What Shippers First Logistics does

Shippers First Logistics Corporation is a Canadian freight forwarder and third-party logistics provider headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, that delivers multimodal transportation, warehousing, and import-intelligence services primarily to Canadian importers and North American shippers. The company operates across ocean, rail, ground, air, perishables, project cargo, and warehousing services, leveraging memberships in the EasyFresh Logistics Network (cold chain), CIFFA (industry association), and relationships with North American Class I railroads to serve clients in mining, energy/infrastructure, and general cross-border trade. Its go-to-market is a consultation-led B2B sales motion structured around a six-step framework (Discovery Call, Needs Assessment, Partnership Agreement, Onboarding, First Shipment Execution, Continuous Improvement), with pricing determined through bespoke quotes and multi-year client contracts.

The technology stack is anchored by the proprietary ImportIQ platform, powered by TradeCloud, which integrates logistics, landed-cost calculation, foreign exchange management, and financial reconciliation, with native connectors to SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, and Epicor ERPs alongside API/EDI integration. Across all transportation modes, the company layers real-time GPS tracking, IoT sensors (temperature, humidity, shock, security), automated alerts, customizable analytics dashboards, and carbon-footprint tracking for end-to-end shipment visibility. Revenue is generated through transactional freight forwarding, warehousing, project cargo, and cold-chain service fees, plus a subscription/managed-service layer for ImportIQ. The company is privately held, founder/owner-operated by President & CEO Barry Murphy, with no disclosed institutional funding or parent entity.

Name

Shippers First Logistics

Legal name

Shippers First Logistics Corporation

Website

https://shippersfirst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shippers First Logistics is a Canadian freight forwarder and 3PL headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, providing multimodal transportation (ocean, rail, ground, air), warehousing, perishable and project cargo services to Canadian importers and North American shippers, supported by its ImportIQ import-intelligence platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project Cargo Logistics & Transport Management (TLADAGAB), Shipper-Carrier Direct Contracting Networks (TLAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Warehousing distribution
• Cold chain logistics
• Project cargo logistics
• Supply chain technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Vaughan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Full-service freight forwarding across multiple transportation modes including ocean, air, rail, and ground transport. Revenue generated through service fees for logistics coordination, customs brokerage, and transportation management. Services provided to companies of all sizes requiring import/export and cross-border logistics.
2. Warehousing & Distribution: Storage and fulfillment services including flexible short and long-term storage, inventory management, cross-docking, and pick & pack fulfillment. Revenue generated through warehousing fees and handling charges.
3. Project Cargo Logistics: Specialized heavy-lift and out-of-gauge cargo handling including route surveys, specialized equipment coordination, permits, and customs clearance for mission-critical moves.
4. Perishable Logistics (EasyFresh Network): Temperature-controlled cold chain logistics for perishables including produce, seafood, meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals. Revenue generated through specialized cold chain service fees.
5. ImportIQ Platform Subscription: SaaS platform providing import intelligence, landed cost calculation, FX management, and supply chain visibility. Offers self-managed, hybrid, or fully managed service tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shippers First Logistics is a Canadian full-service third-party logistics provider offering multimodal freight forwarding across ocean, rail, ground, and air transportation, complemented by warehousing and distribution, temperature-controlled cold-chain logistics, and project cargo (heavy-lift) handling. The firm differentiates through a 6-step onboarding framework and a proprietary ImportIQ import-intelligence platform (powered by TradeCloud infrastructure) that delivers landed cost calculation, FX management, real-time GPS/IoT visibility, and ERP integration for Canadian importers and cross-border shippers.

Product overview

Shippers First Logistics is a Canadian full-service transportation and logistics company offering a comprehensive portfolio of freight forwarding and logistics services. The core offering includes Ocean Freight Services, Rail Freight Solutions, Ground Transport Services (LTL/FTL), Air Freight Services, Perishables Logistics, Project Cargo Solutions, and Warehousing Services. The company also provides a proprietary technology platform called ImportIQ — an end-to-end import intelligence platform powered by TradeCloud infrastructure — which integrates with major ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor) to deliver landed cost visibility, logistics management, and financial reconciliation for Canadian importers. The portfolio is unified by Logistics Technology Solutions providing real-time GPS tracking, smart sensors, and data analytics across all transportation modes. The company leverages the EasyFresh Logistics Network for cold chain capabilities and maintains a 6-step logistics process framework called 'The Framework.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ImportIQ: End-to-end import intelligence platform integrating logistics, costing, FX, and financial workflows for Canadian importers. Powered by TradeCloud infrastructure.

Products and services

• Ocean Freight Services International ocean freight forwarding offering FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) consolidation services, including temperature-controlled reefer containers and project cargo handling, for importers and exporters moving containerized cargo globally into and out of Canada.
• Rail Freight Solutions Intermodal rail freight shipping from Canada through the USA to Mexico providing door-to-door service with transloading, cross-docking capabilities, and real-time tracking for long-haul cargo, leveraging strong Class I railroad relationships.
• Ground Transport Services LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) and FTL (Full Truckload) ground freight services across Canada, USA, and Mexico with specialized equipment including flatbeds, drop decks, conestoga rolltite trailers, and reefer trucks for cross-border and domestic trucking needs.
• Air Freight Services Global air freight shipping with priority, standard consolidated, and charter options including next-flight-out (NFO) services, door-to-door delivery, and customs clearance for urgent and time-sensitive cargo moving internationally into and out of Canada.
• Perishables Logistics Cold chain logistics services delivered through the EasyFresh Logistics Network providing temperature-controlled transport with continuous monitoring, reefer equipment, and CFIA compliance for perishable goods including produce, seafood, meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals.
• Project Cargo Solutions End-to-end project cargo logistics for heavy-lift, out-of-gauge, and mission-critical moves including route surveys, specialized equipment access, permits, and customs compliance for industrial machinery, energy infrastructure, and aerospace components.
• Warehousing Services Precision warehousing with flexible short and long-term storage options, real-time inventory tracking via a warehouse management system (WMS), cross-docking, and pick & pack fulfillment services for companies needing storage integrated with transportation.
• ImportIQ Platform End-to-end import intelligence SaaS platform that integrates logistics, landed cost calculation, foreign exchange management, and financial reconciliation into one unified system; powered by TradeCloud infrastructure and offered in self-managed, hybrid, or fully managed tiers with built-in integration to SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, and Epicor ERPs.
• Logistics Technology Solutions Integrated technology suite providing real-time GPS tracking, smart IoT sensor monitoring, customizable data analytics dashboards, automated milestone/temperature alerts, API/EDI integration, and carbon footprint tracking for end-to-end supply chain visibility across all transportation modes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Real-time shipment visibility across all transportation modes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TradeCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationShippers First Logistics is the exclusive Canadian partner for TradeCloud technology. ImportIQ platform is powered by TradeCloud infrastructure which processes billions in global trade. This partnership enables Canadian importers to access enterprise-level import intelligence including landed cost calculation, FX management, and supply chain optimization.
• EasyFresh Logistics NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShippers First Logistics is the Canadian representative of the EasyFresh Logistics Network, the world's only dedicated cold chain logistics network. This partnership provides global expertise in fresh cargo logistics, specialized perishables handling knowledge, and proven processes for fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, and pharmaceuticals.
• Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA)minorOthersShippers First Logistics is a proud member of CIFFA, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association. CIFFA certification indicates professional standards in freight forwarding services.
• Class I Railroads (North America)coreOthersStrong relationships with Class I railroads across North America ensure smooth freight movement across borders with maintained schedule integrity. These partnerships enable cost-effective intermodal transportation solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Transplace / Uber Freight: Digital logistics platform combining managed transportation services with freight brokerage technology. Comparable to Shippers First on the technology-enabled forwarder thesis, particularly for cross-border North American shippers.
• Flexport: Technology-forward digital freight forwarder offering ocean, air, trucking, and customs with a SaaS-style platform. Comparable to Shippers First in targeting mid-market importers with visibility/analytics tooling, though at larger scale and venture-backed.

Broad incumbents

• DSV Panalpina: Global transport and logistics company with strong North American presence following recent acquisitions. Offers multimodal forwarding across air, sea, road, and project cargo — directly competing with Shippers First in Canada-USA-Mexico lanes and project/heavy-lift segments.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders offering ocean, air, road, and contract logistics globally. Competes with Shippers First in the same Canadian importer market but at vastly greater scale, with proprietary KN FreightNet and Atlas booking platforms.
• C.H. Robinson: North American freight broker and 3PL with significant cross-border and intermodal capabilities. Competitor for ground, rail intermodal, and LTL/FTL freight moving between Canada, USA, and Mexico.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarding division of Deutsche Post DHL, offering air, ocean, road, and rail freight across all major trade lanes. Competes with Shippers First for cross-border Canada-USA-Mexico and Canadian import business, with far greater scale and direct carrier contracts.
• Expeditors International: Asset-light global freight forwarder with comparable services across ocean, air, and customs brokerage. Competes in the same enterprise importer market but with much larger global footprint and proprietary cargo tracking systems.

Direct peers

• ICS (International Cargo Solutions): Canadian-owned freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and ground transportation with customs brokerage. Similar scale, Canadian focus, and full-service forwarder profile, including project and perishable capability.
• Livingston International: Canadian-headquartered customs brokerage and freight forwarding firm with deep Canadian importer focus. Most directly comparable to Shippers First by geography, customer segment (Canadian importers), and service scope across customs, transportation, and trade compliance.
• FLS Transportation Services: Canadian freight forwarding and logistics company offering cross-border trucking, intermodal, and customs services. Comparable in size, geographic focus (Canada), and customer profile (mid-market importers/exporters).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shippers-first-logistics-corporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shippers First Logistics