Fixed launch dates
A collection that misses its floor date loses full-price selling weeks. Every delay in the chain, from a rolled vessel to a congested rail ramp, eats into a margin that is already planned.
Apparel & Textiles
Apparel and textile freight, on the floor on time
Clothing, footwear and fabric moved from the factory overseas to your distribution centre, with the customs paperwork right and the delivery booked to your retailer's rules.
24/7
Dispatch
<1 hr
Quote response
Overview
Apparel runs on seasons, and the season does not wait for freight
Most apparel sold in Canada and the US is made in Asia and arrives by ocean container, then moves by truck to a distribution centre and on to stores or online orders. The calendar is fixed: spring, back-to-school and holiday collections have to be on the floor by a set date, and goods that arrive late are often sold at a discount. We book the ocean freight, coordinate customs clearance with a licensed broker, run the container drayage from port or rail ramp, and deliver to your DC or your retailer's DC on an appointment that meets their routing guide. For brands with goods on hanger, we arrange the equipment that keeps them hanging from factory to store.
- Ocean freight from Asian ports
- Garments on hanger equipment
- Retailer routing guide compliance
- Forced labour and origin paperwork
Challenges we solve
What makes apparel logistics hard
Retailer routing guides
Large retailers set strict rules for how vendors deliver: appointment windows, carton labels, pallet height, advance ship notices. Missing them leads to chargebacks that can cost more than the freight.
Forced labour and origin rules
Both countries prohibit imports made with forced labour, and US Customs detains shipments with cotton or other inputs from flagged regions until the importer proves the supply chain. Documentation has to be ready before the goods ship.
Garments on hanger
Tailored and premium garments often travel on hangers to avoid pressing at the DC. That needs containers and trailers fitted with garment bars, which have to be requested well ahead.
Changing duty and import rules
Apparel carries some of the highest duty rates in both tariff schedules, and US rules for low-value imports and tariffs on many origins changed sharply in 2025. Landed cost has to be rechecked when the rules move.
How we work
How we run an apparel import
Plan backwards from the floor date
We start with the date the goods must be in store and work back through DC processing, drayage, customs, transit and vessel cut-off to set the latest booking date.
Book the ocean freight
Full containers or consolidated cargo from the origin port, with garment-on-hanger equipment where you need it.
Clear customs
Your customs broker, or one of our partner brokers, files the entry with the right tariff classification and origin documents, so the release lines up with the vessel arrival.
Drayage and transload
Containers are picked up at the port or rail ramp and delivered to your DC, or transloaded into 53 ft trailers for longer inland moves.
Deliver to the routing guide
We book the retailer's appointment, follow their labelling and pallet rules, and send proof of delivery so chargebacks can be disputed with evidence.
Rules and regulations
Labelling, origin and import rules
Textile labelling
Canada's Textile Labelling Act and the US Textile Fiber Products Identification Act require fibre content, origin and dealer identity on most garments. Labels are checked at import.
Forced labour import bans
Canada prohibits goods made wholly or partly with forced labour, and the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act presumes that goods with inputs from Xinjiang are barred unless the importer proves otherwise.
CUSMA rules of origin
Apparel qualifies for duty-free treatment between Canada, the US and Mexico only under strict yarn-forward rules. Most garments made outside North America pay full duty.
Retailer routing guides
Each retailer publishes its own vendor rules for appointments, labels and pallets. They are contractual, and breaches are billed as chargebacks.
From factory to floor
How an apparel import moves
A typical apparel import starts at a factory in Asia, where cartons are packed to the buyer's labels and loaded into a container at the factory or a consolidation warehouse. The container sails to Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, Halifax or a US port, which takes anywhere from two to six weeks depending on the route.
On arrival the container is released by customs and the terminal, then picked up by a drayage truck, or railed inland first if the DC is in Toronto or the Midwest. Free time at the terminal and the rail ramp is limited, so the pickup has to be booked before the container lands.
At the DC, cartons are received, checked and either stored or cross-docked to stores. For brands that sell online and in stores, the same import feeds both, which means part of the container may go to a fulfilment warehouse and part to retail.
The schedule is built backwards. If the goods must be in stores on 1 August, the DC needs them in mid-July, the container has to land in early July, and the booking has to be made in May. We set those dates at the start, so a delay is visible while there is still time to switch to a faster option.
Compliance
Duties, labels and forced labour rules
Apparel is one of the most heavily dutied categories in both countries. The tariff classification depends on the fibre, how the fabric is made and how the garment is constructed, and small differences change the rate. A customs broker who handles apparel regularly is worth the fee.
Labels are checked at the border. Fibre content, country of origin and the dealer's identity must appear on most garments sold in Canada and the US, in the right languages for Canada.
Forced labour rules have become the biggest risk for cotton goods. US Customs can detain shipments with inputs from Xinjiang until the importer proves the supply chain is clean, and Canada has its own ban on goods made with forced labour. Keeping mill and supplier records ready avoids weeks of detention.
Trade rules have changed quickly since 2025, including US tariffs on many origins and the end of duty-free treatment for low-value imports. We recommend reviewing landed cost with your broker every time a new rule is announced.
Frequently asked questions
Apparel & Textiles: common questions
Do you ship clothing from Asia to Canada?
Yes. We book ocean freight from the main Asian export ports, coordinate customs clearance through a licensed broker, and deliver the containers from the port or rail ramp to your warehouse.
Can you ship garments on hangers?
Yes. We arrange containers and trailers fitted with garment bars so tailored and premium items arrive ready for the floor without pressing.
Can you deliver to big retailers' distribution centres?
Yes. We book the appointment and follow the retailer's routing guide for labels, pallets and paperwork, and keep proof of delivery in case a chargeback has to be disputed.
What documents do apparel imports need?
A commercial invoice with fibre content, construction and origin, a packing list and a bill of lading at minimum. Your customs broker may ask for supply chain records to show the goods meet forced labour rules.
Do you handle fabric and textile rolls?
Yes. Fabric rolls move palletized or floor-loaded in containers and dry vans. We plan the load for the roll weights and the receiver's unloading method.
Can you store apparel before it goes to stores?
Yes. Warehousing through our partners covers storage, pick and pack, and cross-docking when stock needs to move straight through to stores.
Related industries
Other industries we ship for
Retail & Consumer
Peak-season ramp, DC bypass, omni-channel fulfillment and DTC last-mile orchestration.
E-commerce & DTC
Fulfillment, DC bypass, omnichannel, last-mile and returns — built for the SKU-heavy DTC stack.
Furniture & Office Moves
Retail and office furniture blanket-wrapped or crated, with liftgate, inside delivery and full office relocations.
Let’s move it
Have a shipment? Get rates within the hour.
Tell us the origin, destination and mode. A Qeep specialist replies within the hour with live capacity, lane price, and a transit window you can actually plan around.