We were delighted to be invited to accept a CN Safe Handling Award at a ceremony in Chicago, IL in May 2026.
CN is a leading North American transportation and logistics company, which transports more than C$250 billion-worth of goods annual for a wide range of business sectors. It operates across a rail network of approximately 200,000 route miles, spanning Canada and mid-America.
The annual CN Safe Handling Awards recognize customers who have demonstrated excellence in the safe loading and transportation of regulated products by rail. Recipients must meet a range of criteria including stringent safety requirements. The Awards are an important part of the Responsible Care® Program, in which both CN and Valentra take part.
CN’s commitment to safe handling reflects its focus on partnerships between the company, its employees and its customers. Maintaining safe operations across a wide geographic area, and when working with dangerous goods and hazardous materials is critical not only to business success, but protection of workers, the public and the environment.
Janet Drysdale, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at CN said:
“Congratulations to the 2025 recipients for their ongoing dedication to the safe handling of regulated goods that transit along our network. At CN, safety is our core value, and guides everything we do. We thank the 194 shippers for their continued commitment to upholding the highest safety standards.”
Buck Rogers, Vice-President Petroleum & Chemicals at CN added:
“Safety is a shared responsibility, and these awards highlight customers who lead by example with every shipment. Their commitment helps keep our employees safe as well as the communities where we operate. We appreciate their partnership in making safety a daily practice.”
The full criteria for gaining a CN Safe Handling Award are below:
- This program is intended for Rail Shipper and/or Payer of Freight indicated on the waybill records and/or Loaders of railcars (in the case of a terminal)
- To be eligible, the Shipper, Payer of Freight, or Loader of rail cars, have to have a minimum of 100 cars of dangerous goods /hazardous materials in the previous calendar year
- Shipments have to originate on CN or affiliated companies
- CN monitors non-accidental releases (NARs) (loads and residues) on cars carrying dangerous goods/hazardous materials (ex. tank cars, hoppers, gondolas, containers) to determine eligibility.
- NARs on loaded railcars will be assessed against the shipper as per shipping documents and against the actual loader if the shipper and loader are not the same party
- NARs on residues railcars will be assessed against both the shipper as per shipping documents and the consignee as CN expects all rail shippers of dangerous goods / hazardous materials to have an internal “stewardship” program with their own customers (i.e. Responsible Care)
- Customers must not exceed the indicated maximum NAR’s shown in the table below to qualify for a Safe Handling Award.
Commenting on the award, Valentra Procurement Director, Matt Barcus said:
“Valentra is committed to safe operations across all our sites and during all transportation. Our membership of the Responsible Care® Program and our outstanding internal safety records clearly demonstrate that health and safety are at the top of the Valentra agenda. We are delighted to have that commitment recognized by a CN Safe Handling Award, and we want to thank the CN committee for acknowledging our approach.”
And Valentra Manufacturing Director, Steve Hoffpauir said:
“Valentra’s commitment to EHS and compliance with regulatory requirements includes all forms of transportation. While this recognition by CN for Safe handling is an honor, it reflects the dedication of our team to do things right the first time and the reinforces that the programs that we have in place are effective.”
