Cube, not weight
A trailer of tires fills long before it is heavy. Laced floor loading maximizes the count but takes longer to load and unload, so the method has to suit both ends.
Tires & Rubber
Tire freight, loaded to fill the trailer
Passenger, truck and giant OTR tires moved from port, plant and DC to dealers, fleets and mine sites, loaded to fill the trailer and timed for winter changeover.
24/7
Dispatch
<1 hr
Quote response
Overview
Tires are light for their size and peak twice a year
Tires take up space far more than weight, so the way a trailer is loaded decides the cost per tire. Many are floor-loaded by hand in a laced pattern that fits far more units than pallets do, while others ship on racks or pallets for faster unloading. Canada adds a strong seasonal peak: winter tires move to dealers and installers from late summer, with Quebec requiring them on passenger vehicles from 1 December. We book dry vans and containers for passenger and light truck tires, flatbeds for large commercial and off-the-road tires, and drayage for imports arriving at Canadian and US ports.
- Floor-loaded and laced tires
- Winter changeover capacity
- OTR tires on flatbed
- Import container drayage
Challenges we solve
What makes tire freight hard
Seasonal peaks
Winter tire shipments peak from August to November and spring changeover adds another rush. Dealers need stock before customers book appointments.
Duties on imports
The US applies anti-dumping and countervailing duties to passenger and light truck tires from several Asian countries. The entry has to apply the right rates for the producer.
Oversize OTR tires
Mining and earthmover tires can be taller than a person and weigh several tonnes. They move on flatbeds with special securement, sometimes needing permits.
Used tire rules
Collection and transport of used tires is regulated by provincial stewardship programs, with registered haulers and tracking.
How we work
How we run tire loads
Count and loading method
Tire sizes, quantities and whether the receiver wants floor-loaded, racked or palletized freight.
Book the equipment
53 ft dry vans or containers for passenger and light truck tires, flatbeds for commercial and OTR tires.
Imports and drayage
Containers from overseas are picked up at the port or rail ramp after customs release and delivered to the DC.
Plan the season
We plan winter changeover capacity ahead of the peak so dealer replenishment keeps moving.
Deliver to dealers and fleets
Truckloads to DCs and multi-stop runs to dealers, installers and fleet yards.
Rules and regulations
Duties, seasons and stewardship rules
US anti-dumping and countervailing duties
Passenger and light truck tires from several Asian countries are subject to US trade remedy duties that vary by producer. Your customs broker applies the current rates.
Quebec winter tire requirement
Quebec requires winter tires on passenger vehicles from 1 December to 15 March, which drives a predictable demand peak every fall.
Provincial used tire programs
Used and scrap tires are collected and transported under provincial stewardship rules, with registered haulers and processors.
Cargo securement for large tires
OTR and large commercial tires on flatbeds need blocking and tie-downs placed to stop them rolling or shifting, under NSC Standard 10 and FMCSA rules.
Loading
Floor-loaded, racked or palletized
Tires can be loaded three ways. Floor loading by hand, with tires laced into each other in a herringbone pattern, fits the most tires in a trailer and is common for imports and DC replenishment. It takes a crew time at both ends.
Racks and pallets cost space but save labour. Dealers and installers without loading crews usually prefer them, and they make multi-stop deliveries much faster.
The right choice depends on volume, labour cost at each end and how many stops the truck makes. A full trailer to one DC usually goes floor-loaded; a run to six dealers usually goes on pallets.
Large commercial and OTR tires are a different job entirely. They move on flatbeds, standing or lying depending on size, with blocking and chains to stop them rolling.
The Canadian tire calendar
Planning for winter changeover
Canada has the strongest seasonal tire demand in North America. Winter tires go on in the fall and come off in the spring, and in Quebec they are required by law from 1 December.
Shipments to dealers start building in August and peak in October and November, when drivers book changeovers after the first cold snap. Imports for the season have to land before that, which pushes ocean bookings into late spring and summer.
Trucking capacity is tighter in the same weeks because retail holiday freight peaks at the same time. Locking in capacity for the season, rather than booking each load on the spot market, keeps replenishment steady.
Spring is the second, smaller peak, with summer tires and the return of stored winter sets. It overlaps with spring load restrictions in some regions, which affects heavier loads to rural dealers.
Frequently asked questions
Tires & Rubber: common questions
Do you ship floor-loaded tires?
Yes. We book carriers that handle floor-loaded tires and confirm with the shipper and receiver how loading and unloading will be done, since it takes longer than palletized freight.
Can you move large mining and OTR tires?
Yes. OTR tires move on flatbeds or step decks with securement for round cargo, and with permits when they exceed legal width or height.
Do you handle tire imports?
Yes. We book ocean freight, coordinate customs clearance, and deliver containers from the port or rail ramp to your warehouse.
Can you help with winter tire season?
Yes. We plan capacity ahead of the August to November peak so dealer and installer deliveries keep moving.
Do you move used tires?
Used tire movements fall under provincial stewardship rules and need registered haulers. Tell us the province and we will confirm what applies.
Do you ship other rubber products?
Yes. Rubber sheeting, hoses, belts and moulded rubber parts move by truckload and LTL like other industrial freight.
Related industries
Other industries we ship for
Automotive & New Mobility
JIT/JIS sequencing, inbound milk-runs, aftermarket parts distribution, and EV battery handling.
Mining & Minerals
Equipment, parts and supplies to mine sites, including oversize components, dangerous goods and remote northern routes.
Heavy Equipment & Machinery
Excavators, loaders, cranes and farm machinery on flatbed, step deck and lowboy, with permits and escorts handled.
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.