Rail congestion, weather delays impacting Canadian port dwell times

Dwell times at major Canadian ports remain high due to rail congestion, severe weather and equipment shortages, according to a March report from DHL Global Forwarding on North American port conditions.

In Halifax, import rail dwell times average 18 days, with some containers experiencing delays of up to 30 days due to high ground counts and labour shortages. PSA and CN are working to improve rail productivity.

Saint John is also facing delays, with import rail dwell times at 11.1 days, largely due to insufficient rail car supply. Terminal utilization remains high at 89 per cent.

In Montreal, CPKC has lifted its export embargo, but inconsistent rail car supply has pushed dwell times to 5.1 days, with a full recovery expected in seven to 10 days.

On the West Coast, Vancouver faces significant rail issues, with container dwell times ranging between 20 and 30 days. Prince Rupert is experiencing delays of up to five days due to minor rail disruptions.

DHL’s Ocean Freight Port Situation Update highlights ongoing challenges in supply chain efficiency, as weather and infrastructure constraints continue to impact freight movement across North America.

Visit here to view the report.