Maritime-Ontario moving forward with $18.5 million hub in Moncton, N.B.

MONCTON, N.B.–Maritime-Ontario has begun work on a state-of-the-art transportation hub on Berry Mills Road that will allow it to grow significantly in Moncton, said the company.

 Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines Ltd. president Doug Munro said the company is looking at opening next summer or in the early fall of next year, indicated the Times Transcript.

Nova Scotia-born and Brampton, Ontario based M-O searched for three years for the ideal location for its next leap forward. Its new location was chosen because of the proximity to CN’s intermodal network next to the Moncton Industrial Developments Park, and to the Trans-Canada Highway. The location will also allow the company to expand its use of double trailers, increasing efficiency, the company said.

The new site comprises more than 46 acres near the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste property, fronting Berry Mills Road. The firm is developing 18 acres for now. While rumors have run rampant that a second trucking firm would move onto the rest of the property, Munro said that’s not the case. M-O will use the rest of the land for future growth.

“That’s a big site for trucking,” Munro said. “This represents a big commitment for us.”

When it is finished, the $18.5-million hub will feature an attractive, pre-cast concrete and glass building of two storeys in height and dozens of docks on a roller-compacted concrete site.

Because of space restrictions at their current site, the firm mostly serves the immediate Metro Moncton market. With the new facility, M-O will be able to cater to companies looking to ship multiple trailers of goods as well as partial loads, and at the same time serve as a transfer point for inbound freight from points west for distribution all over the Maritimes.

The building will feature the latest technology in the industry in a modern building featuring 12-foot (3.6-metre) high ceilings in pristine surroundings, all designed to attract the top talent in the industry and keep them with M-O throughout their careers in a field where human resources can prove a challenge.

“We’re building it that way so that our staff will hopefully enjoy working there,” Munro said.

Several jobs are expected to be created by M-O’s expansion, with new positions created both in the office as well as on the road. Sales, dispatching, administration, driver support and the full range of services necessary for this type of operation will be based in the building.

The firm does a significant amount of business with the food industry, so the modern, clean building and paved freight yard allows M-O to outwardly project its commitment to cleanliness and attention to detail that those types of clients are looking for in a carrier. “We find that our customers demand these types of facilities,” Munro said.

M-O’s roots began in Nova Scotia in 1962, providing less-than-truckload and full truckload service between Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Ontario. The company expanded the network into Western Canada to establish a comprehensive terminal network from coast to coast. Over that time, M-O created multiple divisions allowing them maximum flexibility, including M-O FreightWORKS, M-O COLDchain, M-O DedicatedWORKS, M-O PaperXPRESS, M-O LogisticWORKS and Bulk Services, said the report.