All across Canada, there is plenty of manufacturing for everything from cars to appliances and beyond, but it is not enough to merely produce commercial items. It is equally important to have a way to deliver them, and carrier trucker companies are up for the job. Canadian trucking companies are carriers, always on the lookout for shippers who need to hire them to deliver items to and from a warehouse. A food warehouse, for example, should have a regular, smooth-moving fleet of trucks going in and out to deliver foodstuffs to retailers. Given the size of the Canadian food and beverage company, a carrier company of the highest order should be hired to work. Food and beverage logistics are something to be taken seriously, and a responsible shipper will know which carrier to hire. How big is the Canadian carrier company today? What is being carried?
Trucking in Canada Today
Many industries across Canada need trucking done to deliver good to and from factories, warehouses, and retailers, which in turn sustains a large carrier company across the nation. Today, the Canadian Trucking Alliance has reported that across the entire nation, the trucking industry has a worth close to $65 billion, and it employs some 400,000 people, which includes around 260,000 truckers for the job. And this may get even better in the future; the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative is intended to invest over $2 billion or so over the next decade to make Canada’s transportation structure ever more effective and efficient. And while other forms of cargo shipment exist as well, such as plane or train, trucks make up the bulk of Canadian freight delivery today. Canadian for-hire trucking firms make up around 80% of the total tonnage shipped within any given province.
These trucks are essential for trade as well. Trucks are a major aspect of international trade with the United States to the south, and about two-thirds of all Canada-USA trade is done by truck. This includes 80% of all American exports going into Canada. Similarly, 2012 statistics showed that 90% of all consumer products and foodstuffs were delivered by truck, and a lot of it is also trade with the United States, which stands as Canada’s single largest trading partner, especially given the vast land border. In particular, a lot of foodstuffs and beverages are being transported; currently, this industry is the second largest manufacturing sector in Canada in terms of value of production. As of 2014, for a recent example, shipments for foodstuffs and beverages came out to $105.5 billion. This industry also makes up 17% of all manufacturing shipments and 2% of Canada’s GDP, or Gross Domestic Product.
How to Ship
Different Canadian shippers will have different loads of cargo of various items, and this calls for the right carrier logistics to make for good freight delivery. Sometimes, a truck will be completely filled with one shipper’s cargo, such as for a large chain retailer, but there are exceptions. LTL, or less than truckload, freight is another option, mainly for smaller shippers. In this case, a truck’s cargo bay will be shared by several shippers who have small loads that would certainly not fill the entire truck alone. This is beneficial for all parties, since it’s a huge waste of money to rent a huge truck’s cargo space for a small load (lots of wasted space). And the truck is still carrying a full load, composed of multiple shipments, so it’s not losing any efficiency by driving around 10% full.
The cargo itself may be another factor. Beverages and cold food items such as frozen meals or dairy need to be kept chilled, especially in summer and spring, so reefer trucks can be used. These trucks have refrigeration units in their cargo beds to maintain the temperature of the goods until delivered to a warehouse or retailer. Meanwhile, bulky items on palettes can be secured with straps or nets so that they do not fall down and get damaged during shipment. And dangerous or hazardous materials, such as oil or gas, or nuclear waste, must be carried and handled by workers who are certified to handle such materials. Workers may also need protective gear to handle hazardous materials.
