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Month: September 2021

What Sets Groupe Somavrac and its Transportation of Hazardous Materials Apart

Excerpted from an interview with Martin Deschamps, Transportation Director for Transport Somavrac and Transport Servitank since 2017, and Alex Gagnon, Assistant Director of Transportation

In this article, discover what separates Groupe Somavrac and its transportation of hazardous materials service from the rest.

Products and Equipment

Groupe Somavrac can transport a wide range of products, including hazardous and non-regulated materials for the agricultural, industrial, agrifood, and pulp and paper sectors. The transportation of hazardous materials is provided using Groupe Somavrac’s adapted equipment.

Groupe Somavrac makes over 33,000 deliveries each year, including hazardous and non-hazardous materials.

Health and Safety, Key for Groupe Somavrac

Diligence is a major asset for Groupe Somavrac, as well as one of its core values. Every year, Groupe Somavrac provides drivers with the necessary and appropriate training on the products they transport.

“Above all, we’re looking for professionals. Groupe Somavrac wants drivers that truly represent the company.”

– Martin Deschamps, Transportation Director for Transport Somavrac and Transport Servitank

Groupe Somavrac is very close to its customers: its team of professionals visits customer sites to make recommendations and provide support, particularly when deliveries of hazardous materials are involved.

Safety comes first for employees when it comes to transportation service procedures, and it shows – both Transport Somavrac and Transport Servitank boast excellent safety scores under SAAQ’s register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles (RPEVL).

Groupe Somavrac’s mission, vision, and values shine through in the company’s safety practices, training programs, and responsible management. These cornerstone principles are regularly communicated at every operational level, from upper management to drivers.

“What truly sets us apart is our family of subsidiaries, which provide complementary services. That means Groupe Somavrac draws on the necessary expertise in complete logistics to provide the best transportation services.”

– Alex Gagnon, Assistant Director of Transportation 

Groupe Somavrac is much more than its transportation of hazardous materials service. The company provides complete turnkey logistics services in the fields of stevedoring, warehousing, handling and transformation, transportation, and chemical distribution. It leverages the expertise of each of its subsidiaries to provide the best possible service.

Accuracy of Liquid Calcium Chloride Concentrations

Hygroscopic effect

Liquid calcium chloride is often used as a dust suppressant on gravel roads in summertime. How does the product trap dust? Calcium chloride is hygroscopic, i.e. it attracts and retains water. In practical terms, it draws moisture from the ambient air down to road gravel level. That way, the road stays humid and dust-free all summer long. Having the right concentration is important, because water absorption capacity increases along with product concentration. High concentrations mean better performance: that’s why it is crucial that your calcium chloride supplier applies best practices when it comes to density analysis.

Check the concentration

Higher concentrations mean you can cover a larger surface in a single trip! – Eric Arsenault

With that in mind, how can you make sure that the concentration shown on the delivery slip or waybill is correct? Here’s how the Somavrac C.C. team makes sure the concentration of liquid de-icing agents and dust suppressants is accurate:

  • Measure the ratio of the liquid’s density to the specific gravity of water using an electronic hydrometer.
  • Calibrate the measuring tool annually.
  • Conduct two density tests: when receiving the product and before loading the product.

Somavrac C.C. recommends that you always ask for a certificate of analysis from your supplier when requesting a quote or receiving product. It is a written confirmation from your supplier that also certifies product concentration. Somavrac C.C. cares about road safety, so you can rest assured that you will receive high quality product that meets customer needs in terms of concentration, effectiveness, and performance.

About Somavrac C.C.

Somavrac C.C. specializes in the distribution of calcium chloride across Quebec. Well known by municipalities for its dust suppressants and de-icers, Somavrac C.C. strives to be a professional supplier with diligent environmental care.

 

Learn more about our dust suppressant products today.