Canada and The United States have rolled out a new vaccine policy for cross border truckers. Under new rules that came into force January 15th, Canadian truck drivers need to be fully vaccinated to cross the border without a pre-arrival PCR test and to avoid quarantine, while unvaccinated U.S. truckers will be turned back.
A convoy of protesters involving truckers and people of the industry is headed its way to Ottawa this weekend called – The Freedom Convoy, to host a demonstration on Parliament Hill. A GoFundMe campaign for The Freedom Convoy has reached $4.3 million in donations so far!
It has been estimated that approximately 26,000 truck drivers who cross the Canada-US border are being affected by the vaccine policy. This has certainly caused disruptions in the supply chain of certain industries, especially the food and manufacturing industry. There has been reports of food shortages in grocery stores around Canada. The flooding in British Columbia last fall also caused issues in the supply chain. There’s going to be an inflationary impact on the cost of merchandise coming in from the U.S, especially produce.
The cost of shipping freight has certainly increased because of this. It costs more to move a given load now than before, especially in areas such as British Columbia. The supply of carriers have dropped as well which is causing issues in booking loads resulting in longer wait times.
At Contender Logistics, we have developed very personal relationships with our carriers. Our carriers have been reliable for us since our inception and they still continue to do the most for us. During these unprecedented times, they continue to keep us their first priority. This is why our rates are still competitive and we are able to book loads that other 3PL providers cannot. We take pride in our excellent carrier network that expands from Canada and into the United States. This is also why we are able to accommodate special lanes upon request!
In the world of Logistics, there are various different types of containers that come with different and unique characteristics. When preparing for LTL and FTL shipping, we must carefully choose the type of truck or container that will enable smooth and seamless delivery of certain types of products. We make sure that there are no problems throughout the shipping process; from picking your product up to dropping it off at your doorstep. This blog post is an overview of the common vehicles we use.
Dry Van
They are 53 ft in length and can be loaded and unloaded with a Forklift. The trailer is fully enclosed. They are not temperature controlled and is primarily used to haul non-perishable freight. Maximum freight weight to haul is 45,000 lbs. And yes, they are dry.
Flatbed
Flatbeds are considered an open deck equipment as they have no sides and no roof. 53 ft in length. They can be loaded and unloaded from any direction which makes them very versatile. They are usually used for oversized cargo, constructional steelwork, and machinery. Maximum freight weight is 48,000 lbs. We do provide tarps upon request.
Step Deck
Step Decks are an open deck equipment with two decks: top and bottom. They are also known as Drop Deck trailers. 53 ft in length and are primarily used for cargo that is too wide or tall to fit onto a standard flatbed. They are safe for forklift pickups as well. Maximum freight weight is 48,000 lbs.
Rolltite
Rolltites are a flat deck trailer with a special rolling tarp system which can quickly cover and uncover the trailer. 53 ft in length. They are also known as Conestoga trailers and they add an extra layer of protection for your freight. They allow the loading and unloading from 3 directions: Top, Rear and Side. Maximum freight weight is 45,000 lbs.
Lowboy
A lowboy is a semi-trailer with two drops in deck height: one right after the gooseneck and one right before the wheels. This allows the decks to be extremely low compared to other trailers. They can carry legal loads up to 12 ft (3.66 m) tall, which other trailers cannot. Lowboys are used to haul heavy equipment such as bulldozers and large industrial equipment. Lowboys Maximum weight is 40,000 pounds for a standard 2-axle Lowboy Trailer; but can take an additional weight of up to 80,000 pounds depending on the number of axles used.
Reefer (Refrigerated) Trailer
Reefers contain an active cooling system. Reefer trailers are designed to maintain a specific temperature to keep your cargo fresh on arrival. Refrigerated trailers are used for perishable cargo, such as meat and vegetables, that needs to arrive in prime condition. Maximum freight weight is 42,500 to 45,000 lbs.
As one of the fastest growing Logistics company in Ontario, we pride ourselves in providing the best shipping experience possible to our clients. We strive to develop excellent personal relationships with customers, giving them the peace of mind that they deserve while shipping. Our company provides cargo coverage for your shipments which means your products are insured when you ship with us!
Our dedicated team of Account Executives are always one e-mail or one phone call away. They are keeping an eye out for your freight 24/7 and will communicate with you at every step of the process. Our business model puts the customer first and we have several discounts for repeat customers! Sit back and relax while we handle your shipping needs at the most competitve rate in the market. Most of our clients ship across Canadian provinces, as well as to and from the United States!
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