Cheap Freight of the day

This is never going to change. The imbalance is just overwhelming. Intermodal basically charges nothing except for the dray on both sides on freight X Alberta. A lot of the containers get repositioned empty.

Unless it's a reefer where you have a shot, I'd always look at repositioning when quoting inbound to Alberta - road or IMDL.
 
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Depends on how your freight is moving though.

Intermodal does charge almost nothing, however you never know when you're going to receive your load.

Always picks up on time. Can sit in a yard for a few days, then transport, then can be a couple days before they even get to the drayage.

Even without a reefer freight that requires deadlines or expedited delivery can never be met with what intermodal transport offers.
 
box broker said:
Depends on how your freight is moving though.

Intermodal does charge almost nothing, however you never know when you're going to receive your load.

Always picks up on time. Can sit in a yard for a few days, then transport, then can be a couple days before they even get to the drayage.

Even without a reefer freight that requires deadlines or expedited delivery can never be met with what intermodal transport offers.
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Besides winter cold snaps and weather issues affecting railways, they have become quite dependable. You would be surprised how much courier and LTL traffic moves Westward on Thursdays. Yes, many offer cheap, undependable service, but many dependable ones are out there.
 
Shakey said:
Besides winter cold snaps and weather issues affecting railways, they have become quite dependable. You would be surprised how much courier and LTL traffic moves Westward on Thursdays. Yes, many offer cheap, undependable service, but many dependable ones are out there.
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Fair enough,

I'll rephrase. MY experience hasn't been the best in this area.

Just offering my 2 cents was all.
 
box broker said:
Fair enough,

I'll rephrase. MY experience hasn't been the best in this area.

Just offering my 2 cents was all.
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I think there are many shippers whose experience would mirror yours. Intermodal certainly has its place in the supply chain, however if there is a drop dead delivery date, or any other peculiar or specific requirements, over-the-road is the way to go, flat bed especially. For no other reason than you can usual get hour by hour updates if required, or at least 2 or three times a day.
 
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box broker said:
Depends on how your freight is moving though.

Intermodal does charge almost nothing, however you never know when you're going to receive your load.

Always picks up on time. Can sit in a yard for a few days, then transport, then can be a couple days before they even get to the drayage.

Even without a reefer freight that requires deadlines or expedited delivery can never be met with what intermodal transport offers.
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I disagree. On inter-Canada moves east-west intermodal is more dependable than road in most cases. Too many bad players on the inter Canada thing - if you don't know who you are dealing with there is a good chance you're getting played.
 
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box broker said:
Fair enough,

I'll rephrase. MY experience hasn't been the best in this area.

Just offering my 2 cents was all.
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Yes, I understand. I just wanted to let you know there are dependable services out there. They are not cheap, but some do add value compared to OTR. Unfortunately, plenty plays the games with clients, and only the larger ones get good service.
 
loaders said:
I think there are many shippers whose experience would mirror yours. Intermodal certainly has its place in the supply chain, however if there is a drop dead delivery date, or any other peculiar or specific requirements, over-the-road is the way to go, flat bed especially. For no other reason than you can usual get hour by hour updates if required, or at least 2 or three times a day.
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Depending on the carriers, you can get tracking on rail shipments with real-time updates.

It seems those flatbeds for IDML died. I think Contrans had them for moving pipe out west; three were stacked back into one for the trip back, but seems they didn't make it. I haven't seen them or heard about them in years.
 
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I think I just lost my marbles - read this asinine email!

Hi ,



We are looking for the cheapest option with GUARANTEED delivered for Monday May 6th at 730 AM

Pick up

Hamilton ON

Delivery:

POTOSI WI



Food grade

Can be sprinter can be box truck can be reefer van anything as long as food grade



Dims aprox 40 x48 x38 (tops) (or smaller)

900 lbs



Pick up tomorrow by apt delivery Monday by apt.



Let me know if you can assist, and what equipment do you have.

​
Fernanda Naranjo
Logistics Coordinator
FLS Transportation Services
1908 Ironoak Way, Unit 3 Oakville, ON, L6H 0N1, Canada
O: (866) 668-3357 Ext. 6517 M: (289) 681-3353
mnaranjo@flstransport.com | https://www.flstransport.com
 
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That's cheap.. but not surprising. Trying to find a truck that's rated their stuff round trip and this is their "gravy". It'll sit for a bit and maybe not move at 1800, but it will move....
 
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BPOVFB said:
That's cheap.. but not surprising. Trying to find a truck that's rated their stuff round trip and this is their "gravy". It'll sit for a bit and maybe not move at 1800, but it will move....
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Round trip LOL maybe 2 years ago. Im sure itll move with someone that's stuck but no one is taking that by choice
 
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LrgCar said:
Round trip LOL maybe 2 years ago. Im sure itll move with someone that's stuck but no one is taking that by choice
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Nah what he meant was someone that a moved a load ON to NL for example but quoted the original move as a round trip, say 8k. All their costs are covered + profit.

They then take the one way as "icing on top" so to speak
 
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