Finding Chemical Transport Success with All Chemical Employees
At All Chemical, our power is our people. We know the way to succeed in chemical transport is to invest in our team and go the distance together. As our founder Steve Quadrel likes to say, “Building a team you can trust is what will make or break you in this business. People who think they can just lone-cowboy their way to the top . . . well, let’s just say, they don’t last long around here!”
We celebrate our successes as group efforts, and from time to time, we like to shine the spotlight on some of the impressive individuals who make what we do possible.
This time, we’re excited to introduce you to two remarkable team members: Marianne Marucci and Renee Crawford.
Meet Marianne Marucci, Terminal Manager – Delaware
Marianne Marucci is our dispatcher and terminal manager at our Delaware/Baltimore hub. After 34 years in the chemical transport industry, Marianne’s found her home base here with All Chemical.
She got her start back in 1991, doing general office duties for a trucking company. A hard worker, she made her way through log-checking, taking orders, and invoicing customers, all the way up to dispatch. She’d done business in this capacity with All Chemical for over 15 years before her company closed her terminal, and she seized the opportunity to officially join All Chemical, where she’s been for the past seven years.
Marianne always makes a point of learning each of the chemicals we haul, thoroughly educating herself on all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
“That’s the way to make a good place for yourself in this industry,” she says. “I always advise anyone pursuing this career to learn everything they can about the ins and outs of every product and regulation.” She takes yearly training to keep abreast of industry trends and safety requirements, staying sharp for her role as dispatcher.
“A typical day, for me, means solving issues with tractors, trailers, and truck drivers,” she says. “It means taking orders, inputting them into our system, setting up dispatch, assigning truck drivers and trailers for each delivery, and keeping track of every piece of equipment.”
What’s one thing Marianne wants everyone to know about the chemical transport industry? “It’ll be around forever,” she grins.
Meet Renee Crawford, Terminal Manager – Texas
“There’s never a dull moment in this business,” says Renee Crawford, the terminal manager at our brand-new Texas terminal. “So many moving parts! You’re never sitting around idle. That’s why I chose this career, actually.”
She started out in the logistics industry in 2008. Over the next 17 years, she expanded her industry expertise, handling containers on customs or USDA holds at ports throughout New Jersey, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, and working as a chemical logistics broker moving bulk and ISO containers for companies like Dow Chemical, Lanxess, Clariant, and Henkel.
With her impressive resume, Renee soon had her sights set higher. “All Chemical was one of my premier carriers. They were #1 on my list to call, due to their excellent customer service and flawless execution. When I gave them a job, I knew they’d make it stress-free: Jim Notarfrancesco stays on top of everything!
“Plus, I knew they ran a close-knit, family type of operation—very different from the corporate one I was in—and I wanted a change,” she says. “I asked Jim if he had any opportunities opening up. ‘Funny you’d ask,’ he told me. ‘We’re opening a new terminal in Texas and need a manager. Interested?’”
She shakes her head, smiling. “One thing you should know about me: I love a challenge. I snapped up his offer—and I guess you could say the rest is history!”
Her role delivers all the challenges she could want as she manages 10 truck drivers, expertly handling all issues that arise with hauls, truck drivers, and equipment. “I’m a people person,” she says. “Probably the most rewarding aspect of my job is working with such a variety of people from all walks of life to help our hauls go smoothly and without hiccup.”
What does she want everyone to know about the chemical transport industry? “How huge a role it plays in our everyday lives,” she says emphatically. “So many of the products we ship go into everything we come across in society as a whole. Without the many people that handle the different aspects of transport of these materials, we would not be able to function productively as a society.”
The fact that people don’t realize this sometimes leads to problems, Renee thinks. The industry is plagued with truck driver shortages as a result of young people underestimating the worth of the career. “Shortages used to be a real challenge for me in past positions,” Renee says, “but with All Chemical’s good reputation among truck drivers for good pay and fair treatment, they don’t have a problem finding truck drivers—and keeping them, too.”
How to Be Successful in Chemical Transportation
Both Marianne and Renee advise people interested in a chemical transport career to pay attention to industry trends and learn all they can. “You need to multitask at a high level and be flexible with changes,” Renee adds. “The All Chemical team does a great job of this. Don Wrege, our Director of Safety and Maintenance, keeps management informed of new safety concerns, equipment updates, and improvements needed, and the team as a whole works collectively to stay on top of trends and policy changes.”
“Bottom line?” Renee says. “I love how family-oriented All Chemical is, and I hope to be here for a long time.”
The next time you’re taking advantage of our wide array of chemical transport services, you might have Renee or Marianne to thank for your seamless delivery! Contact us today to handle your next haul with professional ease.