New Hazmat Transportation Study Reveals Key Operational Risks

A collaborative benchmarking study by J. J. Keller and COSTHA highlights persistent training challenges, preventable errors and technology trends.

• By Jesse Jacobs
• Jul 02, 2026

Hazardous materials transportation risks are largely driven by everyday operational realities like human error and training gaps rather than a lack of commitment to safety, according to a new benchmarking study.

The report, titled "Focus on Safety: Benchmarking the State of the Hazmat/Dangerous Goods Industry," was released by the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights and the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles. The collaborative research established a baseline for understanding shared risks and priorities across the supply chain, gathering input from more than 250 industry professionals including shippers, carriers and manufacturers.

The findings indicate that routine tasks remain leading sources of compliance issues. Errors in documentation, labeling and classification persist across the industry, often driven by time constraints and process gaps.

Managing regulatory training also presents a significant challenge for organizations. While industry leaders value safety education, many struggle to track training renewals, keep educational content current and align courses to specific job roles.

Additionally, the study identified undeclared hazardous materials—particularly in inbound shipments—as a major risk factor. Regulatory variations and evolving requirements surrounding air transport and lithium battery shipments further increase operational complexity for logistics managers.

While technology adoption is rising in the sector, companies are generally approaching automation with caution. The research showed that businesses are seeking digital tools that support human decision-making and reduce manual errors rather than replacing human oversight entirely.

The industry data was gathered through an online survey of hazardous materials professionals conducted late last year. The full report is available on the COSTHA website.

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