bright, hardworking woman to what would soon prove to be the career of her dreams as a long-haul truck driver for All Chemical.

If you’re not familiar, a long-hauler is responsible for the efficient and safe transportation of goods across long distances, often across many state lines. The job entails extensive periods of driving, often spending days, weeks, or months away from home.

Meet Jana

Before Jana became a truck driver, she worked as a customer service representative for 15 years. Soon, though, she noticed how little chance there was for upward growth. After a brief stint with cosmetology and massage therapy, Jana determined that these skill sets weren’t a fit for her.

That’s when she turned her sights to trucking.

Trucking and chemical logistics were in her blood. Jana’s grandfather owned a truck stop, and her father worked as a long-haul trucker for over 40 years. Why shouldn’t she follow in the family trade? Jana subsequently earned her CDL license, and has never looked back.

When Jana found All Chemical, she was excited by the excellent pay and benefits, which directly contribute to the company’s stunningly low turnover rate.

“Every day, I catch my eye in my rearview mirror and say, I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” Jana says, grinning. “It’s a great career, a great living. To be honest, I can’t see myself doing anything else—ever!”

A Rewarding Career

Jana is enthusiastic about the benefits of the long-haul trucker’s life, while realistic about its challenges. “I’d be the first to say this career isn’t for everyone,” she explains. Despite the freedom this job provides, there are a few unavoidable trade-offs. “I’m single, and my kids are grown. When they were younger, I couldn’t have been a long-hauler. Even now, I miss some holidays and special occasions.”

Still, the trucker’s life is the life for Jana. “For me—as someone comfortable with minimal social contact yet not a homebody—the fit is pretty near perfect,” she says. “I even sleep better in my truck than I do at home!” she adds.

Like the rest of the team at All Chemical, Jana keeps safety at the forefront of her work. “Safety is my highest priority,” she asserts. “There is nothing worth my life or the life of another person.” She always has an updated copy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) handbook in her cab, as well as the HAZMAT guidebook, and several emergency response guidebooks. She is constantly keeping abreast of industry trends and chemical logistics regulations to ensure compliance.

This focus on safety led to one of the proudest moments in her career. “Once, from my cab, I saw a woman veer off the road in her pickup truck and hit a tree. All my safety training came rushing in, and I immediately pulled over and called 911.”

Keeping a cool head, Jana assessed the situation. The woman had been thrown partially through the windshield and would need emergency medical attention. Jana stayed with her and held her hand while both women waited for EMTs to arrive.

“She survived,” Jana says. “I was so glad I was there to help.”

Women in Transportation

While popular opinion might see truck driving as a male-centric occupation, Jana begs to differ. She believes long-haul trucking can be a great fit for women and encourages those interested in pursuing a career in chemical logistics to reach out to women drivers, or sign up for a course at a local technical school.

“It’s the best decision I ever made,” she says.

Industry trends show that plenty of women are taking Jana’s advice. Though male truck drivers still outnumber women by about 6 to 1, in recent decades, the number of women truckers in the U.S. went up by 68%. Jana thinks the best way to recruit more women truckers is for the industry to target women in their 40s and 50s whose children are grown, and who are looking for a way to spread their wings. Alternatively, there are a considerable number of women who love to drive, have an interest in travel, and are looking for a rewarding career with great pay and benefits.

Professional organizations like the non-profit Women in Trucking are a great resource for current and aspiring female truck drivers.

Though other women in chemical logistics report problems with discrimination and other gender-related issues, Jana has had only positive experiences in her eleven-year career—especially working for All Chemical.

“The industry is rough on everyone. Both female and male drivers work incredibly hard doing a rough and stressful job, hoping we make it home all over again.”

Stay tuned for more of All Chemical’s behind-the-scenes spotlights, and contact us today to discuss your ongoing chemical logistics needs! And for your next All Chemical order, Jana may be the one ensuring it arrives safely and on time!

The Chemistry of Excellence: Customer Service & Chemical Logistics

Written by SysAdmin on February 27, 2024. Posted in Employee Spotlight, The All Chemical Team.

The Chemistry of Excellence: Customer Service & Chemical LogisticsWhen it comes to wrangling with chemical logistics, time is of the essence and change comes at a rapid pace. In this landscape, customers need competent, prepared, hassle-free companies they can trust to haul important hazardous and non-hazardous loads.

Yet so often, carriers drop the ball in the customer service department. Why? Because their bottom-line myopia means they miss what we at All Chemical have known from the beginning:

If you put the customer first, never compromise on safety, and lead with your values, everything else will fall into place.

The All Chemical Difference

So, why do our customers display such enthusiastic loyalty to All Chemical when it’s time to address their chemical logistics projects? It’s because with us, “customer first” is a commitment to action—a proactive stance to ensure that safety and service form the backbone of every interaction.

We achieve this through the tireless efforts of our Customer Service Team: Barbara Fonseca, Sherrie Aniolowski and Mary Stowers. Their approach to service stands on three central pillars: timely communication, accurate tracking, and proactive problem-solving.

At All Chemical, our team goes beyond answering calls and putting out fires. They meld vigilance with versatility and anticipate customer needs. They’re about crafting chemical logistics solutions that flex to the unique needs of each customer. This is a service style that doesn’t simply respond to the now but looks ahead, ensuring that we head issues off at the pass.

Chemical Logistics Preparedness in Practice

Because of our stellar service style, emergencies don’t take our team by surprise. At All Chemical, preparedness is part of our DNA.

Emergency readiness means more than having a plan; it means having the right plan, one that’s shared and understood across departments. By fostering close collaboration between our customer service, billing, and dispatch teams, this tight-knit group jumps into action when the unexpected happens. Everyone acts quickly and in accordance with established protocols, minimizing disruptions with practiced ease.

Operating this way enables us to:

share critical chemical logistics information swiftly
provide real-time shipment updates to drivers, customers, and staff
anticipate and prevent problems before they escalate
make necessary adjustments proactively

This holistic policy means keeping things running smoothly, even under pressure, providing a hassle-free process for our customers.

That seamless service experience—especially when placing orders—is our goal in all we do. We frequently solicit feedback from customers, making suggested changes or taking action immediately so as to exceed customers’ expectations. We believe in transparency: our customers trust us with their business, and we take that seriously.

The Best Part of Our Job

We derive great satisfaction from relieving our customers’ stress and delivering high-quality service. The secret? Exceptional attentiveness. In this way, customer satisfaction becomes a shared happiness: a testament to our value-led culture where everyone wins.

“The true joy of our work lies in the meaningful relationships we forge,” according to our Customer Service team members. “Daily engagements with our customers allow us to understand their chemical logistics needs deeply, thereby strengthening the bonds that All Chemical has sustained over years… even decades!” We honor the legacy of our long-term customer relationships while also warmly welcoming new customers into the fold.

Whether you’re a new or returning customer, contact us today to experience the All Chemical difference: stress-free, one-stop-shop chemical logistics services from a team who truly cares.

Setting the Standard: Our Portfolio of Associations and Certifications

Written by SysAdmin on January 23, 2024. Posted in Steve Quadrel, Founder and Owner, The All Chemical Team, The All Chemical Way.

Setting the Standard: Our Portfolio of Associations and CertificationsAchieving success is a collaborative endeavor at All Chemical. We define success as outstanding customer service, rigorous safety standards, exceptional employee care, continuous innovation, and a steadfast commitment to our core values. Our success is further underscored by our industry associations, reflecting our enduring dedication to elevated standards in ongoing education, safety, and training.

Our Associations

All Chemical can boast membership status with several nationally recognized professional and trade organizations, such as the New Jersey Motor Truck Association (NJMTA), the American Trucking Association (ATA), the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), and National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).

These organizations, both local and national, are committed to transportation advocacy and education: helping the public, the media, federal and state officials, and lawmakers understand the crucial role that liquid tanker trucking companies play in the economy and the functioning of society at large. They offer education and training in safe chemical transport procedures, collaborating with officials, companies, government agencies, and organizations to enhance highway safety, educate drivers, and advocate for policies benefiting the industry’s long-term well-being.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with these associations, knowing their values align with our own and help us better serve our community, ensure safe chemical transport, and advocate for our employees and truck drivers nationwide.

In fact, as of January 1, our own COO Anthony Coruccini is serving as Chair of NTTC’s Chemical Committee! Together, we are improving the liquid tanker trucking industry from the ground up.

Our Certifications and Awards

In addition to our professional association partnerships, we’re also proud of the certifications and awards we’ve earned.

All Chemical is certified with SmartWay Transport, an initiative by the Environmental Protection Agency helping liquid tanker trucking companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency. The environmentally conscious nature of this program aligns well with our focus on green initiatives.

We are also certified with Smith System, using its Smith5Keys program in our truck driver training. The Smith5Keys help truck drivers see, think, and act their way through various driving environments, challenges, and changes that exist regardless of where they travel or the vehicles they operate. With this program, we’ve achieved 100% compliance in truck driver safety protocols and training. The Smith System’s reputation for the highest levels of safety falls right in line with our top-notch safety standards.

Finally, we’re pleased to announce that All Chemical was the recipient of Trainual’s “Top 20 Customers” award in 2023. We use the Trainual software to centralize our company processes and procedures; it’s our central playbook our employees can reference at any time. With Trainual’s process systematization, we get things right the first time, giving us us the ability to distill magic in a bottle and flawlessly replicate that success!

As an All Chemical customer, you already know how committed we are to upholding the highest standards of safety and customer service. These associations, certifications, and awards make good on that promise. Contact us today to help with your chemical transport needs!

When in Doubt, Jim It Out: Innovation at All Chemical

Written by SysAdmin on January 17, 2024. Posted in Jim Notarfrancesco, Director of Operations, The All Chemical Team.

When in Doubt, Jim It Out: Innovation at All ChemicalWe’re a bulk liquid transport company who puts a high focus on innovation. We strive for pioneer status among chemical trucking companies, and we’ve done so for the 45 years we’ve served in this industry. New technologies, ingenious problem-solving strategies, creative pivots and diversifications: we leverage them all so we can go above and beyond for our customers.

We’ve done this through the collective efforts of individual innovators and tireless team members—like Jim Notarfrancesco, our Director of Operations. His gift for ingenuity and perseverance gave rise to a catchphrase from one of our customers:

When in doubt, Jim it out!

Meet Jim

Jim’s been in the transportation industry for 39 years and counting. His driving career began in 1985, and after just a few short years, he moved into management and launched a terminal of his own. After a wave of career success, he served as Regional Operations Manager for several large organizations.

Then, in 2021, Jim joined our team at All Chemical as Director of Operations, heading up Trucking, Dispatch, Customer Service, Tank Wash, and Depot Operations.

Let’s just say: he fits right in. When it comes to exceptional business performance, you get the best results when you’re working with a team of like-minded people. With Jim, we couldn’t have asked for better.

He shares our company’s values: uncompromising safety standards, customer-centric service excellence, and a commitment to innovation among chemical trucking companies.

Already in the three years he’s spent with All Chemical, he’s organized dispatch operations, reorganized our tank wash protocols, elevated our customer service processes, and upheld compliance in waste handling, documentation, safety, and containment. (Under Jim’s leadership, All Chemical is at 100% secondary containment compliance!)

Innovation on the Ground

When you’re a chemical trucking company who prides themselves on undertaking the jobs others cannot, will not, or do not do, that calls for unprecedented levels of determination and ingenuity. Over and over, Jim rises to the challenge. Since All Chemical is a Kosher-certified carrier, Jim directs countless cross-country loads. Newark to Louisiana? No problem. Texas to Illinois? Houston to California? Jim is on the job.

Any single job is a constantly shifting landscape of factors: where is the load at each moment? Who’s taking it to the next checkpoint? Where is strategic equipment held, and who can access it? Miss one link in the chain, one crucial update, and the whole thing might go south.

Jim manages processes and systems to ensure accuracy, regularly updated information, and excellent intra-team communication. Our customers have come to rely on his cool head in a crisis; they know a call or text to Jim will soon result in a solution.

Putting Innovation into Action

So, what are Jim’s secrets to success, when it comes to keeping All Chemical a leader in innovation for our industry?

Know your customers. Jim can strategize and deliver great results precisely because of how well he knows our customers. He builds outstanding relationships with them so he has a handle on what they prefer, what they need, and what best supports them. Our Kosher customers might prefer certain tankers that never came out of Kosher service. Others might gravitate to a different type of trailer for their hauls. Whatever the need, Jim has it in mind. No wonder customers stay with All Chemical!
Unique equipment investments: He believes in the investment of equipment to better serve customers. More timid chemical trucking companies may not take the leap, but Jim knows it will pay off. Equipment investments allow the team to take on even more jobs that others won’t, can’t, or don’t.

When in Doubt, Jim It Out!

When you pair Jim with the rest of the All Chemical team, you get an unstoppable force of ingenuity! With his guidance, we can keep bringing innovative technology and processes to the table, providing our customers the unparalleled service that is synonymous with the All Chemical name.

So, don’t wait: give us a call today, and learn how our team can help you, too. And remember: When in doubt, Jim it out!

steve-and-anthony-against-all-chem-truck

Behind the Scenes: All Chemical’s Ingenuity

Written by SysAdmin on November 14, 2023. Posted in The All Chemical Team.

Behind the Scenes: All Chemical’s IngenuityAddressing the Problem

One of our customers hired another bulk liquid transportation company to ship Maleic Anhydride from Texas to Illinois from the shipper’s tank to the customers. It wasn’t the multi-state nature of the job that was presenting the biggest problem; it was the temperature-sensitive nature of the product.

The original carrier found this out the hard way. When they attempted to transfer the product in preparation for shipping, they failed to keep the temperature as precisely controlled as it needed to be. Sure enough, the product coagulated rapidly, thickening on the valve and halting the process completely.

To illustrate, imagine sticking a long, stainless-steel straw through a snowbank, trying to siphon water from a container on one end of the straw to a container on the other end. Since the straw isn’t insulated, any water flowing through it would freeze as soon as it’s exposed to the cold.

At that point, the carrier threw up their hands and said the job was a no-go, leaving the customer with a trailer full of coagulated product and no way to get it shipped to where it needed to go.

We’ll take it from here…

Finding a Solution

Immediately, our team jumped on board and started brainstorming with our bulk liquid intermodal services.

After returning the coagulated product to the correct temperature, how could we engineer the transfer process to guarantee success? Suffice it to say, the factors involved were complex; and with a product this temperamental, we knew we had a narrow margin of error if we wanted to get this done right.

Our team was determined to figure out a solution. Led by our resident problem solver, Director of Operations’ Jim Notarfrancesco, we workshopped a variety of solutions to land on an ingenious workaround.

The a-ha moment: retrofit our trailers to suit the demanding product specifics to keep it at a consistent temperature.

The solution we engineered was two-pronged.

1. We circulated engine coolant through a coil to keep the product warm by moving heat from the engine directly through the trailer.
2. We kept the valve stem warm throughout the journey to avoid it being clogged with the product.

As we discuss next steps with our customer, the trailer is in Channahon, Illinois. It’s on a steam pad to bump up the temperature to the required range while we steam the rear valve to loosen any coagulation that could possibly form around it. Delivering safely and efficiently is about getting into the most granular details of crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s.

No Matter What, We Deliver

Our commitment to innovative problem-solving, even in the face of complex challenges, is our industry calling card. Our customer’s distress call wasn’t the first time we’ve been asked to step in and fix a supposedly unsolvable issue that another carrier couldn’t handle.

Trust us to deliver solutions that safeguard your product and ensure a successful outcome…every time.

Stay tuned for more innovative solutions from our team. If you’re looking for a reliable and resourceful partner for your bulk liquid shipping needs, contact All Chemical today.

All Chemical: Always on the Job

Written by SysAdmin on November 7, 2023. Posted in The All Chemical Team.

All Chemical: Always on the JobWe can’t fall down on the job when so much depends on that job being done—and done right. So, we hold ourselves to the highest possible standard, making sure we’re a well-oiled machine so we can show up when it matters most.

This is how we have established our proven reputation in the bulk liquid transportation industry, as a known, reliable carrier for essential services, no matter what chaos is unfolding in the world around us.

We’re The Emergency Services First Call

Why are we so determined when it comes to emergency preparedness? It’s because we support crucial sectors:

Private and public utility companies
Government branches and services
Nuclear sites
Essential goods and services

When emergency strikes, we at All Chemical keep our hand at the helm. Through our decades of experience in this industry, we’ve developed detailed, thorough plans of action for a whole host of disaster situations.

How We Do It

We’re a company guided by our core values. When it comes to handling emergencies, we steer by our values of excellence in service and stringency in safety standards. In an emergency situation, that translates as unparalleled, rapid communication that enables us to turn on a dime to help our customers in times of extreme duress: no ifs, ands, or buts.

Our team includes reserve staff: select CDL-certified employees who are constantly on call in case we need them to drop everything and aid us in addressing a customer’s emergency. And to better equip us to do that, we’ve allocated our services and equipment nationwide—whether holding tanks, cargo tanks, or standing agreements—with a focus on key areas we know are in need of extra on-demand help, in addition to our 24/7/365 staff.

Almost all of our drivers have their HME endorsement, and their TWIC card, and are vetted for nuclear power plants, Department of Defense (DOD) and water treatment facilities.

It all comes down to this: There’s nothing we can’t, don’t, or won’t do for our customers. We are prepared down to the smallest detail, and we always follow through.

Working at All Chemical: A Day in the Life

Written by SysAdmin on October 12, 2023. Posted in Employee Spotlight, The All Chemical Team.

Working at All Chemical: A Day in the LifeLots of companies say it’s great to work for them. They talk a big game about how they treat their workers well and provide good benefits.

It’s easy to make claims, but the real test is on the ground. How well do these companies live out their values? What do their employees have to say about what it’s like to work for them?

At All Chemical, we pride ourselves on how well we treat our people: both our customers and our team. And that isn’t something we claim about ourselves because it sounds good. We say it because it’s true—and we have the data to back it up. We hear the satisfied customer and staff testimonials; and in the chemical transport trucking industry that’s plagued by driver retention problems, our impressively low turnover rate speaks for itself.

But we don’t think you should have to take our word for it. So, we thought we’d pull back the curtain again, and let you meet a couple of our employees.

That way, you can hear it straight from them: what do they love about working for All Chemical?

Meet Geoff McDade, Truck Driver

Geoff’s worked in trucking for fifty years. He’s been around the block more than once, so he knows what’s out there.

“In all my years in the workforce,” he told us, “All Chemical is by far the best place I’ve ever worked. I left for a bit in the 90s, and I tell Anthony all the time—that was the biggest regret of my life!

“All these years, I’ve seen how they work. They’ve put great systems and processes in place, and the communication from leadership is clear. They’re responsive, too. I remember once I had an issue with a Sunday drop-off, and Matt answered his phone right away and got me the quick, reliable answer I needed.

“It’s a family business, and everyone in the family is a hard and talented worker, bringing something different to the table. They actually treat you like part of their family, too: birthday and work anniversary cards, small meaningful touches like that. The team treats everyone as equals, and they share this honest, hard-working ethic that’s great to be around.

“They train right, too. They’re always telling their drivers to take their time, check their equipment, and make sure everything’s in order, so it’s done right the first time.

“Plus, they go out of their way to make life easier on us: the best tech, the best trucks, the best equipment. Steve just got me the 2023 Kenworth sleeper, and let me tell you, I’m thrilled. All Chemical’s fleet has all the bells and whistles: extra chrome, extra lights. Looks amazing driving down the road.

“Honestly, no company I’ve ever worked for compares!”

Meet Bruce O’Hora, Wash Rack Staff

Bruce has worked on our wash rack for over 3 years. When we asked him what he loved about working for All Chemical, he had this to say:

“The way I see it, this company is doing business the way it should be done, and that’s great to be a part of. Safety’s a top priority, even over productivity. The company values hard work and integrity, and they really walk the walk as far as that’s concerned.

“They make it clear how much they value our health and wellbeing as employees. The pay is well above average, great benefits, and there’s a high quality of life on the job. They provide us with the best equipment and technology. They even make little gestures of appreciation, like weekly lunches.

“Company communication is top-notch. Management has an open-door policy: come in whenever and talk directly to them. Trainings are interactive and involved, so we’re a part of the process, and they really prioritize ensuring that everyone understands. It’s the same with workplace changes, too: anytime something’s new or changing, they include all employees in the plans so everyone knows what to expect and how we’ll be affected.

“There are so many signs that the company is growing, like the new construction at the Lakewood facility—so I’m definitely excited to see what the future holds!”

And there you have it. At All Chemical, we have an excellent company culture not because we say it, but because we do it. We appreciate our employees, and we make sure they know it. Because our team feels appreciated, they go the extra mile—for you.

Reach out today to discuss your needs and find out how you can benefit from our thriving company culture.