Transit Times & Schedules
Historical Shipping Times
We keep track of the wait and transit times of previous shipments and combine them to create shipping times, then we use that data to give accurate delivery estimates for future orders.
Here’s some of the average shipping times from orders that have occurred in the past 12 months for the most popular shipping routes. For more information on transit times, please scroll to the bottom of the page or click here.
| Route | Mode | Avg. Days* |
|---|---|---|
| Historical data will appear here. Javascript must be enabled. | ||
How We Calculate “Average Days”
What "Avg. Days" Means
It’s the total of wait time + transit time for typical shipments on a route:
- Wait time is how long your vehicle waits to depart after it is ready at the correct origin location (usually the main terminal) or once a door‑pickup is scheduled.
- Transit time is the time your vehicle spends moving between terminals on each leg.
Where The Averages Come From
We calculate “Avg. Days” using data from recent shipments on that lane. Averages change over time as volumes and conditions change.
When The Clock Starts
The time starts when your vehicle is ready to ship at the correct origin location and meets standard loading requirements (keys available, roll/steer/brake, ground clearance/loadability, and personal‑items policy for the chosen mode). If using residential pickup, there’s an extra local step to move your vehicle to the main terminal before the first linehaul departs.
Multi-leg Shipments
Many routes move through multiple regions/terminals, sometimes switching between truck and rail. Each hand‑off can add a short wait at the next terminal before the next departure. Departures aren’t on fixed days and depend on volume and available capacity.
Important note
All times are averages from recent shipments, not guarantees. Actual timing can vary with weather/road conditions, terminal/rail operations, and industry volumes.
What Can Change Your Timeline
Booking Date
Booking 1–2+ weeks in advance generally helps us stage your shipment to leave close to your drop‑off date. Same‑day booking and drop‑off are allowed, but can mean more time in queue than the average.
Payment & Confirmation
Booking and paying in advance gives dispatch confidence that your vehicle will be ready on the agreed drop‑off or pickup date, which helps us match it to the next suitable departure.
Vehicle Size & Weight
Trailers and railcars have fixed space and weight limits. Large SUVs, pickups, lifted/oversized vehicles, or duallys can reduce the number of units that fit on a load; this may add wait time until a configuration fits safely.
En-route Transfer Priority At Terminals
Vehicles that are already en route and transferring between trucks or rail are often prioritized for the next departure to keep the network moving and avoid cascading delays. This can temporarily reorder the queue at a terminal, so a newly dropped‑off vehicle may wait for the next departure even if capacity is tight on the current one.
Mode & Lane
Not every city pair has rail service; many long routes use a combination of truck + rail. Mode availability and lane popularity affect how frequently departures consolidate.
Origin/Destination Type
Terminal drop‑off/pickup is usually the fastest/most economical. Door service adds a local step to or from the terminal, which can add time depending on local scheduling and access.
Operations & Seasonality
Weather (winter storms, flooding), road closures, and peak moving seasons can extend both wait and transit times.
Mechanical Breakdowns Or Accidents
In rare cases, a carrier may experience a mechanical issue or be involved in an incident. For safety, equipment must be recovered and inspected and shipments may be reassigned to different trucks or the next rail departure, which can add unplanned wait time.
Holiday Hours & Closures
Terminals, rail ramps, and local pickup/delivery partners often operate on reduced schedules on statutory holidays and long weekends. Cut‑offs may be earlier, and departures can shift to the next business day.
Traffic, Highway Closures, and Detours
Major collisions, construction, wildfire or avalanche control, and other roadway disruptions can affect pickup windows, linehaul timing, and final‑mile delivery. Detours or weight/seasonal restrictions can also slow progress.
Documentation & Condition
Missing paperwork, incorrect contact details, inoperable condition, or not meeting personal‑items policies (especially for rail) can delay loading.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Times
How long does it take to ship my car?
The data above shows the approximate historical durations for shipping a car within Canada. Departures are usually not on fixed days as they can depend on volume of vehicles already booked and ones already at the terminals assigned to a load. If you are shipping by enclosed transport trailer these transit times may not apply.
It is recommended to book at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Booking in advance can help decrease transit times but normally your vehicle will be placed in queue to ship once it is at the terminal.
Keep in mind that your vehicle may not be shipped directly to its destination and could ship through multiple terminals in different regions.
Example
If you’re shipping a car from Newfoundland to Northwest Territories:
A shipment of this length would go through multiple regions within Canada:
REGIONS
Newfoundland
Maritimes
Ontario/Quebec
Prairies
Territories
The cities it may be delivered to and wait for the next leg of the journey:
CITIES
St. John's
Halifax
Toronto
Edmonton
Yellowknife
What Can I Do To Keep Things Moving?
- Book early, complete payment/paperwork, and drop off at the terminal as soon as your dates are firm.
- Share accurate contact details, ensure the vehicle rolls/steers/brakes, and follow personal‑items policies for your lane and mode.
- Around long weekends/holidays, plan drop‑offs at least one business day earlier when possible.
Important: Averages are guides, not guarantees. Every shipment is unique and may vary from the posted averages.
Will my car be shipped on more than one truck or train?
For short, local/regional moves your vehicle is often moved on a single truck. For long‑distance or cross‑country moves, it’s normal to use multiple legs. For example:
Local truck → origin terminal → long‑haul truck or rail → destination terminal → local truck.
Why multi‑leg moves are common
- Canada’s distances & network design. A hub‑and‑spoke model keeps pricing economical by consolidating vehicles at major terminals.
- Capacity & safety. Trucks and railcars must meet space and weight limits; breaking a trip into legs allows safe, compliant loading.
- Lane frequency. Popular city pairs depart more often; smaller markets usually feed into those hubs for consolidation.
What this means for timing
- Each hand‑off can add a short wait at the next terminal until the next suitable departure builds.
- Vehicles already in transit are typically prioritized onto the next leg to avoid cascading delays—so a newly dropped‑off vehicle may wait for the following departure if space is tight.
- Mechanical issues, accidents, traffic events, holiday closures, or highway detours can require re‑routing or re‑assignment to different equipment or a later departure to maintain safety and compliance.
- Multi‑leg routing is generally the most economical way to move a car long distances in Canada.
Quality & documentation
- At each hand‑off, carriers complete standard Bill of Lading (BOL) and condition checks before the next leg.
- You’ll receive status updates at regular intervals (we aim for at least once every five business days) and whenever a major milestone occurs (loaded, in transit, arrived at terminal, out for delivery).
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