Transit Times & Schedules
Current Shipping Bulletins
Train shipments throughout Canada – Updated May 23, 2024
We are continuing to monitor the negotiation proceedings regarding the potential work stoppage at CP Rail. Based on precedent, it is unlikely the two parties will be in a position to initiate a legal strike or lockout before mid-July or later.
MVS is monitoring the situation closely and is arranging contingencies should the work stoppage move ahead. We will continue to keep you updated on any developments. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.
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.
| Route | Mode | Avg. Days* |
|---|---|---|
| Historical data will appear here. Javascript must be enabled. | ||
* Average (avg.) days include wait and time transit time. The wait time starts when the vehicle is ready to be shipped and at the appropriate location (typically the main terminal in the origin city or province) where the truck or train is set to pick the vehicle up from.
* All times are averages based on data from recent shipments. Wait times and transit times are not guaranteed and can be affected by factors such as, but not limited to:
- Environmental conditions (winter conditions, flooding etc).
- Shipment volumes based on industry supply and demand.
- Vehicle size and weight. ie. The larger the vehicle, the less space that is available for it to fit on each trailer due to the trailer and gross vehicle weight limits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Times
How long does it take to ship my car?
The data above shows the approximate wait times and transit times 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 you’re vehicle will be placed in queue to ship once it is at the terminal.
To use this section, first select the Province/Region you’re shipping from, then select the destination province in the second dropdown, and click search. Keep in mind that your vehicle may not be shipped directly to its destination and could ship through multiple terminals in different regions. Direct shipments are available but can be very costly.
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 does “Within-Region” mean?
- If you have a short shipment within a province or region these wait times and transit times will apply.
- If you’re shipping to a smaller city or town that is not a major terminal these wait/transit times may apply.
- For example, if you’re shipping to Fort McMurray from Ontario your vehicle could be shipped to a major terminal in Calgary or Edmonton then shipped north on a truck to Fort McMurray.
What does “Shipping Time” mean?
Shipping Time is made up of two factors: wait time and transit time.
- The wait time is how long your vehicle will wait to depart on the truck/train once it is dropped off at a terminal.
- The transit time is how long your vehicle will take to arrive to the next terminal once it has departed.
Will my car be shipped on more than one truck?
For shorter moves it won’t be, but for longer shipments it will be on multiple trucks/trains before it’s delivered. Canada is the second largest country in the world and to ship a car directly in one shipment across the entire country would be very expensive. It is the most economical/inexpensive way to ship your vehicle when it’s transferred between multiple trucks/trains between major cities.
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