Short seasons
Units that arrive after the season starts sell slowly or at a discount. Shipments cluster into a few weeks each year, which tightens capacity.
Boats, RVs & Powersports
Boats, RVs and powersports, on the floor for the season
Boats, RVs, ATVs, side-by-sides and snowmobiles moved from the plant to the dealer and between dealers, on the right trailer and in time for the season.
24/7
Dispatch
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Quote response
Overview
Seasonal products that have to reach the dealer before the season
Powersports and marine are two of the most seasonal businesses there are. Snowmobiles have to be on dealer floors before the first snow, boats and personal watercraft before spring, and RVs before camping season. Manufacturers ship crated units in dry vans and larger units on flatbeds or specialized trailers, and dealers move inventory between locations to match demand. Many boats and RVs are wider or taller than legal limits and need permits. We book the right equipment for each unit, plan permits and routes for oversize loads, and handle cross-border paperwork for units moving between Canadian and US dealers.
- Crated units in dry vans
- Boats on hydraulic trailers
- Oversize permits for wide boats
- Cross-border dealer transfers
Challenges we solve
What makes powersports and marine freight hard
Oversize boats and RVs
Boats with a beam wider than the legal limit, and tall RVs, need permits and sometimes escorts. Each jurisdiction on the route has its own rules.
Cosmetic damage
Gel coat, windshields and painted bodywork scratch easily. Units need proper cradles, padding and securement that does not touch finished surfaces.
Fuel and batteries
Vehicles shipped by ocean or air are dangerous goods because of fuel and batteries, with rules on fuel levels and battery disconnection.
Cross-border dealer moves
Units moving between Canadian and US dealers need customs entries, origin documents and sometimes vehicle import paperwork.
How we work
How we run dealer shipments
Unit specs
Length, beam or width, height on the trailer, weight and whether the unit is crated, on its own trailer or loose.
Choose the trailer
Dry vans for crated ATVs and snowmobiles, flatbeds and step decks for larger units, hydraulic boat trailers through partner carriers.
Permits and route
Oversize boats and RVs get permits and escorts for each jurisdiction, with routes checked for bridges and overhead clearances.
Cross-border paperwork
We coordinate customs brokers on both sides for units moving between Canadian and US dealers.
Dealer delivery
Deliveries booked to the dealer's receiving hours, with photos at pickup and delivery.
Rules and regulations
Permits, dangerous goods and customs
Oversize permits
Boats and RVs wider than 2.6 m in Canada or 102 in in the US, or over height limits, need permits from each province and state crossed.
Vehicles as dangerous goods
Vehicles and engines shipped by ocean or air are dangerous goods (UN3166 and related entries) with rules on fuel and batteries. Road shipments follow the carrier's requirements.
Cargo securement
Vehicles carried as cargo must be secured under NSC Standard 10 and FMCSA rules, with tie-downs on the frame or approved points, not on finished bodywork.
Customs and origin
Units crossing the border need a customs entry. CUSMA can remove duty for qualifying North American-made units when the origin is documented.
Recommended services
Services for boats, RVs and powersports
Seasons
Planning around the launch calendar
Each product has its own season. Snowmobiles ship to dealers from late summer, boats and personal watercraft through winter and early spring, RVs in late winter and spring, and ATVs and side-by-sides fairly evenly with peaks before spring and hunting season.
Manufacturers release units in waves as production finishes. Dealers want them before customers start shopping, which squeezes most of the year's freight into a few weeks.
Booking capacity ahead of each wave, with the same carriers on the same lanes, is what keeps units moving. Leaving it to the spot market in the peak week usually means higher rates and later deliveries.
Between seasons, dealers rebalance inventory, moving slow-selling units to locations with demand. These moves are often cross-border and need customs paperwork like any other import.
Equipment
The right trailer for each unit
Crated ATVs, side-by-sides and snowmobiles travel in dry vans like other palletized freight, with the crate protecting the unit. They load by forklift and fill trailers by space.
Uncrated units need trailers with cradles, wheel chocks or tie-down points, and securement that holds the frame without touching finished surfaces.
Boats are the most varied. Small boats travel on their own trailers or stacked on flatbeds. Larger boats need hydraulic boat trailers that adjust to the hull, and anything with a beam wider than the legal limit needs permits.
RVs move by drive-away for motorhomes, tow-away for travel trailers, or on step decks for park models and units that cannot be driven. The right option depends on the unit, the distance and whether it can legally run on the road.
Frequently asked questions
Boats, RVs & Powersports: common questions
Do you transport boats?
Yes. Boats move on hydraulic boat trailers, flatbeds with cradles, or on their own trailers, depending on size. Wide boats get permits and escorts where required.
Can you move RVs and travel trailers?
Yes, on step decks or by drive-away and tow-away services through partner carriers, depending on the unit.
Do you ship snowmobiles and ATVs to dealers?
Yes. Crated units move in dry vans as truckloads or multi-stop runs to dealers, timed for the season.
Can you move units between Canadian and US dealers?
Yes. We coordinate the carrier and customs brokers on both sides, including origin documents for CUSMA treatment.
How do you protect finished surfaces?
Cradles and padding sized to the unit, and tie-downs on approved points, never across gel coat, windshields or painted panels.
Do you ship boats overseas?
Yes, by container, flat rack or roll-on/roll-off, with the dangerous goods rules for fuel and batteries applied.
Related industries
Other industries we ship for
Automotive & New Mobility
JIT/JIS sequencing, inbound milk-runs, aftermarket parts distribution, and EV battery handling.
Retail & Consumer
Peak-season ramp, DC bypass, omni-channel fulfillment and DTC last-mile orchestration.
Heavy Equipment & Machinery
Excavators, loaders, cranes and farm machinery on flatbed, step deck and lowboy, with permits and escorts handled.
Let’s move it
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