Specialized Freight Shipping Services

Expert Solutions for Complex Shipping Challenges

Some freight demands more than standard transportation. When you're racing against tight deadlines, shipping hazardous materials, or coordinating complex delivery requirements, you need specialized freight shipping services from a logistics partner who understands the stakes. At C&D Logistics, we've built a network of over 5,000 carriers across North America specifically to handle freight that falls outside the ordinary.

Same-Day Freight Shipping and Hotshot Services

Production delays happen. Equipment fails. Critical shipments get overlooked. When you need freight moved immediately, our same-day freight shipping and hotshot shipping services put a dedicated truck on your load fast. No consolidation with other shipments. No scheduled pickup windows. Just a truck dispatched specifically for your freight that goes straight from origin to destination.

Hotshot shipping works for urgent freight of virtually any size. Small parts that keep a production line running. Replacement equipment for a job site. Time-sensitive documents or samples. Products needed for a customer emergency. Our hotshot carriers understand that speed matters as much as safe delivery, and they commit to both.

We maintain relationships with hotshot carriers throughout Western Canada and across North America. That network means we can arrange same-day pickup in most major centres and coordinate expedited transport even to remote locations. When you call with an urgent need, we're already working our carrier contacts to find available capacity.

Expedited Freight Options

Not every urgent shipment requires full hotshot service. Sometimes you need priority handling rather than dedicated transport. Our expedited specialized freight shipping services move your freight ahead of standard schedules without the premium cost of a dedicated truck. Carriers prioritize loading, reduce terminal dwell time, and select the fastest routing to compress transit times.

Expedited service works well when you need freight delivered quickly but can accept slightly longer transit than same-day or hotshot options provide. Think of it as the middle ground between standard shipping timelines and emergency hotshot transport. You get faster service at a more manageable price point.

Hazmat Freight Shipping Services

Dangerous Goods Transportation

Shipping hazardous materials means navigating complex regulations, securing properly certified carriers, and ensuring every document meets compliance standards. Our hazmat freight shipping services handle dangerous goods across all nine hazard classes, from flammable liquids to corrosive materials to radioactive substances.

We verify that every carrier assigned to your hazmat shipment holds current dangerous goods certifications from Transport Canada and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Their equipment gets inspected for proper placarding. Their drivers maintain valid training credentials. We don't assign carriers to hazmat loads unless they meet every regulatory requirement.

Complete Hazmat Documentation

Proper paperwork prevents delays and ensures regulatory compliance. Our team prepares accurate shipping papers that include all required information: UN numbers, proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, quantities, and emergency response details. We coordinate with shippers to verify classification accuracy and with carriers to confirm they have the necessary placards and safety equipment.

Every hazmat freight shipping load we coordinate includes a complete Bill of Lading that satisfies Transport Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations and DOT's Hazardous Materials Regulations. If your shipment crosses the Canada-U.S. border, we handle the additional documentation requirements for international hazmat transport.

Specialized Hazmat Equipment

Different hazardous materials require different equipment. Flammable liquids need tankers with proper baffling and grounding. Corrosives require tanks with compatible linings. Some hazmat loads need temperature control. Others demand specific packaging or containment systems.

Our carrier network includes specialists with the exact equipment your dangerous goods require. We match your commodity with carriers who regularly transport similar materials and who maintain their equipment to the standards hazmat shipping demands. That specialized expertise reduces risk and ensures your hazardous materials arrive safely.

Crane and Heavy Lift Services

Freight That Standard Equipment Can't Handle

When your freight weighs more than a forklift can manage or you're delivering to a site without loading equipment, standard freight handling doesn't work. Our crane freight services coordinate specialized rigging and lifting equipment to load, transport, and unload heavy or awkwardly shaped cargo.

We work with carriers who operate trucks equipped with mounted cranes, arrange for third-party crane services at pickup or delivery locations, and coordinate permits when crane operations require road closures or special access. Whether you're shipping industrial machinery, construction equipment, or other heavy freight, we handle the logistics that make safe loading and unloading possible.

Remote and Difficult Access Sites

Construction sites, rural facilities, and industrial locations often lack the infrastructure standard freight delivery assumes. Our specialized freight shipping services account for these challenges. We coordinate with carriers experienced in difficult access situations, arrange appropriate equipment for unpaved or restricted areas, and plan delivery timing that aligns with site capabilities.

Before dispatch, we verify access requirements and confirm the carrier has the right equipment and experience for your delivery location. That advance planning prevents the delays and complications that happen when standard carriers arrive unprepared for site realities.

Tradeshow and Event Freight Logistics

Precision Timing for Event Shipments

Tradeshow freight shipping operates on tight, non-negotiable deadlines. Early arrival means storage fees. Late arrival means empty booth space and wasted event investment. Our tradeshow specialized freight shipping services hit the narrow delivery windows convention centres require.

We know the receiving schedules for major convention centres across North America. We understand how long customs clearance takes for international tradeshows. We factor in traffic patterns around event venues during setup periods. That knowledge lets us recommend shipping dates that get your freight onsite during your assigned receiving window without rushing or waiting.

Our team coordinates with show freight forwarders, tracks shipments closely as event dates approach, and maintains communication with carriers to prevent the delays that derail tradeshow logistics. We've handled enough event freight to know where problems typically emerge and how to prevent them.

Return Shipping Coordination

Getting freight to a tradeshow is only half the logistics challenge. Our specialized freight shipping services include coordinating return shipments after events end. We arrange pickup during show teardown schedules, handle any damaged or excess freight, and manage the logistics that reunite your tradeshow materials with your facility or storage location.

Scheduled Delivery Appointments

Big-Box Retailer Compliance

Shipping to major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Costco, or Home Depot comes with strict delivery appointment requirements. Miss your window and you face rejection fees, rescheduling delays, and frustrated customers. Our specialized freight shipping services ensure carriers meet retailer appointment times.

We manage the appointment booking process, confirm delivery windows with receiving facilities, and select carriers with proven track records making retailer appointments. Our customer service team monitors these shipments closely and communicates with carriers to prevent the late arrivals that trigger costly chargebacks.

Distribution Centre Coordination

Distribution centres run on precise schedules. Loading docks get assigned by appointment. Delayed trucks create cascading problems. Our specialized freight shipping services coordinate the timing that keeps distribution centre deliveries on schedule.

We work with carriers who understand distribution centre requirements, who arrive prepared with proper documentation, and who respect the timing that facility operations require. When you're shipping to facilities with mandatory appointment windows, carrier reliability matters as much as competitive pricing.