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In just a few words, “delivering every tank car safely” perfectly summarizes the mission of Monument Houston’s rail team. While that may seem simple enough, the efforts behind making this possible are anything but. And if anyone understands that, it’s the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). So when they recognize a chemical company in this area, it’s a big deal.

And this year, Monument Chemical took that achievement to the next level. We are proud to be one of less than 100 companies across the region to earn the 2022 Union Pacific Pinnacle Award, and it wasn’t the first time we’ve made the prestigious list. But it was under some of the most impressive circumstances yet!

“The Pinnacle Award recognizes companies within the region for their commitment to safely transporting chemicals by rail across the country,” David Dzapata, Logistics Manager, explained. “It specifically looks for organizations that have managed zero NARs (non-accident releases of hazardous materials), spills, missing plugs, etc., all of which can be identified at any time during inspections and audits from the regulation and compliance officials. And not many companies are able to accomplish this year after year.”

But Monument Houston has. This is our 5th year receiving the award, proving that our commitment to safety isn’t just an accomplishment — it’s a standard.

“Safety is embedded into every step of our processes,” Roberto Castaneda, Logistics Supervisor Houston, shared. “Before anything ever comes into our facilities, we have someone inspecting the area and equipment for mechanical issues or anything out of the ordinary. In preparation for every shipment, our team goes through checklists, conducting various pressure and safety inspections, and anything not in compliance is reviewed and addressed by a railcar mechanic, which can take several hours to complete. Once everything is loaded and secured, the night shift comes in for another check, so each shipment will have 3-4 checks before the car leaves the site.”

While an often redundant and tedious process, the extra time and effort is always worth it as it keeps everyone involved safe, as well as Federal Railroad Admission (FRA) inspectors from having to make additional visits, which is a win in itself.

But it certainly helps to add the annual recognition of the Pinnacle Award as icing on the cake.

“This award is not only a great way to prove to everyone in our industry that Monument is a trusted and reliable partner with an unwavering commitment to safety, but also important for our team internally,” David shared. “This type of recognition shows our people that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed — even at the highest level. It truly spotlights the teams making the efforts every single day to ensure our facilities and our communities are safer. It’s no longer just an achievement to us; it’s a level we strive to maintain.”

This year, 95 companies across 23 states received the Pinnacle Award, recognizing their commitment to protecting the environment and the communities along our rail network. And what makes the honors even more notable for Monument is the impressive year that coincided with it. In 2022, our rail teams loaded 1382 railcars, while managing almost 130 barges and 6,000 trucks with record-breaking months along the way.

“Every year, we’re increasing our shipments and growing our business exponentially, but we have never let it impact the quality of our safety standards,” Roberto added. “Our plant is expanding, but our loading facilities haven’t changed. So we’ve been increasing these numbers and capabilities purely through improving our processes and becoming more efficient. It’s a tremendous testament to our team and the future we’re creating for ourselves as an industry leader.”