This article will be appearing in the Canadian Transport Guide, available the 1st week of May 2003. Copies may be ordered by calling 1-450-441-6332.

Consolidated Fastfrate Is In An Enviable Position Of Being A Leader In The Transportation Industry – Canadian Success Story!

March 10,2003
Toronto, ON

Canada is a diverse and beautiful country whose reach stretches vast landscapes of wilderness, mountains, forests, and world class cities. The railroad, whose steel structure holds beauty to those who behold it, and the eighteen wheel trucks that grace our highways, both play a pivotal role in the success of our economy. It is monumental to consider that these two modes of transportation have an enormous impact on our lifestyle, employment opportunities, and personal well being. The railway and transportation trucks fearlessly carry out their duties to our citizens each and everyday of the year, delivering goods to feed us, cloth us, shelter us, and supply millions of businesses with the products they need to survive and thrive in a world economy.

An unassuming white house, which resembled a war time home, stood alone next to a CP Rail station in Parkdale, Toronto Canada in 1966. This is the humble beginning of what is now one of Canada’s largest privately owned transportation companies; Consolidated Fastfrate. In its infancy they had only a single route transporting goods daily from Toronto to Vancouver and the winter months were long and cold as its workers prepared shipments to go onto the rail for its long journey to Western Canada. The little white house, that served as the companies only terminal, grew voraciously over the next decade, expanding its service offerings to include Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and the North Eastern United States.

Being perceived as a Western carrier in those early years was now changing the landscape for what Fastfrate would eventually become. They would fulfill their destiny of becoming a national full service carrier, evolving in the next two decades through strategic acquisitions and mergers; that would encompass several terminals located throughout Eastern Canada. This impressive transformation which began with a single terminal in Parkdale, Toronto, with a company known as CF Kingsway would now become Consolidated Fastfrate.

The early years of Fastfrate were a stepping stone for the success that they would begin to experience in the 1990’s. The evolution of the present developed from the dreams and aspirations of two men who shared a vision of realizing their future of the transportation industry. The company was purchased in 1994 by Ron Tepper and Hank Russelle; who currently preside today as President & CEO and Chairman of the board. Over the course of the next five years they would put in place the infrastructure, partnerships and technology to form an enviable alliance with their customers; one that would become the epitome of an entire industry.

In December 2001, Canadian Pacific Railway and Consolidated Fastfrate signed a 10 year, $400 million contract that would allow Fastfrate to seamlessly use the railway for the movement of all of their LTL shipments across Canada. The development and uniqueness of this relationship between two giants in the industry showed a dedication to the customers that it ultimately serves. It is a partnership that was built on trust, faith and the meeting of minds that shared a common vision of creating a valuable experience for the businesses that they fulfill their obligations to.

The commencement of the next century was a pivotal moment in Fastfrates history. The railway would be the iron arm that would carry freight to its destination and the additional warehouse and intermodal facility that would be built in June 2002 in Calgary, Alberta would compliment their two other terminals already located adjacent to the rail in Toronto and Vancouver. This state-of-the-art facility was made available to be used as a warehouse for a client base that required these additional services. The transload operations in Vancouver, warehousing, seventeen terminals across Canada, the recent acquisition of a third party logistics provider; Network Logistics, and the exclusive relationship with Canadian Pacific Railway had opened up a new chapter for Fastfrate in being recognized as a complete shipment solutions provider.

The corporate culture at Fastfrate is one of being strongly committed to its customers, its employees and its strategic partners. All of these entities act in unison to serve a common goal; to provide its customers with excellence in offering full logistics services. In 2001 and again in 2002, the financial post selected Consolidated Fastfrate as being part of an esteemed group of Canadian organizations that are motivated to outperform all others with respects to growth, offering an excellent product and having employees that are highly motivated to meeting and or exceeding performance expectations. That recognition of outstanding accomplishment in the Canadian marketplace belongs to; Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Fastfrate is proud and honored to be in a class above the rest

.The future for Fastfrate is promising and exciting. Their strong commitment and dedication to their customers, and desire to put in place the technology, partnerships and infrastructure required to serve their customers will ensure that Fastfrate will meet their goal of being a prominent logistics provider in the North American Marketplace. The vision of two men, the dedication of their employees and management, and their strong relationships with their loyal strategic partners will work harmoniously to fulfill a dream that will be realized. Canada is on the world stage of economical development and leadership. Companies that are focused and committed to excellence will demonstrate to the world that they can meet the demands of a global economy.