Long-Distance Freight Transport — Canada and USA
LTL, FTL, refrigerated, and intermodal. Quebec–Ontario, Montreal–Toronto, Quebec–Florida, and cross-border lanes — customs included, 24/7 GPS tracking.
99,5 %
ON-TIME DELIVERY
The logistics partner for Canadian shippers
Headquartered in Montreal, Cargo53 orchestrates long-distance freight transport across Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, all of Canada, and every major US market — from the East Coast to Florida through the Midwest. Our network pairs a proprietary 53-foot trailer fleet with 400+ vetted partner carriers and a brokerage team on-call seven days a week. With over a decade in multimodal logistics, we deliver LTL and FTL freight at a 99.5% on-time rate, with seamless cross-border customs and end-to-end GPS visibility.
Pick the right mode
Two ways to move freight. The right choice depends on volume, budget, and how much handling your goods can tolerate.
LTL — Less-Than-Truckload
Your freight shares the trailer with other shippers. Ideal for 1–12 pallets or under 15,000 lb. You only pay for the space you use — typically 40–60% cheaper than a full truck, with a slightly longer transit due to consolidation.
See detailed LTL sectionFTL — Full Truckload
The entire trailer is dedicated to your load. Recommended from 12 pallets or 15,000 lb up, or for fragile, urgent, or high-value freight. Direct transit, zero intermediate handling — the best option when time matters.
See detailed FTL sectionFTL Transport — Dedicated Full Truckload
FTL (Full Truckload) is the right call as soon as your shipment tops 12 pallets, involves fragile or high-value goods, or when the delivery window is time-critical. The trailer is dedicated entirely to your load: the truck leaves your dock and drives straight to the delivery point — no consolidation stops, no intermediate handling.
Direct point-to-point transit with zero cross-docking — up to 48 hours faster than LTL on long-haul lanes.
LTL Freight — Economical Partial Load
LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) is built for shipments of 1 to 12 pallets, under 15,000 lb, that aren't time-critical. Your freight travels consolidated with other shippers in the same trailer, moving through our Montreal and Toronto sort centers before reaching the final destination. Transit runs slightly longer than FTL — plan on 48–72 hours Montreal–Toronto — but pricing is dramatically better.
Typical savings of 40 to 60% vs FTL on the same lanes.
Lanes we run every single day
Our core lanes cover Quebec ↔ Ontario (Montreal ↔ Toronto, Montreal ↔ Ottawa), Quebec ↔ Florida (via I-87/I-95 with relays in Albany and Jacksonville), and all cross-border Canada–USA — Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas. Our customs team handles ACE/PAPS filings, duties, and FDA/USDA compliance with zero effort on your side.
Montréal ↔ Toronto
24 h
Montréal ↔ Ottawa
6 h
Québec ↔ Floride
3–4 j
Montréal ↔ NYC
12 h
QC ↔ Chicago
2 j
Customs handled
ACE/PAPS
Vertical expertise
We match mode, equipment, and process to your vertical. Five industries where we excel:
Manufacturers
Distributors
Retailers
Construction
Food & beverage
The right equipment for every load
A modern fleet maintained to SAAQ and DOT standards, equipped to track every shipment to the second.
53-foot trailers
Dry van and flatbed.
Special equipment
Flatbeds, step-decks, permits.
Real-time GPS
Position, ETA, alerts.
Local freight — Greater Montreal and North Shore
City-specific pages with transit times, highway corridors and local FAQs.
Freight transport in Sainte-Thérèse
A-15/A-640
Freight transport in Montréal-Nord
A-25/A-40
Freight transport in Terrebonne
A-25/A-640
Freight transport in Repentigny
A-40/A-640
Freight transport in Blainville
A-15/A-640
Freight transport in Saint-Léonard
A-40
Freight transport in Chambly
A-10/R-112
Freight transport in Mascouche
A-25/R-344
Three steps, zero friction
Online quote
Fill the online form in 2 minutes or talk to a broker. Firm quote in under 24 hours.
Confirmation
You approve rate and mode. The BOL and pickup window arrive by email.
Pickup & delivery
Driver picks up, GPS live, POD signed on delivery. Full real-time visibility in the portal.
Dedicated FAQ: FTL, LTL and refrigerated transport
When should I choose FTL over LTL?
FTL (full truckload) becomes economical from 12 pallets or 15,000 lb up, or for any fragile, high-value, or time-critical freight. The truck leaves your dock and drives straight to destination — no cross-dock, no intermediate handling, up to 48 hours faster on long-haul lanes.
What is the average FTL Montreal–Toronto rate in 2026?
On the Montreal–Toronto lane, a 53-foot dry FTL runs CAD $1,400–$1,900 all-in depending on season, pickup window, and return availability. Reefer FTL runs $1,900–$2,500. A firm Cargo53 quote is produced within 2–4 business hours.
Can I ship a single pallet by LTL?
Yes. LTL is built for 1 to 12 pallets. A single pallet Montreal–Toronto typically runs CAD $180–$260 depending on weight, dimensions, and NMFC class. Shipments under 150 lb may switch to a cheaper small-parcel rate — we automatically recommend the best mode.
What is the LTL vs FTL transit Montreal–Toronto?
Direct FTL: 24 hours door to door. Consolidated LTL: 48–72 hours, including transit through our Montreal and Toronto sort centers. If LTL is too slow, a shared FTL (premium LTL) delivers in 36 hours at about 30% off a dedicated FTL rate.
Is refrigerated transport (reefer) CFIA/FDA compliant?
Yes. Our 53-foot reefers hold -25 °C to +25 °C with continuous temperature logging, drift alarms, and a downloadable PDF report for CFIA (Canada) and FDA (US) audits. Drivers are HACCP-trained and trailers are inspected before every pharma or food load.
Can I combine dry and refrigerated freight in one shipment?
Yes, via a multi-zone trailer. A thermal bulkhead splits the 53-foot trailer into two independent temperature compartments — typically fresh (0–4 °C) and frozen (-18 °C), or ambient dry and fresh. Ideal for food distributors serving one customer in a single stop.
Do you offer pharma reefer with controlled 2–8 °C temperature?
Yes. The 2–8 °C range (pharmaceutical cold chain) is standard for vaccine, biologic, and drug shipments. Every load includes: documented pre-cooling, redundant temperature sensors, real-time SMS alarms to the customer, driver validated on GDP procedures, and a compliance report delivered with the POD.
Is there a surcharge for reefer vs dry van?
Yes, typically 25–35% over an equivalent dry FTL, driven by reefer fuel, heavier maintenance, and limited fleet availability. On Montreal–Toronto, expect CAD $1,900–$2,500 reefer vs $1,400–$1,900 dry van.
Answers to the 10 most common questions
How long does Montreal–Toronto take?
Standard transit is 24 hours for a direct FTL load and 48–72 hours for consolidated LTL, depending on pickup window and intermediate stops.
Do you ship to the United States?
Yes. Cargo53 runs daily lanes into New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles with full customs clearance and ACE/PAPS-compliant paperwork.
What is LTL?
Less-Than-Truckload consolidates your freight with other shippers in the same trailer. Ideal for 1–12 pallets or under 15,000 lb, it dramatically reduces cost vs a full truck.
Do you have refrigerated trucks?
Yes — 53-foot reefers with temperature control from -25 °C to +25 °C for food, pharma, and temperature-sensitive freight.
How fast is your quote turnaround?
Firm quote in under 24 business hours — often 2–4 hours on standard lanes. The online form speeds this up.
Do you carry dangerous goods?
Yes, we handle TDG classes 3, 8, and 9 with certified drivers and Transport Canada–compliant documentation.
Do you offer real-time tracking?
Every shipment is GPS-tracked. Live position, reefer temperature, and ETA are visible in the customer portal with automatic milestone alerts.
What industries do you serve?
Manufacturers, distributors, retailers, construction, food, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce, with tailored solutions per vertical.
What is the maximum payload?
Our 53-foot trailers carry up to 22,700 kg (50,000 lb) — about 26 standard pallets. For oversized loads, we coordinate flatbeds, step-decks, and special permits.
Are you an industry-association member?
Yes. Cargo53 is a member of the Association du camionnage du Québec (ACQ), with valid MC/DOT numbers and CAD $2M cargo insurance.
Ready to ship?
Get a firm quote in under 24 hours. Our brokerage desk is on-call seven days a week.
GET A TRANSPORT QUOTEGuaranteed response within 24 business hours