customerservice@srtruckinginc.com

Since 1992

Intermodal network

In-House Fleet

No subcontractors

24/7 Dispatch

Pickups & tracking

Ontario-Wide

GTA + Southern Ontario

“Our offerings encompass both domestic rail and international harbor drayage, ensuring that your cargo—whether it consists of dry goods or temperature-sensitive products—transitions smoothly between ships and trucks. We understand the critical nature of timely and secure transportation, which is why we prioritize the specialized handling of containers to guarantee that your products reach their final destinations safely and efficiently.”

S&R Trucking provides domestic rail drayage, international port drayage, and container transportation across Ontario. Whether your freight arrives through Canadian National Railway (CN), Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), or international terminals, our drayage fleet ensures your containers move quickly and efficiently between ships, trains, and your facility.

With over 30 years of experience in container logistics, we deliver dependable drayage solutions that keep your supply chain running smoothly. Whether your containers move through Canadian rail terminals or arrive from overseas at the Port of Montreal, our team handles the drayage leg so international importers and Ontario shippers alike keep freight moving.

What Is Drayage?

Drayage is the short-haul movement of containers between ports, rail ramps, and customer locations. It is one of the most critical legs of the supply chain, and delays at this stage can cause demurrage, storage fees, missed appointments, and costly disruptions. This service is sometimes called container drayage or drayage trucking, and it covers everything from a single rail ramp transfer to a full port-to-warehouse move.

S&R Trucking drayage and intermodal transportation workflow

Drayage vs. Intermodal Transport

Drayage is the short, local truck move between a terminal and a final destination. Intermodal transport is the bigger picture: the combination of rail (or ocean) for the long haul plus drayage trucking on each end to complete the door-to-door move. Every intermodal shipment includes drayage, but not every drayage move is part of a longer intermodal chain.

Key Drayage Terms, Defined

Demurrage

The fee a terminal charges when a container sits past its allowed free time before pickup.

Detention

The fee charged for keeping a container or chassis out longer than the carrier’s allowed free time.

Chassis

The wheeled frame a drayage truck uses to carry a shipping container over the road.

Free Time

The window a terminal or carrier allows before demurrage or detention charges start.

Container drayage truck

The truck and chassis combination used to move a container short distances between a terminal and a facility.

Why Drayage Matters

Drayage is the critical link between ports, rail ramps, and your final destination. Even when ocean or rail transit is on schedule, delays in drayage can cause demurrage, storage fees, missed appointments, and costly disruptions. Reliable drayage ensures your containers move quickly, safely, and efficiently through the most time-sensitive part of the supply chain.

Why it matters:

If drayage fails, the entire shipment fails — which is why choosing the right drayage partner is essential.

How a Typical Drayage Move Works

Documents You Need for a Drayage Move

Not sure which of these you have on hand? Call us at 905-951-2951 and we can walk you through what is needed for your specific move.

What Affects Drayage Pricing in Ontario

Drayage is priced per move rather than a flat rate, since a handful of variables change the cost: the distance between the terminal and your facility, the container size, whether a chassis is required, how much waiting time is involved at the terminal, and whether the container is at risk of demurrage or detention. For an accurate number, send us the container details and delivery address and we will price the specific move.

CN / CP Terminal Expertise

S&R Trucking has decades of experience operating at Ontario’s busiest rail terminals, and for containers arriving internationally, many first land at the Port of Montreal before moving inland to CN Brampton or CP Vaughan for final drayage.

CN – Brampton Terminal

CP – Vaughan Terminal

Why Choose S&R Trucking for Drayage?

Many drayage companies promise reliability, but our drayage services stand out because we combine experience, reliability, and full supply-chain integration.

In-House Fleet

Our own trucks and drivers, no subcontractors, no missed appointments.

Integrated With Intermodal

Because S&R handles intermodal rail, container transportation, cross-border trucking, LTL, and full truckload, your drayage leg is fully coordinated with the rest of your shipment.

Common Drayage Problems We Solve

Many shippers struggle with drayage delays and unexpected fees. S&R eliminates these issues with proactive planning and in-house control. We solve problems like:

With S&R, your containers move on time — every time.

More Reasons Shippers Choose S&R

24/7 Dispatch Support

Our dispatch team is available around the clock for pickups, appointment scheduling, real-time tracking, and last-minute changes. This ensures your freight stays on schedule even when logistics shift unexpectedly.

Affordable, Competitive Pricing

We provide cost-effective drayage solutions tailored to your lane, schedule, and container type. High-quality service without exceeding your logistics budget.

Friendly, Responsive Customer Service

Our team is known for fast communication, proactive updates, and a customer-first approach. Your satisfaction is our priority.

Timely, Reliable Deliveries

We closely monitor every container move to ensure on-time pickup, on-time delivery, and no unnecessary storage or demurrage fees. Your freight moves when it needs to move.

Industries We Serve

S&R supports businesses across multiple sectors that rely on fast, reliable container movement.

Retail & eCommerce drayage
Retail & eCommerce
Manufacturing drayage
Manufacturing
Food & Beverage drayage
Food & Beverage
Importers & Exporters drayage
Importers & Exporters
Warehousing & Distribution drayage
Warehousing & Distribution
Automotive drayage
Automotive
Consumer Goods drayage
Consumer Goods
Cross-border Freight drayage
Cross-border Freight

If your business relies on container movement, S&R provides the drayage reliability your supply chain needs.

Service Area

We provide drayage across the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario:

CN & CP Rail Terminals
In-house drayage from the CN Brampton and CP Vaughan intermodal terminals — no subcontractors.
Greater Toronto Area
Serving Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, and Kleinburg across the GTA.
Southern Ontario
Coverage extends across the wider Southern Ontario region and the Highway 401 corridor.

We also support international importers whose containers land at the Port of Montreal before moving inland to Ontario facilities. Ontario-bound containers often move along the Highway 401 corridor between the GTA and the Ontario-Quebec border, and our drayage and cross-border teams coordinate that inland leg together.

Drayage + Intermodal Integration

Drayage is the backbone of intermodal shipping. Without strong drayage coordination, even the best rail rate or ocean schedule falls apart. S&R integrates drayage directly with intermodal operations:

This integration ensures your intermodal freight stays on schedule from origin to destination.

S&R Trucking drayage and intermodal transportation workflow infographic
How S&R integrates drayage with CN & CP intermodal operations, from terminal pickup to final delivery.

Key Takeaways

  • Drayage is the short-haul container move between a port or rail ramp and its final destination.
  • S&R runs drayage in-house at CN Brampton, CP Vaughan, and for Port of Montreal-origin containers.
  • Demurrage and detention fees start once free time runs out, so timing matters more than distance.
  • S&R supplies its own chassis and never subcontracts drayage pickups.
  • Same-day pickup is standard when a container is released and ready.
  • Drayage services support import, export, repositioning, empty returns, and temperature-controlled containers.
  • Drayage pricing depends on distance, container size, chassis need, wait time, and demurrage/detention risk.
  • Service area covers Toronto, the GTA, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Kleinburg, and Southern Ontario.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more details about our drayage, intermodal, and container transportation services, see the answers below.

We can usually schedule a pickup with same-day or next-day notice at both terminals, since we run daily drayage operations there and know the appointment systems well. For time-sensitive containers close to their free-time deadline, call us directly at 905-951-2951 so we can prioritize the pickup window.
S&R supplies the chassis as part of the drayage move, so you do not need to source or coordinate one separately. This is one of the reasons chassis shortages rarely slow down our clients freight.
Yes, same-day pickup is our default when a container is released and ready at the terminal. Our in-house fleet means we are not waiting on a subcontractor schedule.
Yes, we handle reefer and temperature-sensitive container moves with the specialized handling they need to maintain product integrity between the terminal and your facility.
Yes. Toronto and the surrounding GTA are core to our drayage operation, alongside CN Brampton, CP Vaughan, Mississauga, Vaughan, and Kleinburg.
Drayage is the short, local truck move between a terminal and a final destination. Intermodal transport is the bigger picture: the combination of rail or ocean for the long haul plus drayage trucking on each end.
You typically need the container number and terminal release, bill of lading, delivery order from the terminal or steamship line, and customs clearance confirmation for international containers.
Drayage is priced per move, not a flat rate. The cost depends on distance, container size, chassis need, waiting time, and demurrage or detention risk.

Ready to Move Your Freight?

Need reliable drayage in Ontario? Call or request a quote today.

or request a free quote online

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