Port of Montreal drayage rates
Montreal is the deepest inland container port in North America — an ocean vessel sails roughly 1,000 miles up the St. Lawrence to reach it — which means the dray leg out of Montreal is often replacing what would otherwise be a long inland move from a coastal port. Its local market is bilingual, seasonal, and heavily oriented toward Ontario and the US Northeast.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $391 | $531 | $808 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $460 | $625 | $950 |
| 45' HC | $506 | $688 | $1,045 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for Port of Montreal — a flat rate per container by distance ring, for the truck move only. They are an estimate band to sanity-check a quote against, not a market index, a spot rate, or an offer. Fuel, chassis, terminal fees and the accessorials listed below sit on top. Beyond 150 miles a move prices per-mile as linehaul rather than as drayage. Rates are USD for a standard dry container and move with fuel and market conditions.
Carrier supply at Port of Montreal
Live counts from our FMCSA carrier directory, for operators whose registered domicile puts this gateway nearest. Equipment flags are as reported to FMCSA.
Browse all carriers near Port of Montreal →
What sits on top of the base rate
Drayage invoices are rarely just the linehaul. These are the charges that most often appear, at our default schedule.
| Accessorial | Typical | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis Rental | $40 / day | Daily chassis rental while the chassis is out (1-day minimum; some lanes 2-day). |
| Chassis Split (per occurrence) | $100 | Trucker has to pull a chassis from a different yard than the container. Charged per occurrence. |
| Pre Pull | $145 | Pre-pull container from terminal to yard before delivery. Applies if the container is not delivered same trip. |
| Flip Fee | $200 | Flip / lift to transfer the container between chassis or reposition it. |
| PierPass / TMF | $36 | Off-hours port traffic mitigation fee (LA/LB). |
| Port Congestion Surcharge | $75 | Surcharge for unusually slow terminal conditions or congestion. |
| Triaxle (3-axle, heavy/overweight) | $85 / day | Triaxle chassis (3 axles) required for heavy or overweight container moves — typically loads over ~37,550 lbs. |
| Detention (over free time) | $99 / hr | Per-hour charge after 2 hr free at pickup or delivery. |
| Yard Storage (per night) | $45 / day | Per night after the first 24 hr in our yard; also applies to empties if unable to return. |
| Drop & Hook | $150 | Live load not possible — drop, hook, leave. |
| Hazmat surcharge | 18% of base | For hazardous materials shipments. |
| Reefer / Genset | $75 / day | Refrigerated container needs a running genset (per day). |
| In-Bond | $250 | Customs in-bond move — charged per container. |
Terminals
| Terminal | Operator | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Montreal | Montreal Port Authority | 2100 Av Pierre-Dupuy, Montreal, QC H3C 3R5 |
Common questions
Why route through Montreal instead of New York?
For cargo bound for Quebec, eastern Ontario or the US Northeast interior, the ocean leg up the St. Lawrence replaces several hundred miles of inland trucking. The dray at the Montreal end is short by comparison.
Does winter change drayage rates?
The base tariff does not change, but winter reliably adds cost through delays, longer turn times and equipment issues — which surface as detention and storage rather than a higher linehaul.
Is Toronto inside these rings?
No. Toronto is roughly 335 miles from Montreal and prices as a linehaul, not a dray. Ottawa, at about 120 miles, is inside the 60-150 band.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving Port of Montreal. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.