What counts as dry goods
Dry goods are non-perishable, non-temperature-controlled products: packaged consumer goods, paper and packaging, hardware, textiles, sealed dry ingredients and general merchandise. They move in enclosed 53-foot dry van trailers, which represent the overwhelming majority of freight capacity in Canada.
Step one: preparing the freight
Product is stacked on standard 48x40 skids, stretch-wrapped to the pallet base and labelled. Overhang is the enemy — anything hanging past the skid edge is the first thing to be crushed in a trailer.
Step two: documentation
A bill of lading records piece count, weight, dimensions and commodity description. Accurate dimensions matter: inaccurate ones trigger reweighs and post-delivery billing adjustments.
Step three: pickup and securement
Freight is loaded and secured with load bars, straps or e-track depending on weight and stack height. On a well-run load, the driver photographs the secured freight before closing the doors.
Step four: transit
Full truckloads run direct. LTL shipments route through terminals for consolidation. Ontario to Quebec is typically one day; Ontario to British Columbia is five to six.
Step five: delivery and POD
The consignee inspects, signs and notes any exception on the delivery receipt. Damage noted at delivery is straightforward to claim; damage discovered days later is not. Inspect before you sign.