Canada’s largest port and the impact it has on your business today!

As a large fleet carrier company in Vancouver, BC with decades of industry experience in trucking and warehousing, we have authorized access to the largest and most diversified port of trade in Canada and are here to highlight some of Port of Vancouver’s recent improvements and noteworthy aspects!

Port Metro Vancouver is the largest and most diversified port of trade in Canada and also holds the number one spot in North America as the largest export port. Stewarded by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority under the federal agency, the Port of Vancouver plays a crucial role in connecting Canadian businesses and consumers and with the global market, generating tax revenue, securing employment for local communities, and overseeing the environmental developments in the surrounding waters.  

Canada’s Largest Port

Situated on the southwest coast of British Columbia, the Port of Vancouver spans from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River to include the Burrard inlet. The Port of Vancouver covers 16,000 hectares of water, over 1500 hectares of land, and hundreds of kilometres of shoreline and borders 16 municipalities and connects with territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations. 

Noteworthy Facts and Economic Impact: 

• 29 major terminals that service a wide variety of cargo including bulk, containers, breakbulk, liquid bulk, automobiles, and cruise
• Home to three Class 1 railroads and a regional short line railroad
• 19 Container handling and transload facilities  
• Connects Canada with 170 trading economies in the world
• Facilitates the trade of a ⅓ of Canada’s goods transported outside of North America, approximately $240 billion in annual trade, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada. 
• Intricately connected with ports in Tokyo, Busan, Yokohama, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Guayaquil, Valparaiso, Sydney

Container Trucks and Railroads

The movement of cargo at the port is carried out mainly through trucks and rail. Container trucking is crucial to the swift movement of goods to various facilities in BC. Major improvements have been made in recent years, including the Truck Licensing System and consistent communication via a variety of platforms, to help increase efficiency for trucking companies in BC.

The Port of Vancouver also works closely with three Class 1 railroads and a local railway service provider to ensure consistent and efficient service. 

Railroads include:

• CN Rail – Transcontinental Canadian National Railway
• CP Rail – Transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway
• BNSF – Burlington Santa Fe Railway
• Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY)

Recent Improvements:

Having goods move smoothly not only affects the livelihoods of Canadians, but it also helps Canadian businesses be competitive in the global market. Various upgrades have been made to improve the efficiency of our ports while supporting the needs of the environment. Recent improvements include:

• Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility at Roberts Bank
  • This expansion supports further container traffic growth while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating traffic that would have flowed to the Burnaby inspection facility.

• Centerm Expansion Project and South Shore Access Project
• This project is slated for completion in 2022 and will enable the port to meet the ever-growing demand for goods shipped in containers.

Our attention to detail and commitment to our customers, staff, and community for more than three decades has secured our position as one of the leaders in the Vancouver trucking industry. From LTL and FTL services to warehousing needs, we are able to deliver more through the authorized access we have to all major Port of Vancouver terminals including the Deltaport, Vanterm, Centerm and Fraser Surrey Docks. We also have access to both CN Rail and CP Rail. 

Shipping and transporting your product has never been easier. Contact us today at (604)-276-9044 or info@sandhartrucking.com to learn more about our seamless experience. Our newly expanded 100,000 square foot facility is also here to serve you!