What happens to your container during a rail strike?
When CN or CPKC stops work, its trains stop running between terminals. Containers already on the way wait where they are. Before a stoppage, the railway can also stop accepting new traffic through embargoes. What happens at CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan, and to the charges, is set by that railway's notices. Read them, and send us the container number.
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What happens before a strike or lockout starts?
Notice comes first, then a wind-down in stages. The Canada Labour Code requires notice before a legal strike or lockout, under section 87.2. In 2024, both railways used that time for an orderly shutdown.
The date is set
CN and CPKC each named August 22 as the lockout date, if no deal or arbitration was agreed first.
Embargoes in stages
CN had said on August 9 that it would start a phased shutdown with embargoes of hazardous goods.
Restrictions at the ramps
CN stopped new reservations for some refrigerated and temperature controlled containers. An embargo on some lanes bound for Brampton took effect August 16.
Each notice names the traffic, the lanes and the date it takes effect. Check your container against them. CN's 2024 intermodal embargo schedule and CPKC's bargaining updates show how the 2024 notices read.
What happens to containers already at CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan?
Do not assume the ramp keeps releasing containers during a stoppage. Whether a container on the ground can leave depends on that railway's notice at the time.
CN said in August 2024 that only limited train movements within yards would run during a stoppage.
If the ramp does release containers, the usual rules still apply. Customs, the ocean line's release and any railway storage have to be in place.
Once the ramp releases your container, dispatch books the pickup.
- Whether the ramp is releasing
- Terminal restrictions
- Reefer restrictions
- The restart date
Each railway posts its own notices. Read the one for your ramp.
What happens to containers still on a train or at the port?
They wait where they are until trains run again. Whoever booked the rail move, usually your ocean line or forwarder, has the status.
After a restart, the railway works through the backlog. In August 2024, CPKC said full recovery of its network would take several weeks. Ask for an updated ETA from the railway's tracking, not the old schedule. How to read it: what each rail status means.
Do storage and demurrage keep running?
Each clock follows its own rules. Railway storage follows the railway's tariff, and demurrage follows your ocean line's terms. Read each notice, and ask both in writing how they count the stoppage.
Storage is billed by the railway. Demurrage is billed by the ocean line. Each one runs on its own clock. Both are explained on storage, demurrage and per diem.
Our conditions of carriage say it plainly, in section 10: "Where a delay is ours, we own it. Where it comes from the ramp, the line, customs or the receiver, it stays with the shipment."
Who pays once trains run again, and how to ask for a waiver, is on storage and demurrage waivers.
- How storage counts the stoppage
- How demurrage counts it
- Both last free days
Keep each answer for any waiver request.
How did the 2024 stoppage end?
By federal order, within days. These are the dates from the Government of Canada and the two railways.
Both railways stop
On August 22, 2024, work stopped at CN and CPKC at the same time. Both had locked out employees represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
Section 107
That day, the Minister of Labour used section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. He directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration and restart both railways.
CN ends its lockout
CN ended its lockout that evening and started its recovery plan, before the Board's formal order.
The Board orders
On August 24, the Board ordered both railways to resume and continue operations, with no further strike or lockout during arbitration.
CPKC restarts
CPKC restarted its Canadian network on August 26. It said full recovery would take several weeks.
Government sources: the briefing on section 107 and the note on the Board's orders. Railway notices: CN on August 22, CN on August 24 and CPKC's updates. The law: section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.
What can you do now?
Get ready before trains stop, so the container can leave as soon as the ramp releases it.
Keep releases moving
Ask your customs broker and your ocean line to finish both releases now. Then the container is ready when the ramp releases it.
Get both dates in writing
Ask the railway and the line for their last free day, and how each counts the stoppage.
Read the railway's notices
CN posts them on Customer News. CPKC posts updates on its website and in Customer Station.
Send us the number
Send us the container number and we tell you what is still missing.
What does Setara Transport do?
We pull what is released, once the ramp releases it.
- The container number
- The ramp: CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan
- Both last free days
- Where the releases stand
- The delivery address and receiving hours
- Tell you what is still missing
- Book the pickup at the ramp: the CN Brampton gate appointment or the CPKC Vaughan pickup
- Pull the container once the ramp releases it
- Deliver across the GTA and Ontario, and bring the empty back
It depends on the releases, the ramp and the schedule that day, so we do not promise a time here. Setara Transport is a carrier and does not clear customs. Your customs broker requests the customs release.
Rail strike questions.
Do containers keep moving during a rail strike?
Can I pick up my container during a rail strike?
Are storage and demurrage charged during a strike?
Where do I find CN and CPKC strike notices?
Is a rail strike the same as an embargo?
More answers for importers.
What does a rail embargo mean?
Embargoes, congested ramps and off-site movesWhat does arrived at the rail ramp mean?
Arrived, deramped and available, and what comes nextCan storage or demurrage be waived?
Who pays when the delay was not yoursWhat are storage and demurrage at the ramp?
Two charges, two clocksWhen does per diem stop?
The ocean line's clock after the container leaves the rampAll answers
Every answer for importers and forwardersContainer stuck behind a rail stoppage? Send us the number.
The container number, the ramp and both last free days.