March 5, 2018 – CN and CP rail services continue to struggle this winter causing a significant backlog of cargo throughout the supply chain and creating a heavy demand on anchorages throughout the west coast. The excessive delays to shipments is preventing prairie growers from getting their crops to market. The current AG Transport Coalition reports indicate that CN and CP combined only supplied 32 percent of the hopper cars ordered last week. CN supplied 17% while CP supplied 50%. All commodities and container movements are impacted and fluidity of the gateway is challenged. CN is hopeful that an additional 130 short-term leased locomotives and a 400 qualified conductors to be hired and trained during the first quarter will provide some relief. This has also spilled over onto the intermodal transportation and containers moving in and out of Canada are also being delayed. Please contact us if you have any questions about your specific shipment. Source: Chamber of Shipping