Whether you’re a business owner or an individual looking to ship goods, you need an efficient and on-time trucking service. In this review, we’ll help by assessing the best trucking companies in the industry, highlighting their strengths and services to help you make an informed decision.
Read through our findings and you can gain valuable insights to help you choose the right trucking company for your needs.
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best Trucking Companies in Calgary
1. Day & Ross Freight
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 4/5 |
| Record | 5/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
If we’re talking about experience, Day & Ross Freight has quite a reputation in the industry – one of the most impressive on this list, actually. They were founded in 1950 and have since expanded its fleet of trucks.
Today, the company employs thousands of people who provide more than trucking services – they also have excellent customer service, in our experience. We particularly appreciate their superb communication skills, as they update each client on the whereabouts of items.
Anyway, although we look for trucking services that have local expertise, we also prefer companies with extensive coverage of transport routes. With their worldwide coverage, Day & Ross appear to be among the top trucking providers.
Not only that, but with their extensive network, they can ship freight (both short and long-haul) to almost anywhere. This service scale is what we’re truly looking for since it connects clients to various parts of the country faster.
This company also exceeded our expectations in immediate trucking. They appear to be fully prepared to handle seasonal surges or last-minute product deliveries, which we know is what most customers nowadays seek.
Finally, we consider the company a good answer to those who are unable to locate a trucking company that transports hazardous goods. From meeting all of the necessary requirements to the actual delivery of the item, they’re pretty reliable for the job.
Pros
- Worldwide transport coverage
- Short and long-haul
- Single point of contact
- Competitive rates
- Experience as a dangerous goods transporter
- Great communication
Cons
- Minor complaints regarding slow delivery
Communicated well, helpful and accommodating
We had a great experience with our delivery from Costco via Day & Ross. They communicated really well & let us know exactly when they could deliver my item. When the delivery drivers arrived they were super helpful & accommodating. They helped us place the heavy item where we needed it. Thanks a bunch! – Natasha Kelly
Friendly, everything went as expected
Had a good experience shipping furniture one province over. Friendly service when I dealt with them. The receiver got the shipment later than they had expected but everything went as expected on my end. – Ilse Harris
2. Mike Vail Trucking
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 5/5 |
| Record | 4/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
Mike Vail Trucking doesn’t appear to be your typical trucking company. Their niche is much more specific, which is advantageous for certain businesses looking for specialized transport solutions.
They transport materials used in industries such as construction, aggregate, oil and gas, and energy and environment. With this kind of range, we’re not surprised that they’re among the most sought-after candidates for the job in the city.
Obviously, this level of service necessitates the use of superior equipment specifically tailored to each job type. Fortunately, Mike Vail Trucking has a diverse fleet of trucks ranging from tandems to pups, quad units, tri-drives, and water trucks.
Fast turnaround time is a factor we also look at, and this trucking company knows the drill. They were able to send a truck right away even for immediate inquiries, though we’ve heard from our tester that there was a bit of a communication error.
But the company redeemed itself by providing trucks operated by trained and professional drivers. Besides being well-equipped with industrial knowledge, they were easy to talk with and were very transparent with questions.
However, Mike Vail Trucking isn’t at all upfront when it comes to expenses and it doesn’t provide its clients with no-obligation quotations. They are, however, easily accessible, as their email and phone number are readily available.
Pros
- Transports industry-specific material
- Wide range of fleet of trucks
- Trucks equipped with industry-specific features
- Superior equipment
- Trained and certified drivers
- Safety conscious
- Sends truck in a fast turnaround time
Cons
- Minor issues with miscommunication
- Doesn’t provide quotations
Impressive service
Recently hired trucks to move some fill for me. I was very impressed with the service both from the office and the truck operator. Keep up the good work!! – Brandon Anderson
3. Steele’s Transportation Group
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 4/5 |
| Record | 5/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
When it comes to the best trucking services, we always look for one with a proven track record. It tends to reflect the company’s overall quality in the industry, as it seems to with Steele’s Transportation Group.
The company has made over 3 million deliveries in its 60-year history. However, having only over 2,900 satisfied clients (their own words, by the way) is not what we expected. We honestly thought there’d be more.
However, their simple tracking link has eased our concerns, as it gives their clients confidence in the status of their parcels. This is something we greatly value in a trucking company because it keeps clients in the loop of the delivery progress.
Of course, being the best in the industry entails managing their transportation services as efficiently as possible. Fortunately, we found their freight management excellent, reducing errors to as little as zero per day.
On another note, Steele’s Transportation also impressed us with their same-day and overnight delivery options – ideal for clients who need urgent delivery services. Still, you may want to make sure to book your shipment earlier that day.
The problem is that they only transport locally: in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and across Alberta. Fortunately, through third-party logistics, they can assist in transporting items across Canada, into the United States, and around the world.
Pros
- Over 60 years of experience
- Completed over 3 million deliveries
- Easy to use tracking link
- Excellent freight management
- Same-day and overnight delivery option
- Free quotations
- Able to deliver worldwide through 3PL
Cons
- Only transport locally (though can deliver worldwide through 3PL)
Good rates, fantastic experience
We used them for transporting a package from Calgary to Red Deer, same day shipping. The experience was fantastic, with an easy to use tracking link which allowed me to see exact times the package was picked up and dropped off. Good rates for the service and would use them again if the need arises. – Breanna Barnes
Consistently professional
I have been using Steele’s Transfer for my Alberta business shipping needs for many years and have found them to be consistently professional, courteous, on-time, and careful with my products, many of which are fragile – Carmen TheSillyo
4. Caneda Transport
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 4/5 |
| Record | 4/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
With trucking companies, having branches scattered across the country is an important factor. This is one of the major reasons why Caneda Transport made our list – their robust network makes their freight management outstanding.
And since they’re all over Canada as well as the United States, they can deliver over a broad range of transport routes and even outside of the country. This makes them a good option for anyone in Calgary looking to send goods all over North America.
Plus, with such a diverse fleet of trucks, it’s easy to conclude that they can transport even large shipments, so loading LTLs should be a breeze for them. The capacity of their fleets is actually pretty versatile so the options are numerous here.
Another quality we seek is flexibility, and Caneda Transport met our standards. They operate through asset-based solutions to suit clients’ logistics needs – plus, they can even arrange for air freight trucking for immediate goods transport.
Caneda does, as one would expect, provide tracking services, so finding out about this isn’t at all surprising. They make it easy by providing a freight number that clients can track on their website (the typical stuff).
Finally, they have a strong safety record, which we obviously find reassuring, thanks to having a very low claims ratio. Plus, in all of our surveys of their clients, we didn’t come across any poor feedback regarding their trucking service – that’s always impressive!
Pros
- Cross Border shipments (inbound and outbound)
- Asset-based solutions
- Has secure warehouses
- Temperature-controlled freight services available
- Easy shipment tracking
- Air freight trucking available
Cons
- Not available to operate on weekends
Great people, best company
This is the best company in America. All the people who work here are great. The atmosphere if friendly. Highly recommend it to anyone who is in the business. You definitely want a job here, which you want to keep till retirement – PETER DIEV
5. Kindersley Transport
| Service quality | 5/5 |
| Equipment quality | 3/5 |
| Record | 4/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
Despite the range of services they offer, Kindersley Transport is best known for its international truckload and less-than-truckload transportation services. And the fact that they offer services for almost all types of goods and products.
They have the necessary resources to deliver such a wide range of services: reefers, heaters, dry vans, and their family of companies. Their equipment and network make them a solid choice for a lot of projects.
Another advantage to using Kindersley is that they deliver 24 hours a day, making them a good choice for all-around transportation. It’s just that their accommodating operation is only open on weekdays, so be sure to schedule your transaction on those days.
As impressed as we were with their truck fleet, we were disappointed by their lack of equipment for moving large parcels. They frequently place the burden of finding such a tool on their customers, which is a turn off.
Having said that, we were actually kind of second-guessing their promise of delivering a solution to every trucking challenge they encountered. And it will come as no surprise to us that some of their customers may feel the same way.
Fortunately, Kindersley Transport has been in business for over five decades, and appears to have an excellent track record. After all, we can see that they are making an effort to meet the needs of their customers, and it reflects in their current profile.
Pros
- Over five decades in the service
- International truckload and less-than-truckload transportation services
- Accepts almost all types of goods and products
- Wide range of truck fleets
- Delivers 24 hours a day
Cons
- Limited equipment to move large parcels
- Not available on weekends
Went above and beyond
Natasha at the Calgary branch went above and beyond her regular duties to help me out in jamb. I would like to say Thanks to Natasha and all those who helped her yesterday. Absolutely 100% awesome service. Keep up the great work Natasha. Great Customer Service is what keeps us coming back. – Jim Woolridge
Quick to respond
Kim was so helpful & quick to respond! Thought all was lost but then she found everything for me! Glad to know she is out there to sort us lost souls out! Great job Kim – Daphne Mitchell
6. Doucette Trucking Inc
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 4/5 |
| Record | 3/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
For a food wholesale producer, efficiently delivering their products to customers in time is what matters most. And that seems to be the specialty of Doucette Trucking Inc., based on what we’ve seen.
Doucette Trucking’s specific expertise distinguishes them from the majority of the trucking companies on our list. It’s their focus on a single type of trucking that has us convinced they’re a good choice for food trucking, regardless of whether other companies on our list offer it as well.
For the delivery of fresh produce and food products, they have a fleet of temperature-controlled storage trucks. To top it off, they even have a warehouse outfitted with equipment such as a freezer, a cooler, and dry storage.
As most of their clients are wholesalers, first-time customers can expect to be accommodated on full truckload shipments. And, of course, because they’re equipped to deliver such orders, less-than-truckload shipments appear to be a piece of cake for them to arrange.
Another thing to note is that Douette has a reputation for making on-time deliveries. And while it should come naturally to these companies – especially ones dealing with perishables! – it’s something we recognize because being consistently on time is hard to do.
Overall, Douette is truly an excellent choice for those who need to transport food goods within the city limits. The company’s obvious drawback is that it is limited to such trucking services and nothing else.
Pros
- Specializes in transporting fresh produce and food products
- Has a fleet of temperature-controlled storage trucks
- Full truckload shipments
- Timely deliveries
- Available for online quotation
Cons
- Limited trucking services
Safe and quick work
Best company to deliver to, the forklift drivers/receivers deserve a raise. They get you offloaded much faster than anywhere else, work safely and are quick to catch any errors with the paperwork. – John
Great place to deliver
Great place to deliver. Reciever is always on top of everything. Very friendly staff. – Allan
7. Danco Trucking and Bobcat Services
| Service quality | 4/5 |
| Equipment quality | 4/5 |
| Record | 3/5 |
| Staff | 3/5 |
We were initially skeptical about putting Danco Trucking and Bobcat Services on our list because they’re mostly known for excavation services. However, they also excel at transporting materials for said services, making them trustworthy for that type of trucking.
Their fleet of trucks is naturally well-equipped for the job. We’re confident in this, as they’re pretty capable of delivering various materials such as loam, clay, decorative rock, mulch, sand, and much more.
To be completely honest, DanCo was not the cheapest option we even found for this sort of thing. But their staff is extremely professional in their work and they’re willing to adjust their schedule to accommodate last-minute bookings.
Hence, spending more money than usual is probably worthwhile.
In fact, they look to be ideal for a full excavation service – from product delivery to the actual job itself – they’re a one-stop shop for the service. They also provide the same level of service if you only wish to hire them to transport the materials, which is very reassuring.
The other good thing about DanCo is that they can also service the surrounding areas of Calgary, but that’s just about it. They have a fairly limited trucking route, although locally speaking, their network would suffice.
Finally, we love their fast accommodations, even showing up as early as the agreed schedule. That is yet another characteristic we seek, and DanCo, fortunately, has it.
Pros
- One-stop shop for excavation and trucking of materials
- Hauls materials from their customers’ property
- Friendly and professional staff
- Can be hired for trucking alone
- Can service the surrounding areas of Calgary
- Fast accommodations
Cons
- Can be pricey
Top quality at all times
Dan is an amazing operator and does top-quality work every time. Whenever I need any trucking or bobcat services, Dan is the man! – Kyla Brown
Greater customer service
So impressed with Dan and his service. Went above and beyond, working overtime to get the job done. Great work and even greater customer service. Can’t say enough good things. – Danielle Diaz
