Prairie Weather, Extreme Cold & Ontario Corridor Impacts

–UPDATED: Jan 23, 7:50 am —

A prolonged period of extreme cold continues across the Prairies, with Environment Canada warnings in effect and wind chills in southern Saskatchewan forecast to reach –40°C to –45°C through the weekend. These conditions are creating ongoing challenges for equipment and operations. In response, some drivers have exercised their Right-To-Decide and are operating single trailers instead of LCVs to prioritize safety, which is reducing overall network velocity.

As a result, freight backlogs remain elevated across key east–west corridors. Backlogs volumes are heaviest from Winnipeg to Calgary, Winnipeg to Edmonton, Edmonton to Winnipeg, and Saskatoon to Winnipeg lanes. Recovery efforts are ongoing, with priority focused first on clearing freight delayed by last weekend’s weather, followed by volumes accumulated during this week’s extreme cold. Progress is being made, but recovery remains moderated by continued severe temperatures and necessary safety decisions.

We will continue to provide updates as conditions evolve. If you have questions about specific shipments or impacts to your supply chain, please contact your Bison account manager.

–ORIGINAL POST —

Sustained high winds across exposed Prairie corridors and the onset of extreme cold are continuing to influence network recovery. Yesterday, some drivers exercised their Right-To-Decide and elected to operate single trailers due to wind gusts in the 50–70 km/h range. These decisions were appropriate and supported, allowing freight to continue moving while prioritizing driver safety. As a result, overall recovery remains underway, though the pace of improvement is being moderated by weather-driven operating decisions.

Backlogs across key westbound and eastbound lanes continue to trend downward as recovery progresses. However, extreme cold conditions now present additional operational risk, including longer pre-trip times, reduced equipment efficiency, and an increased likelihood of cold-related mechanical delays. Teams are actively managing these risks to protect equipment reliability and maintain safe, consistent service.

In Eastern Canada, Hwy 17 is closed again this morning between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie. Freight not already past cutoff points will be rerouted via Hwy 11, which will impact capacity and transit times between Manitoba and Ontario/Quebec until conditions improve.

Operations and Customer Service teams remain focused on safely restoring velocity where conditions allow, with ongoing monitoring across all affected corridors. Further updates will be shared as conditions evolve. Please contact your Bison account manager with any questions or shipment-specific concerns.