In case you are new to the business, typically if you order hazardous chemicals you will pay both a shipping fee and a HAZMAT fee. That is just how it is with some chemicals.
Just for clarification...no hazmat on samples.
When you order 55'ers or bigger quantities of chemicals and they arrive by tractor trailer, there usually is no HAZMAT fee Depends on the truck line. I use R&L, and there is no extra hazmat fee, but others do have a charge.
and the overall shipping is cheaper compared to by-the-container shipping, with truck freight they charge by the pallet.Not really...it's by hundred weight, i.e., a pallet of feathers will ship much cheaper than a pallet of bricks. AND they do have a minimum, usually 500 # charge.
The Rep should have informed you in case you are new and did not know about this stuff but sometimes they do forget. Zep has some good chemicals. You should have called and complained about that and maybe they could have given you an apology for the lack of communication.
I would not write them off because of an incident like that, there are some good reps out there.