Cross border carriers team up

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee: A US-based truckload carrier and a Canadian freight carrier have partnered with the goal of creating a North American-wide shipping network.

Xpress Enterprises, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines (M-O) out of Brampton, Ontario have signed an agreement that will see M-O handle freight moving across Canada-US borders (Niagara Falls-Buffalo and Windsor-Detroit), while Xpress carries orders over the US-Mexico border.

As part of the arrangement each carrier has earned security qualifications. M-O has both US Department of Homeland Security Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification in the US and Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) Partners in Prevention (PIPS) certification in the Canada, and US Xpress has been recognized as C-TPAT compliant.

Through the arrangement, customers will be offered a number of transportation choices, including truckload, refrigerated truck, dedicated shipping and some limited LTL options through team and solo arrangements. Some intermodal services will also be available.

The companies have focused on serving the retail sector but also position their service as being suitable for the pharmaceutical, grocery and manufacturing and manufacturing industries.