Export and Import Freight Services in Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest port and the third largest in North America by tonnage. It handles over $300 billion in annual trade, connecting Canadian producers and consumers with markets across the Pacific Rim, Europe, and beyond. For businesses in Vancouver importing goods from Asia or exporting Canadian products to international markets, the efficiency of the overland segment between the port and the final origin or destination often determines the overall competitiveness of the supply chain.

Control Terrestre provides full truckload export and import freight services connecting Port of Vancouver terminals with warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities across western Canada, the United States, and Mexico. We manage container drayage from Deltaport, Vanterm, and Centerm, long-haul distribution of imported goods, and the pickup and preparation of export cargo for port loading. Our services bridge the gap between ocean shipping and ground distribution, ensuring the overland segment matches the scale and efficiency of Vancouver's world-class port operations.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

The Port of Vancouver operates across multiple terminals spread along Burrard Inlet and at Roberts Bank in Delta. Centerm and Vanterm serve container ships in the inner harbour, with direct road access to Highway 1 and the freeway network. Deltaport, located at Roberts Bank roughly 35 kilometers south of downtown Vancouver, is the port's largest container terminal and handles the majority of transpacific container traffic. Fraser Surrey Docks on the Fraser River handles breakbulk cargo, forest products, and steel.

For distribution beyond the immediate Vancouver area, Highway 1 runs east through the Fraser Valley, crosses the Rockies into Alberta, and continues through the Prairie provinces. Highway 99 heads south to the Pacific Highway border crossing, connecting to the U.S. interstate system. CN and CP Rail operate major intermodal terminals in the Vancouver area, including CN's Thornton Yard and CP's Vancouver intermodal terminal.

Vancouver International Airport in Richmond adds air cargo capabilities, and we provide ground transportation connections between YVR cargo facilities and the port area for shipments combining air and ocean logistics. Burnaby and Richmond host major concentrations of warehouses and distribution centers that serve as primary receiving and staging areas for import and export freight moving through the port.

Key Industries and Sectors

Forest products represent one of the largest export categories moving through the Port of Vancouver. Lumber, pulp, and engineered wood products from British Columbia are shipped to markets across Asia, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea. These products move from sawmills and processing plants throughout British Columbia to port terminals for loading onto bulk carriers and container ships. The overland segment, from mill to port, requires flatbed and curtain-side equipment capable of handling heavy and oversized loads on routes that often include mountainous terrain.

On the import side, consumer goods from Asia dominate container volumes. Electronics, clothing, furniture, household products, and auto parts arrive by container at Deltaport and Centerm and need to be distributed to retailers and warehouses across Canada and into the U.S. market. Food products, including frozen seafood, tropical fruits, and specialty Asian ingredients, arrive in refrigerated containers requiring temperature-controlled drayage and distribution.

Building materials and construction supplies represent a growing import category, driven by Vancouver's ongoing real estate development. Steel, fixtures, tile, and specialized construction components arrive by container and need to be delivered to job sites and supplier warehouses throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Mining and energy sector equipment moving to and from resource extraction sites in the British Columbia interior also transits through the Port of Vancouver.

Our Solutions for Vancouver

Our export and import freight services are structured around the specific operational realities of the Port of Vancouver. For importers, we provide container drayage from all three major container terminals using chassis equipment compatible with standard container sizes. We monitor vessel schedules and container release notifications so equipment is positioned for pickup as soon as containers clear customs inspection. Fast pickup reduces demurrage and detention charges that accumulate when containers remain at the terminal beyond their assigned free time.

For containerized imports destined for the U.S. market, we combine drayage with cross-border trucking through the Pacific Highway crossing. Our C-TPAT and FAST certifications ensure efficient border processing for import cargo in transit from the Canadian port to U.S. destinations.

For exporters, we pick up cargo from production facilities across British Columbia and the Prairie provinces for delivery to port terminals. Our flatbed fleet handles lumber and forest products, while dry vans transport packaged and palletized export goods. We coordinate delivery timing with vessel cutoff schedules and terminal receiving windows to ensure cargo arrives at the port ready for loading without incurring storage charges.

Our equipment range covers every commodity type moving through the port. Dry vans and container chassis handle general containerized cargo. Flatbeds and curtain-side trailers transport lumber, steel, and oversized goods. Refrigerated trailers maintain cold chain integrity for food and pharmaceutical imports. Tankers and hoppers serve chemical and bulk commodity shipments transiting the port area.

For companies managing complex supply chains spanning multiple countries, we offer end-to-end ground transportation coordination from the Port of Vancouver to destinations anywhere in Canada, the United States, or Mexico, all managed through a single freight coordination point.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How quickly can you pick up a container after it is released at a Vancouver port terminal?

We monitor container release notifications and pre-position chassis equipment to minimize the time between customs release and physical pickup. In most cases, we can dispatch a truck within hours of a container being released. For clients with regular import volumes, we establish standing pickup schedules coordinated with vessel arrival patterns so containers leave the terminal the same day they become available.

Can you handle both port drayage and long-haul distribution of imported goods?

Yes. We offer integrated services covering container pickup at Deltaport, Vanterm, or Centerm, delivery to a cross-dock or warehouse facility, and onward full truckload distribution to destinations throughout North America. This eliminates the need to coordinate drayage and long-haul carriers separately and provides a single point of accountability for the entire ground transportation movement from port to final destination.

What equipment do you use for lumber and forest product exports to the Port of Vancouver?

We use flatbed trailers and curtain-side trailers for lumber, dimensional wood products, and pulp shipments moving from sawmills and processing plants to port terminals. Equipment selection depends on product dimensions, weight, and terminal loading requirements. Our flatbed fleet is configured for the heavy loads typical of forest products, and drivers are experienced with the securement and tarping requirements specific to these commodities.