Trusted drayage trucking services in Canada. Container transport, port drayage, and intermodal trucking across Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, and Calgary.
The Role of Drayage Trucking Services in Canada
In today’s fast-paced supply chain, drayage trucking services play a crucial role in keeping cargo moving efficiently between ports, rail terminals, and inland destinations. While long-haul trucking covers thousands of kilometers across Canada, drayage trucking focuses on short-distance container movements—usually from port terminals to nearby warehouses, rail ramps, or distribution centers.
This “first mile” or “last mile” service is an essential part of the logistics chain, ensuring containers are pulled quickly, avoiding costly demurrage charges, and keeping freight on schedule. At Metropolitan Logistics, we specialize in delivering tailored drayage trucking solutions across Canada, covering all major ports and inland terminals.
What Are Drayage Trucking Services?
Drayage trucking services refer to the short-distance movement of shipping containers, typically within the same city or region. Unlike long-haul trucking, which may take days to move cargo across provinces, drayage often happens within a matter of hours.
Common examples include:
- Moving import containers from the Port of Vancouver to a nearby rail ramp.
- Delivering goods from Montreal’s port terminals to warehouses in Laval or Longueuil.
- Shuttling containers between Halifax’s CN rail terminal and distribution centers in Dartmouth.
- Transporting boxes from Toronto CN/CP yards to Brampton, Mississauga, or Vaughan.
The value of drayage lies in speed, efficiency, and cost savings, as businesses avoid penalties and keep their supply chains moving smoothly.
Container Drayage Trucking Services
One of the most common forms of drayage is container drayage trucking services. This involves specialized trucks and chassis that handle standard 20’, 40’, and 53’ shipping containers.
Key aspects of container drayage include:
- Port drayage – pulling containers directly from marine terminals.
- Rail drayage – picking up imports from CN or CP rail yards.
- Empty container repositioning – returning empties to port depots.
- Pre-pull and storage – moving containers out of congested yards and staging them at secured facilities.
By offering container drayage trucking services, Metropolitan Logistics ensures businesses reduce wait times, avoid demurrage, and maintain reliable inventory flow.
Drayage Truck Service at Canadian Ports
Our drayage truck service covers Canada’s major gateways, ensuring seamless connectivity between ports, rail terminals, and inland hubs.
- Vancouver – Serving Deltaport, Centerm, and Vanterm, with fast connections into Surrey, Richmond, and Burnaby. See more: Vancouver Drayage Services.
- Montreal – Covering CN and CP ramps, plus South Shore drayage into Longueuil and Brossard. See more: Montreal Drayage Services.
- Halifax – Drayage trucking from the port into Dartmouth and Atlantic Canada distribution networks. See more: Halifax Drayage Services.
- Toronto & Brampton – Connecting CN MacMillan Yard and CP Vaughan with the GTA’s largest warehousing cluster. See more: Toronto Drayage Services.
- Calgary – Providing intermodal connections from CN/CP yards into Alberta’s supply chain. See more: Calgary Drayage Services.
Each drayage trucking service is optimized for speed, compliance, and safety—delivering containers where and when your business needs them.
Intermodal & Last-Mile Integration
The power of drayage trucking services lies in their ability to connect multiple modes of transportation. A container arriving by vessel can be quickly drayed to a CN or CP rail ramp, shipped inland, and then drayed again to its final delivery point.
Metropolitan Logistics supports:
- Truck-to-rail transfers (short-haul drayage into intermodal terminals).
- Last-mile container delivery to warehouses, retail distribution centers, and factories.
- Integrated scheduling that aligns with vessel arrivals and rail departures.
This intermodal integration ensures Canadian shippers and consignees avoid congestion while staying cost-competitive.
Industries That Rely on Drayage Trucking Services
Our drayage trucking service is trusted across multiple industries:
- Manufacturing & Industrial – inbound raw materials and outbound finished goods.
- Retail & E-commerce – containerized freight from overseas suppliers into Canadian warehouses.
- Pharmaceutical & Medical – temperature-controlled shipments requiring fast turnaround.
- Construction & Infrastructure – movement of oversized or specialized cargo via intermodal.
- Government & Military – compliant handling of sensitive or regulated shipments.
- Freight Forwarders & 3PLs – subcontracted container drayage trucking services that extend global reach.
By tailoring drayage trucking to industry-specific needs, we provide value beyond simple container transport.
Our Process
Our three-step process keeps drayage trucking services efficient and reliable:
- Pickup – We coordinate with port, rail, or depot operators to secure timely container release.
- Transport – Using our specialized chassis fleet, containers are moved safely to their destination.
- Delivery & Return – Cargo is dropped at the final location, and empties are repositioned to depots.
This streamlined drayage truck service ensures businesses save time and reduce costs.
Why Choose Metropolitan Logistics
When selecting a provider for drayage trucking service, businesses need a partner that delivers more than just trucks. Metropolitan Logistics offers:
- Nationwide Coverage – From Vancouver to Halifax, we serve all major ports and inland hubs.
- Time-Sensitive Delivery – Avoid demurrage and storage charges with rapid container pulls.
- Industry Expertise – Decades of experience in container transport and intermodal logistics.
- Scalable Solutions – Flexible fleet and storage options for seasonal or high-volume surges.
By choosing us for drayage trucking services, companies gain a reliable partner that understands Canada’s logistics landscape.
Conclusion
Drayage trucking services form the backbone of Canada’s import/export economy, connecting global trade with local supply chains. By offering tailored container drayage trucking services, integrated intermodal support, and industry-specific expertise, Metropolitan Logistics ensures containers move efficiently, safely, and on time.
Whether you need a drayage truck service in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, or Calgary, we deliver coast-to-coast coverage that keeps your cargo moving.
FAQ: Drayage Trucking Services in Canada
They are short-distance container movements that connect ports, rail ramps, and warehouses, ensuring smooth cargo flow.
Long-haul covers thousands of kilometers, while container drayage trucking services focus on short, local hauls.
It involves specialized trucks and chassis that pull containers directly from ports or rail yards to nearby facilities.
It prevents demurrage, reduces congestion, and keeps import/export operations on schedule.
Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, and Calgary are the primary hubs.
