How to choose a drayage carrier: a checklist for Canadian shippers

The cheapest drayage quote isn’t always the cheapest move. A carrier without access to your terminal, without a free chassis, or slow to book an appointment can turn a low rate into days of storage and detention. Use this checklist to compare drayage carriers in Canada.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

Before you start: know your move

Carriers can only quote accurately if they know the details. Have these ready:

the terminal (for example a rail ramp such as CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan, or a port such as Vancouver or Montreal)
container size and type (20′, 40′, 40′ high cube, 45′, reefer)
gross weight, and whether the load is heavy
any dangerous goods
delivery address, receiving hours and dock type
live unload or drop, and how long unloading takes
the date the container becomes available, and the free time you have
where the empty must be returned

The checklist

1. Terminal access

This is the first filter. Canadian terminals have their own registration rules:

Port of Vancouver: the carrier must be on the port authority’s Truck Licensing System (TLS) list and hold a Container Trucking Services licence. The port publishes the TLS list on its website.
Port of Montreal: drivers need a port access card. Termont requires appointments and RFID tags, and Montreal Gateway Terminals requires company and driver registration. Some shipping lines also require the carrier to be a UIIA participant.
CN terminals: CN lists driver registration and CN Express Pass at its Canadian intermodal terminals.
CPKC terminals: drivers must be registered for CPKC’s FastPass auto-gate by their dray carrier before they arrive.

Ask: “Are you and your drivers already set up at this exact terminal?”

2. Safety registration and record

Commercial truck carriers in Canada are registered for safety with their home province, and you can check many of these records yourself:

Ontario (CVOR): the province offers free online tools, including a carrier safety rating enquiry and a carrier search by name. A one-page CVOR Abstract (Level 1) summarising a carrier’s two-year record is available to the public for a small fee.
Quebec: the Commission des transports du Québec keeps the register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles. Registered companies get a registration number (NIR) and a safety rating, and you can look up a company’s file.
Other provinces: carriers hold a National Safety Code (NSC) certificate. In British Columbia, for example, the NSC carrier profile tracks inspections, contraventions, accidents and audits, and carriers can share a summary report with clients.

Ask: “What is your safety registration number and rating?” Then check it yourself.

3. Insurance

Ask for a current certificate of insurance showing liability and cargo coverage, and compare the cargo limit with the value of your goods. Check what is excluded, such as particular commodities or unattended trailers. Ask how claims are handled.

4. Customs bond (if you need in-bond moves)

If your container will be released inland instead of at the first port of arrival, it moves “in bond”. The Canada Border Services Agency allows bonded highway carriers to move in-bond goods beyond the first port of arrival and between points in Canada. They need a CBSA carrier code and must post financial security. Ask: “Are you a bonded carrier?”

5. Equipment

Enough chassis for your container sizes, including 45′ if you need it
Tri-axle or extendable chassis for heavy containers, where provincial weight rules allow
Gensets for reefers, if needed
Trucks that meet terminal standards. At Vancouver, the TLS sets a minimum truck age and requires GPS on all trucks.

6. Dangerous goods capability

If you ship dangerous goods, confirm the carrier’s drivers hold valid training certificates under Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods rules and that the carrier regularly handles your class of goods.

7. Appointment and dispatch process

Ask how the carrier tracks container availability, books gate appointments or pre-gates, and tells you when the container is picked up, delivered and returned empty. Good carriers book ahead of free time, not at the last minute.

8. Capacity and coverage

Can the carrier handle your peak weeks? Does it cover both rail ramps in your city and the port your containers come through? A carrier with access to only one terminal may not suit you if your shipping lines change.

9. Pre-pulls and yard storage

If your dock can’t always take containers within free time, a carrier with a secure yard can pre-pull them. Ask about yard security and daily storage and chassis charges.

10. Clear pricing

Ask for an all-in quote that lists:

the base rate, including the empty return
the fuel surcharge and how it is calculated
free waiting time and the hourly charge after it
chassis, pre-pull, yard storage, overweight, dangerous goods and reefer charges
how terminal, railway and shipping-line charges are passed on

In the Lower Mainland, drivers’ minimum pay is set by the BC Container Trucking Commissioner, which affects pricing there. Be wary of quotes that look far below the market.

11. Who pays for delays

Agree in writing who pays when a missed appointment, a late empty return or a dock delay leads to storage, demurrage, detention or per diem charges.

12. References and responsiveness

Ask for references from shippers with similar freight, and notice how quickly and clearly the carrier answers your questions. That is usually how it will communicate on a problem shipment.

Red flags

Vague answers about terminal access or registration
No certificate of insurance, or cargo cover well below your load’s value
A safety registration you can’t confirm on the provincial lookup
A quote with no extra charges listed at all
Pressure to commit before you have the details in writing

How our directory helps

Our listings show which terminals each carrier names in a public source, and they link to that source. Carriers that claim their listing go through the checks described in how we verify carriers, including a provincial safety rating lookup and a review of their certificate of insurance. We don’t rank or recommend carriers. Use this checklist to compare them yourself.

FAQ

How many drayage quotes should I get?

Get enough to compare. Two or three carriers with confirmed access to your terminal is a reasonable start.

Can I check a carrier’s safety record myself?

Yes. Ontario has free online carrier search and safety rating tools, plus a low-cost public CVOR abstract. Quebec’s CTQ lets you look up a company’s file. Other provinces have NSC records.

Does the cheapest carrier save money?

Not always. One missed appointment can lead to storage or detention charges larger than the rate difference.

What if a carrier isn’t licensed at the Port of Vancouver?

It can’t access port container terminals. Check the port authority’s TLS list before booking.

Find and compare carriers by terminal

Start with your terminal: CN Brampton, CPKC Vaughan, Port of Vancouver, Port of Montreal, or browse by city. To request a quote, open a carrier’s page and contact that company directly. Carriers can claim or add a free listing.

More drayage guides

All guides