CPKC, Fastfrate extend pact to connect Canada, U.S., Mexico

 Fastfrate Group today announced it has renewed a long-term agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

The new five-year agreement features operational enhancements, infrastructure investments and continental service expansion. The agreement solidifies and expands Fastfrate company Canada Drayage Inc. (CDI) as the largest coast-to-coast drayage provider in Canada, according to a Fastfrate press release.

Fastfrate and CPKC will invest in the new gate technology that provides CDI immediate access through Fastfrate private entrances in CPKC facilities in Toronto and Montreal. Fastfrate will also dedicate 15 acres and invest CA$10 million in preparation to create a container yard next to CPKC's Toronto intermodal facility and a pre-pull yard for CPKC's domestic and international container-line customers. Both will streamline operations and improve fluidity for domestic and international shippers, the release said.

As part of the agreement, Fastfrate will market CPKC's full-load service on a direct rail line between Canada and Mexico, and its intermodal less-than-truckload service from all points in Canada as well as the U.S. Midwest to Texas, Mexico, and points in between. With an investment of 200 containers in 2023 and an additional 200 in 2024, Fastfrate will deploy 100 containers on CPKC's Mexico Midwest Express service to meet the growing demand for Mexico, Fastfrate officials said.

"Extending our decades-long relationship with the Fastfrate Group brings tremendous opportunities for growth," said Jonathan Wahba, CPKC's senior vice president of sales and marketing, bulk and intermodal cargo. "We are especially pleased to expand our relationship with Canada Drayage Inc. and enhance the service we provide to our shared customers by creating an industry-first private gate, complete with CPKC's FastPass entrance, at both our Toronto and Montreal intermodal terminals."