Shippers First Logistics is a CIFFA-member freight forwarder based in Vaughan, Ontario, providing full-service freight forwarding for businesses across the province. We serve importers, exporters, and manufacturers in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor, and throughout Ontario — managing air cargo, ocean freight, intermodal rail, temperature-controlled logistics, and cross-border Canada-US shipping from our base in the Greater Toronto Area.
Freight Forwarding Services Across Ontario
Ontario is Canada's economic engine — home to approximately 40 percent of Canada's GDP and the country's largest manufacturing, automotive, technology, pharmaceutical, and agri-food sectors. The province's businesses are among the most active importers and exporters in Canada, and Ontario's logistics infrastructure supports that activity with world-class connectivity by air, ocean, rail, and road.
Shippers First provides the full range of freight forwarding services for Ontario businesses:
- Air cargo via Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Ocean freight — FCL and LCL via Port of Montreal and Port of Vancouver
- Intermodal rail on CN and CP Rail networks
- Cross-border Canada-US LTL and FTL trucking
- Temperature-controlled logistics via EasyFresh network
- Project cargo and heavy-lift freight
- CBSA customs clearance and trade compliance
- Cargo insurance coordination and claims support
Ontario's Freight Forwarding Infrastructure
Ontario's logistics geography gives businesses in the province exceptional access to global trade routes and North American freight networks:
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Canada's largest and busiest cargo airport handles the majority of Canada's air freight volume. Pearson connects Ontario businesses to over 180 global destinations, with direct air cargo services to major hubs in the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. For time-critical international shipments, air freight through Pearson is typically the fastest option for Ontario exporters and importers.
CN and CP Rail Intermodal Terminals
Ontario is served by multiple CN and CP Rail intermodal terminals, most importantly the Brampton Intermodal Terminal (CN) and the Toronto Intermodal Terminal (CPKC). These terminals provide cost-effective rail connections to Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and major US hubs — delivering significant cost savings over trucking on long-haul lanes. See our detailed guide to intermodal rail shipping in Canada for corridor-by-corridor detail.
Canada-US Border Crossings
Ontario has direct access to the Windsor-Detroit and Niagara Falls border crossings — the two highest-volume Canada-US truck freight crossings in Eastern Canada. Combined, these crossings handle the majority of Ontario's cross-border trade with the US Midwest and Northeast. Shippers First manages CBSA pre-clearance and US CBP compliance for cross-border shipments across both corridors. For full detail see our Canada-US freight forwarding guide.
Key Ontario Cities and Regions We Serve
| City / Region | Key Industries | Primary Freight Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto / GTA | Finance, technology, retail, food & beverage | Air, ocean, cross-border, temperature-controlled |
| Mississauga | Pharma, logistics, manufacturing, retail distribution | Air cargo (Pearson adjacent), ocean, LTL/FTL |
| Brampton | Manufacturing, logistics, food processing | Cross-border trucking, intermodal rail, LTL |
| Hamilton | Steel, manufacturing, agri-food | Ocean via Port of Hamilton, FTL, cross-border |
| Ottawa | Government, technology, healthcare | Air freight, cross-border, specialized cargo |
| London | Manufacturing, automotive, agri-food | Cross-border trucking, LTL, FTL |
| Kitchener-Waterloo | Technology, manufacturing, insurance | Air cargo, cross-border, LTL |
| Windsor | Automotive, manufacturing | Cross-border (Windsor-Detroit corridor), FTL |
Industries We Serve Across Ontario
Shippers First works with Ontario businesses across a wide range of sectors that depend on reliable international and cross-border freight forwarding:
- Automotive — parts, components, and finished vehicles
- Manufacturing — capital equipment imports and finished goods exports
- Pharmaceutical — temperature-controlled air and ocean freight
- Agri-food — perishable freight via EasyFresh cold chain network
- Technology — high-value components and electronics
- Mining and energy — project cargo and industrial equipment
- Retail and distribution — ocean imports and cross-border replenishment
- Construction — building materials and heavy equipment
Contact Shippers First — Ontario Freight Forwarding
Our office is located at 400 Applewood Crescent in Vaughan — minutes from Highway 400, Toronto Pearson Airport, the CN/CP Rail Brampton intermodal terminal, and the major highway corridors serving all of Southern Ontario. Contact our team for a freight forwarding quote or to discuss your Ontario logistics requirements.
Vaughan, Ontario L4K 0C3
For more on what freight forwarding involves, or to understand what makes a freight forwarder the best choice for your Ontario business, see our related guides.
Get a Freight Quote from Shippers First
Province-wide Ontario freight forwarding — air, ocean, intermodal rail, and cross-border Canada-US solutions.
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