Shipping companies in Canada present both challenges and opportunities. The best choice depends on your shipment profile (size, weight, speed, origin/destination, and compliance). Below we compare leading couriers, emerging providers, and freight options — plus tips to reduce cost and improve delivery performance.
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Shipping companies in Canada present challenges and opportunities. The best solutions depend on the profile of your shipment or shipments. The optimal carrier will vary by cost, delivery speed, coverage, support, and compliance needs.
The market leaders in Canada include Canada Post (and subsidiary Purolator), FedEx, and UPS. They offer access directly or via brokerage/partner providers (such as Jet Worldwide). Base rates start high; meaningful discounts are available with volume or via partners. Express services can be next-day to major cities across Canada.
These brands — and others — let you ship within Canada, to the USA, and overseas. Choose the courier with the best balance of cost, speed, coverage, and support for your lanes, from major cities (Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver) to smaller communities.
If you're considering a package forwarding service to shop from North America but want an alternative to US-based options like MyUS, a Canadian address can be ideal. Choosing Canada provides access to Canadian suppliers and products exclusive to Canada — and can help avoid certain US trade limitations. Download: Shipping to Canada (PDF)
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Request a Quote Talk to an ExpertCanada Post is the best option for individuals shipping personal packages. With nationwide access online and at post offices, it’s convenient for small e-commerce. Note: Significant discounts require large volume, and tracking/reliability may be lower than commercial couriers.
Purolator (a Canada Post division) is a market leader with both ground and air options. Strong for B2B and SMBs, with time-definite delivery and full tracking.
Both are among the largest shipping companies in Canada, offering a wide range of express and ground services with robust tracking, international networks, and negotiated-rate programs for volume shippers.
GLS serves large B2B customers and is expanding in B2C. GLS is part of Royal Mail’s global network.
Regional ground parcel carrier known for competitive rates across Eastern Canada — a good fit for B2B ground within its footprint.
Leading last-mile provider for mega e-commerce (including Amazon) using an independent driver model — optimized for high-volume B2C delivery.
TFI International is a diversified transportation group with significant trucking operations. Its parcel brands (e.g., Canpar, ICS, Loomis) represent a notable share of revenue and provide domestic ground options.
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers orchestrate intermodal moves — combining truck, rail, ocean, air, and courier — to optimize cost and transit. For rail, CN is a major network across the US and Canada.
For courier and package shipping, there are two basic service types: express and ground. In-province ground can be next-day at a lower cost; express offers higher certainty and faster inter-provincial time.
Example: Express Vancouver → Montreal ~1–2 days; ground can take ~1 week depending on address. Actual transit varies by lane and service level.
Jet Worldwide offers warehousing, Canadian distribution, and forwarding for Canadian and international companies, helping you build and maintain resilient supply chains.
Multiple carriers serve international lanes. Domestic carriers (e.g., Purolator) often partner with international providers (e.g., UPS, FedEx). DHL focuses on international only (no domestic Canada).
Cross-border is its own category. Carriers segment services into domestic, North America (US/CA), and International (overseas).
FedEx and UPS offer international ground and air express. Postal options (USPS/Canada Post) are best for personal parcels and some low-value e-commerce. High-volume sellers benefit from consolidation and direct injection.
North-bound delivery leverages trucking lanes US→CA. Purolator International offers strong US→Canada cross-border options. Jet Worldwide simplifies compliance, offers local warehousing, and Canadian support.
Download: Shipping from Canada (PDF)
Most freight moves via international ground or truckload. Pallets move as LTL (less-than-truckload) or FTL (full truckload), with LTL most common for cross-border pallet freight.
Choose between air cargo (fast, ~1 week) and ocean freight (economical, ~1–3 months door-to-door). LCL shares space and adds handling time; FCL uses 20'/40' containers. Ocean surcharges can make air cheaper for smaller consignments.
| Carrier | Best For | Speed | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Post | Personal & micro-ecom parcels | Economy–Fast | Nationwide | Lower cost; limited commercial support |
| Purolator | Domestic B2B / SMB | Fast | Strong CA | Time-definite & reliable tracking |
| FedEx | Time-critical & international | Fastest | Global | Volume discounts via partners |
| UPS | Domestic & cross-border US | Fast | Global | Strong brokerage options |
| DHL | International only | Fast | Global | No domestic CA network |
| GLS | B2B, growing B2C | Fast | Regional→National | Royal Mail group |
| Nationex | Eastern Canada ground | Economy–Fast | Regional | Competitive regional rates |
| Intelcom | High-volume e-commerce | Fast (last-mile) | Urban & suburban | Independent driver model |
| TFI (Canpar/ICS/Loomis) | Ground freight/parcel | Economy–Fast | National | Diversified trucking group |
International expertise extends across networks connecting Canadian and global companies. Many domestic services lack cross-border specialization. Jet Worldwide combines domestic capability with international know-how — a leading resource for shipping to/from Canada.
Jet Worldwide partners with Canada’s leading carriers and local couriers to provide unique Canadian shipping and total logistics support.
We offer transparency and world-class logistics support.
Find a courier with proven service, solid tech, and strong support — and augment your team with Jet’s experts.
For small/light parcels, Canada Post economy services are often cheapest; for heavier or time-sensitive shipments, compare Purolator/FedEx/UPS ground vs. express.
Consolidate volume, minimize dimensional weight, and use a logistics partner (like Jet Worldwide) that provides access to negotiated rates and routing options.
DHL, FedEx, and UPS all offer strong international networks. The “best” choice depends on destination, speed, service inclusions, and brokerage preferences.
At minimum: commercial invoice, packing list, and waybill. Some shipments require export declarations and import permits. See our guides on commercial invoices, declared value, certificates of origin, and HS codes.
Yes, via certain carriers/services. You’ll need accurate HS codes, values, and tax IDs. For importers, review CARM registration.