BRAMPTON, Ont. (Jan. 27, 2005) — Carriers are under increased pressure to pick up loaded container imports from CN’s Brampton terminal after the railway began charging a $200 storage fee on Jan. 1.

Containers are allowed two free storage days at the terminal, regardless of when the freight arrives, but if goods are not removed after that time, CN will charge $200 a day, reports customs clearance firm Livingston International.

Livingston says it’s doing what it can to pre-process the customs release and provide the freight forwarder with the necessary documentation or information before arrival at the terminal. However, goods may still be subject to significant storage charges from CN due to their tight free time frames.

Currently, carriers must book delivery appointments to pick-up customers’ goods. The CN Brampton terminal currently books a maximum of 60 pick-ups per hour. As a result, some pick-up schedules get full for any given day.

Moreover, while CN operates 7/24 for carriers to pick-up goods, most firms can receive delivery only during week-day business hours.

Livingston is recommending that importers utilize carriers with the capability to remove containers within two days. But they should also expand operating hours, allowing the carrier a more flexible window for delivering the load.

Livingston customers should also forward the firm the necessary documents on shipments as far in advance as possible of the freight actual arriving at the CN Brampton terminal.