In this article
Some of the containers we load at Double Z go much farther than Montreal. We stuff containers with building materials for houses in northern communities: everything on the list for a crew to build a house. A container like that is not just freight. It is a home, and it has to arrive complete.
Why loading for the North is different
- There is no store around the corner. A missing or broken item can hold up a whole build.
- Shipping windows are short. Many northern communities are supplied by sea during a short summer season, so deadlines are firm.
- The trip is long and the container is handled many times. The load has to stay in place through the road, the port, the ship and the unloading.
- The weather is hard on materials. What can be damaged by water or cold must be packed and placed for it.
How we stuff a container for the North
1. The list comes first. We work from the shipper’s packing list: every item, its quantity, size and weight. Nothing goes in that isn’t on the list, and nothing on the list is left behind.
2. A load plan. Heavy items go low and the weight is spread evenly. Fragile items like windows and doors are placed where nothing can crush them.
3. Blocking and bracing. Every row is blocked and braced so it can’t shift during the long trip and all the handling.
4. Close communication. We keep the shipper informed at every step: what is loaded, what is missing, and when the container is ready. That attention is what makes these jobs work.
Materials from several suppliers
Materials often come from different suppliers on different days. They can be received and held at our warehouses in Laval and Lachine, then loaded together. See our warehousing and cross-docking.
What shippers should send us
- The packing list with quantities, sizes and weights.
- The container size and the booking details.
- The deadline: when the loaded container must be at the port.
- Any dangerous goods in the shipment, with the UN number and class.
- The delivery schedule of each supplier.
Then use the quote form and pick “Stuffing & destuffing”.
Questions about stuffing containers for the North
Do you stuff containers for northern communities?
Yes. We stuff containers with building materials for houses in northern communities, with careful planning and close communication with the shipper.
What kind of materials do you load?
Building materials for houses, exactly as listed on the shipper’s packing list.
Why does loading for the North take more care?
There is no store nearby, shipping windows are short and the container is handled many times on a long trip. Everything has to arrive complete and undamaged.
How do you keep the load from shifting?
Heavy items go low, the weight is spread evenly, and every row is blocked and braced so it stays in place through the road, the port and the ship.
How do you protect windows and doors?
They are placed where nothing can crush them and secured so they can’t move.
Can you receive materials from several suppliers before loading?
Yes. Materials can be received and held at our warehouses in Laval and Lachine, then loaded together.
What do you need from the shipper?
The packing list with quantities, sizes and weights, the container size and booking, the port deadline, any dangerous goods with UN number and class, and the suppliers’ delivery schedule.
Can the shipment include dangerous goods?
We transport dangerous goods, though not every class. Tell us the UN number and class of each product before loading.
Do you stuff 20 ft and 40 ft containers?
Yes. We stuff both 20 ft and 40 ft containers, depending on the shipment.
Do you deliver the loaded container to the port?
Yes. Once loaded, the container can be delivered to the terminal before the cutoff as part of our port drayage service.
How do I know what was loaded?
We keep you informed at every step: what is loaded, what is missing and when the container is ready.
Fast quote
Building materials to ship north? Send us the packing list and the deadline, and we plan the loading.