Most containers that land in the GTA don't come off a ship here. They arrive by rail from Halifax, Montreal, Saint John, Prince Rupert or Vancouver and get pulled from one of a handful of intermodal terminals north and west of the city. If your arrival notice says "Toronto" but doesn't say which ramp, you're missing the one detail that decides how far the truck drives, how long the pull takes and what the drayage costs.
Our yard sits on Highway 50 in Kleinburg, in the middle of the main GTA rail terminals, and our trucks are in and out of these gates every day. Here is a practical guide to each one and what importers should know before booking a pickup.
| Terminal | Railway | Location | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN Brampton (BIT) | CN | 76 Intermodal Drive, Brampton | Largest GTA ramp. Drivers must be registered. Loads may be moved off-site when busy. |
| CN Malport | CN | 7675 Torbram Road, Mississauga | Open 24/7 with Speed Gate. Easy to confuse with Brampton, so check the arrival notice. |
| CPKC Vaughan | CPKC | Highway 50, between Rutherford Rd and Major Mackenzie Dr | The CPKC ramp for the GTA and the closest terminal to our Kleinburg yard. |
CN Brampton Intermodal Terminal (BIT)
Brampton is the big one. CN's Brampton Intermodal Terminal is at 76 Intermodal Drive, between Airport Road and Goreway Drive, just south of Queen Street. CN has called it Canada's largest rail intermodal terminal, and a large share of CN's international container traffic for Ontario moves through it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Drivers have to be registered with the terminal before they can pull a container. Registration needs a letter of employment from the carrier on company letterhead, and drivers must have their licence and full PPE on site.
- Because of its size, Brampton can get congested during peaks. When that happens, CN may move grounded loads to off-site locations to keep the terminal fluid. Always confirm where your container actually is before you send a truck.
- Free time at the terminal is short. Once it runs out, storage charges start, so plan the pull around the last free day rather than the day the container arrives.
CN Malport Intermodal Terminal
Malport is CN's smaller GTA terminal, at 7675 Torbram Road in Mississauga, near Pearson Airport. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and uses CN's automated Speed Gate system along with CN Express Pass.
Malport is easy to confuse with Brampton because both are CN and both are listed under "Toronto" on a lot of steamship line paperwork. Some routings load or discharge at Malport specifically, so check the terminal on the arrival notice or the rail booking. Sending a truck to the wrong CN ramp costs a wasted trip and sometimes a missed appointment.
CPKC Vaughan Intermodal Terminal
CPKC's Vaughan terminal opened in 1991 and sits along Regional Road 50 (Highway 50) between Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie Drive. It handles containers moving on the CPKC rail network, so if your steamship line or forwarder routes the box via CPKC, this is where it will be.
For importers north and west of Toronto, Vaughan is often the most convenient ramp in the region. It is also the closest terminal to our Kleinburg yard, which keeps pull times short and lets us bring a container back to the yard the same day when your dock isn't ready.
What about Milton?
CN has been working toward a new intermodal terminal in Milton for years to add capacity in the GTA. The project received federal environmental approval in 2021, and in 2025 the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a bid to stop it. Until it is built and operating, CN containers for the GTA will continue to move through Brampton and Malport.
How to tell which terminal your container is at
The terminal is usually on the arrival notice from the steamship line or freight forwarder, often written as a rail destination code rather than a street address. If it just says "Toronto" or "Toronto Rail", ask your forwarder for the exact ramp. When you book with us, send the container number and we will check the railway's tracing to confirm the terminal, availability, any holds and the last free day.
Holds matter more than people expect. A container on customs hold, a freight hold or a steamship line hold can't leave the terminal no matter how early the truck shows up. Clearing holds before the container is available is the simplest way to avoid storage charges.
Tips for a smooth terminal pickup
- Book the drayage as soon as you have the arrival notice. Don't wait for the availability email.
- Give your carrier the gross weight. Overweight containers need the right chassis, and the terminal won't release a container onto equipment that can't legally carry it.
- Ask for gate receipts. They show the exact time the container left the terminal, which is the evidence you need if a storage charge is disputed.
- If your dock isn't ready, have the container pulled to a carrier's yard before the free time ends instead of leaving it at the ramp.
- Plan the empty return. The steamship line decides where the empty goes, and it isn't always the terminal it came from.
Terminal pickups with Jaden Express
We handle GTA intermodal terminal pickups from CN Brampton, CN Malport and CPKC Vaughan, along with Port of Toronto moves. Our drivers work these gates every day, we track last free days on every container, and we run our own 60 chassis for 20', 40' and 45' boxes.
Because our yard is a short drive from the main ramps, we can pull a container early, hold it at our yard and deliver it the day your dock is ready. Every move comes with seal and door photos, gate receipts and a signed POD. Call dispatch at 647-233-6600 or request a quote with your container number, and read more about our container drayage service in Toronto.
Related reading
- Container Drayage Rates in Toronto: What Your GTA Quote Should Include
What each line on a GTA drayage quote means and how to keep the total down. - Container Pre-Pull and Yard Storage in the GTA
When pulling a container to a yard beats paying terminal storage. - How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft, 40ft and 45ft Container?
Pallet counts for every container size, plus weight and door-height limits.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the CN intermodal terminal in Brampton?
CN's Brampton Intermodal Terminal is at 76 Intermodal Drive in Brampton, between Airport Road and Goreway Drive.
Is CN Malport the same as CN Brampton?
No. Both are CN terminals in the GTA, but Malport is a separate terminal at 7675 Torbram Road in Mississauga. Check which one your container is going to before booking a truck.
Where is the CPKC intermodal terminal in Toronto?
CPKC's GTA terminal is in Vaughan, along Highway 50 between Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie Drive.
Can I pick up a container from the terminal with my own truck?
Only if the driver and company are registered with the terminal and have a chassis that suits the container. Most importers use a drayage carrier that already has terminal access and equipment.
What happens if my container isn't picked up before the last free day?
The terminal starts charging daily storage. To avoid it, have the container pulled before the free time ends, even if that means holding it at a yard until your dock is ready.
