What Others Say About COSTHA
Real Voices. Real Impact.
At COSTHA, our greatest success stories come directly from the people we serve. Whether it’s long-time members, new members, or partners from around the globe, their experiences speak volumes. Here’s what others have to say about COSTHA - in their own words.
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MEMBERSHIP & MEMBER BENEFITS
'"I joined COSTHA in 2007 for SDS assistance and as a result was able to obtain a UN classification ruling from Limited Quantity as a de minimis DGIEQ labeling that met IATA/ICAO regulations, enabled special CRT containerization, along with "known shipper status" UK/US resulting in a "FDA fast track approval as a commercial drug."
"COSTHA membership has been invaluable to my professional journey. My participation at Annual Forums and meetings and my involvement in working groups have not only expanded my knowledge and understanding of the dangerous goods regulations, and also allowed me to share insights and best practices with peers who face similar challenges. One of the most significant advantages of COSTHA membership for me is the access to a vast network of industry and government dangerous goods professionals as well as the technical experts on the COSTHA staff. The connections I’ve made, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the opportunities to advocate for positive change have all contributed to my professional growth and development."
"I have been a member since 2008. COSTHA is essential for your DG toolbox on the latest rules and regulatory information on the proper handling and transportation of DG goods for all modes domestically and internationally."
"I have been a member of COSTHA for years now and I cannot say enough about what it is like being a part of like minded individuals who never lose sight of the reasons we are following these regulations in the first place. I have at times been at a loss as to what to do or who to turn to and there has always been someone there willing to stand up and help. I mean actually help not just point me in the right direction and point out the way to go and what you should expect and what you should ask along the way. I have been able to learn, grow, and become confident in all things hazmat and to share this with my company."
“Our membership cost is easily justified and recovered through the many benefits and networking opportunities that COSTHA provides. I only wish I had been introduced to the organization earlier in my career!”
“The ability to participate at the UN meetings and have daily briefing papers prepared by COSTHA saves me hours of time, saves my company thousands of dollars, and gives us the opportunity to proactively prepare for regulatory changes.”
“The information COSTHA provides cuts right to the heart of the issues. They summarize the information and then provide me with links to complete reference materials. This saves me tons of time and makes it possible for me to quickly distribute relevant information throughout the company.”
“I really appreciate COSTHA and the teams work! There is so much to cover and learn and it is good to see COSTHA on the leading edge providing help, guidance, education and regulatory evolvement. Keep it coming.”
“Working with COSTHA staff and other members, we have identified an opportunity to update the HazMat Regulations to allow for alternative testing criteria and harmonization of the definitions regarding aerosols.”
"I am a 25-year veteran of DG - the information that was shared during the COSTHA Educational Series sessions was invaluable and will help to improve my company’s DG corporate compliance program."
"The Webinar series are timely and very educational. There are always nuggets of information to take away."
ANNUAL FORUM & EXPO
"The COSTHA Forum was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and expand my circle within the hazmat community!! The networking, collaboration, and shared expertise made it a highly valuable and engaging experience."
"I would 100% recommend attending the COSTHA forum if you have the ability to do so. The information shared by the presenters along with meeting others in the industry are valuable to any DG employee across many industries. Perspective is everything, and attending the COSTHA forum can help open your view point of how DG is handled across many companies and industries."
"I have known about and respected the Forum for many years but was never able to attend. It met and exceeded my expectations in many ways. The Forum provided valuable information and more. The opportunity to connect and reconnect with so many quality people in the Dangerous Goods Transportation industry was invaluable."
"This was my fourth forum and every time I walk away from it with a little more knowledge than I previously had. The time is well spent and truly an asset to career building skills."
"There have been many great forums but this ranks up there with one of the best. The venue helped make it so but the meetings and presentations are becoming more engaging. COSTHA is doing something right and hitting on more thrusters!"
"As a first-time attendee, the COSTHA Forum exceeded my expectations. The combination of education, networking, and real-world discussions made the experience extremely valuable both professionally and personally. I left with new industry connections, practical knowledge I can apply in my role, and a greater appreciation for the DG community. The welcoming
environment made it easy to engage, learn, and feel connected from the very beginning."
"The COSTHA Annual Forum is the most valuable conference for any DG/HazMat professionals. If you are allowed to attend one conference a year, this should be it. Between the variety of topics covered to the expertise of both the speakers and attendees, the Forum is absolutely a can't-miss opportunity for any company involved in HazMat."
"I really appreciated the shift toward more interactive content this year. The 'Wearing Many Hats' and '3PL Best Practices' sessions provided real-world context that is often missing from regulatory conferences. By the time we reached the 'Close Out' on Wednesday, it felt like a true industry town hall where we were solving problems together rather than just being talked at. Best culmination of a COSTHA forum yet!"
"COSTHA is the premier Dangerous Goods forum in the United States. It provides one stop shopping for training, developing trends and regulations, meeting the regulators and speaking with DG suppliers, packaging manufacturers, DG professionals and modal entities. You can get your questions answered and solve problems in real time."
"Member led panels and networking sessions. The largest strength in our industry is the capability to network with our peers to collectively solve DGiT compliance challenges we all face. Benchmarking one another’s processes, learning our successes and failures allows us to collectively attack DGiT risk within the overall industry."
"As part of a large distribution facility offering a diverse range of products, I understand the complexities of operating within DOT standards and the challenge of mastering multiple product categories. Building relationships with fellow COSTHA members has been invaluable-this network of dangerous goods professionals not only safeguards our business but also continually broadens my expertise. Attending this year’s conference has further fueled my enthusiasm for the industry, leaving me inspired and eager to embrace new opportunities and best practices."
"In order to stay on top of the DG industry standards and meet both the professionals of the nationwide DG community and the experts of the regulatory authorities, the attendance at the yearly COSTHA conference is a MUST for me. I make sure to include the conference in my yearly development goals and communicate the news and innovations with my teams. What I appreciate the most about COSTHA is the positive ambiance and feeling of togetherness. One of the most important messages of the speakers on stage is: I know that I don't know everything. But I know someone who can help with your request. I am very happy to be part of the COSTHA community and can recommend this event for any DG professional here in the United States."
"Participating in the COSTHA Forum has been an invaluable experience for our team. The event brings together top-tier professionals and regulators from across the dangerous goods industry, creating a social and safe environment where critical issues can be discussed and best practices are shared. The sessions were not only informative but also actionable, offering insights into the latest regulatory updates, emerging trends, and practical solutions to real-world challenges. COSTHA continues to set the standard for industry engagement, and we left the Forum better equipped, more connected, and deeply motivated to enhance safety and compliance in our operations."
"The event was very well organized, both in terms of meetings and training sessions. Reconnecting with peers and having the opportunity to exchange ideas is a real added value that this event offers. It’s always a pleasure to attend he COSTHA Annual Forum & Expo."
"The COSTHA Annual Forum provides a unique opportunity to engage in conversations with not only members of other organizations in the industry, but also the members of the Regulatory bodies that govern transportation. It is an event that anyone involved in transportation of HazMat should be attending. Bringing more people from your company to the event will only increase the value gained by a company. This is the one conference every year that I refuse to miss due to the large potential benefits to my organization."
"The mix of companies, all aspects of operations, and regulators is extremely valuable to better understand the challenges associated with multi-modal companies operating in the safe transportation of dangerous goods and hazardous materials! This group in particular has an incredible amount of institutional knowledge. Younger people at companies and the government especially should be encouraged to attend!"
"In today's environment a person is crazy not to participate in COSTHA. The forums are so valuable. They have the key government people involved to help industry know what changes will be taking place. This gives us an opportunity to plan and to ask questions. Keep up the good work COSTHA!"
"COSTHA has helped to educate and foster networking among my peers. This only helps the cause of SAFETY. COSTHA has also championed some significant changes in regulations that have benefited industry to ship/transport Hazmat more safely or efficiently."
"This was my first COSTHA meeting. I thought the organization was extremely helpful overall. This was way more than I expected in a good way. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and having the opportunity to see next generation technology was really cool."
"The training provided at the COSTHA Forum was timely, accurate and helpful in maintaining tribal knowledge of basic regulatory requirements regarding the preparation and transport of dg/hazmat"
"COSTHA does an outstanding job of putting everything together and representing the carriers."
"The COSTHA Annual Forum is one of the best resources available to meet with the regulators and receive timely updates as well as meeting colleagues from around the globe who are dealing with the same day to day process or issues."
"Every time I attend the Forum, and I attend every year, I get more out of it. I don't know if it is that I have learned more so that what transpires is value added or the presenters are just getting better but I pick up on more things that help me in my job. I'm getting more and more clarity which helps me to be more effective."
"The format of COSTHA Forum is brilliant! It is great to meet with so many people in such short amount of time, besides having the opportunity to listen to high quality industry speakers. We could keep up with the busy schedule and got so much done in just a few days, especially the networking activities with dangerous goods professionals which gave us a fantastic opportunity to really get to know people."
"Even though this was my very first conference [COSTHA Forum], I was impressed with dynamic scope of information, talent, and dedicated people it brings together. This was a beneficial experience from start to finish. Equally impressive is that this organization works throughout the year to provide valuable information to promote safety, compliance, and organizational effectiveness. Thank you for this great opportunity and your support!"
"As a first time attendee of this conference [COSTHA Forum], I was impressed by all the round table discussions and presentations. I also took advantage of the networking opportunities as there were many attendees from all over. Being part of COSTHA is a wonderful forum as well as an impressive item to add to your resume."
"The value of the amount of information that is presented during the [COSTHA] Forum, and the number of contacts that are available for future contact cannot be measured. There is so much knowledge and experience in the room that you cannot possibly hope to experience it all by yourself."
"[The COSTHA Forum provides the] opportunity to network and meet new people. I met someone in Eastern Europe who can fill a major gap for me. You can't get this kind of opportunity anywhere other than COSTHA"
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
"COSTHA provides value added to the hazmat compliance landscape. They are able to attract speakers from Federal Agencies to provide first hand information that would otherwise not be accessible to the public in such an easy manner."
"COSTHA is a great venue to provide interaction between carriers, and regulators for all modes of transportation."
"COSTHA has a great relationship with DOT and other government entities. It is very evident by the caliber of speakers we had from them at our meetings. It is a very good use of your time to participate in these presentations. I was not disappointed."
"If it is about shipping or transporting hazmat, COSTHA is where it is at! You can learn more about what everyone is doing and what regulations are being developed at COSTHA than just about anywhere else."
"Initial meeting with COSTHA and I could not be more impressed! From the friendliness of the staff to the quality of presenters, truly a five star performance!"
"This was my first COSTHA membership meeting and I was impressed with the content provided. I look forward to future meetings!"