Reducing Demurrage Costs and Optimizing Transport Through Intermodal Transloading in Montreal

For a distributor located outside the Montreal metropolitan area, every imported container represented a double cost: long-distance transport to their warehouse, combined with the risk of demurrage and detention charges tied to unloading delays. In an unstable geopolitical environment where international transit times are unpredictable, optimizing every step of the supply chain had become a strategic priority.

The Logistics Challenge :

• High long-distance transport costs to move full containers to a regional facility
• Exposure to demurrage and detention charges due to delays between container arrival and unloading
• Supply chain vulnerable to international shipping disruptions and port delays
• Delivery trucks returning empty after each drop-off in the Montreal area

Our Approach :

Boutin 3PL stepped in by offering a container transloading service at our logistics facility on the South Shore of Montreal, located in close proximity to the Port of Montreal and the CN and CP intermodal rail terminals.

Containers are received, unloaded and processed directly at our facility — eliminating the long-distance movement of full containers to the client’s regional location. Goods are then shipped in optimized loads aligned with planned delivery schedules.

Our secure container yard absorbs simultaneous arrivals and allows flexible unloading scheduling, significantly reducing the risk of detention charges. All operations are documented through a timestamped photo system, ensuring full traceability at every step.

The Results

• Transport optimization: the client’s trucks pick up transloaded goods at Boutin 3PL on their way back to the region — maximizing every trip
• Reduced demurrage charges: our immediate reception capacity shortens the time between container arrival and unloading
• Improved predictability: our strategic location near intermodal terminals enables tighter coordination of arrivals despite international shipping variability