Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan calls for action on recommendation to increase competitiveness
Saskatchewan’s general farm organization has called for expanded railway interswitching to be implemented in May as recommended by a national task force last autumn. Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Ian Boxall said he hoped to meet with transport officials this week while in Ottawa to press the point. Last October, the national supply chain […] Read moreTag Archives grain transportation — page 2
Grain floods into west coast ports
Elevator companies are not reporting major problems as the shipping season shapes up to be a ‘banner year’
Shipments of grains and oilseeds continue to move briskly through west coast export terminals, thanks to mild winter weather and steady deliveries by Canada’s major railway companies. “Things have been going pretty smoothly, knock on wood,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., the company that monitors Canada’s prairie grain-handling and transportation system on behalf […] Read more
Workers off the job at CN
The chief operating officer of Canadian National Railway has written an open letter to the company’s 750 striking workers stating it remains open to resolving outstanding issues either through agreement or binding operations. The June 20 letter from COO and executive vice-president Rob Reilly comes after employees of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) […] Read more
St. Lawrence Seaway shipping off to good start
Potash shipments have nearly doubled and shippers say they are prepared to pick up global slack caused by Ukraine war
Canadian Great Lakes ports saw a 26 percent decrease in prairie grain shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway coming into this spring but as the war in Ukraine rages on and other coastal ports remain jammed, the seaway route is ready to pick up the slack. Potash shipments have nearly doubled, with April alone seeing […] Read more
‘Essential’ designation for rail service unlikely, says expert
The recent and short-lived rail service disruption at Canadian Pacific Railway created uncertainty for rail shippers and caused further damage to Canada’s international reputation as a reliable supplier of commodities, say sources in Canada’s grain and fertilizer industries. Even so, it’s unlikely the railway industry will ever be designated an essential service in Canada, according […] Read more
CN announces leadership changes
Canada’s largest railway company is getting a new top executive. Canadian National Railway announced today that Tracy Robinson will serve as the company’s new president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 28. Robinson will replace outgoing CN president JJ Ruest, who announced his retirement late last year. Ruest will continue to serve in an advisory […] Read more
Grain shipments uncertain amid B.C. floods
It is too early to determine the effect of massive floods in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland on grain movement, according to the company monitoring Canada’s grain handling and transportation system. As much as 200 millimetres of rain earlier this week have triggered mudslides and cut access to rail lines and highways east of Vancouver. The […] Read more
B.C. flooding cuts access to Port of Vancouver
UPDATED: November 16, 2021 – 1625 CST – The movement of agricultural commodities from the Prairies to the West Coast is being disrupted by extreme flooding in British Columbia. Reuters is reporting that all rail access to the Port of Vancouver has been cut by floods and landslides in the B.C. interior, which could sideline […] Read more
Grain sector dodges bullet on trucker shortage
Crisis is getting worse in Canada, but ag industry thinks it has been spared because of its reliance on short haul trucking
A chronic and ever-worsening truck driver shortage in Canada has not had a big impact on grain transportation to date, says an industry official. There will be an estimated 17,230 truck driver vacancies per year between 2021 and 2025, according to Trucking HR Canada. In the second quarter of 2021, more than 18,000 vacancies existed, […] Read more
CN’s abrupt end to freight forwarding surprises shippers
Canadian National Railway is wasting no time transforming itself into a leaner and more profitable railway company, following its failed bid to acquire American rail carrier Kansas City Southern. According to sources, CN has initiated a process aimed at downsizing or terminating freight forwarding services offered by CN Worldwide, the company’s international freight management division. […] Read more
