Transportation and Logistics

Industry Snapshot Competitive Advantages

Opportunities  Resource Organizations

 

Industry Snapshot

Kamloops' primary advantage is it's proximity to the rest of the province as a vital transportation hub.  With a superior transportation and communication infrastructure, low-cost freight advantage and industrial land, global companies have direct access to the rest of Canada, the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim.  Kamloops is centrally located at the intersection of BC's four major highways, the Coquihalla (Hwy 5), TransCanada (Hwy 1), Yellowhead (Hwy 5), and Highway 97.  Along with four major highways, Kamloops also has access to Canada's two national railways as well as a regional airport.

Highways and Trucking  

Over 25 trucking and transport companies that ship goods across B.C., Canada and the U.S are located in Kamloops. Given most goods in B.C. are shipped by truck; Kamloops is strategically situated for the expansion of distribution businesses that ship goods to urban markets in the United States and Canada.  

Proximity to Major Centres

Location	Kilometres	Miles
Kelowna	168	104
Vancouver, BC	309	192
Prince George, BC	494	307
Calgary, AB	591	367
Edmonton, AB	811	504
Winnipeg, MB	1906	1185
Toronto, ON	4227	2627
Seattle, WA	497	309
Spokane, WA	513	319

Railways

Both Canadian National Railway (CNR) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) service Kamloops. The railways intersect in Kamloops. Goods coming from Vancouver are shipped northeast on the CNR to Edmonton and northern Alberta and east on the CPR to Calgary.

Canadian Pacific Railway is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the U.S.  Its 14,000-mile rail network serves the principal centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest regions. CPR feeds directly into America's heartland from the East and West coasts.  Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico.  Canadian Pacific Logistics Solutions provides logistics and supply chain expertise worldwide. 

CPR is expanding its capacity to move more bulk commodities and resources to the Port of Vancouver to meet the demand of Asian markets.  CPR is also moving increasing volumes of finished goods, shipped in containers arriving from Asia, to consumers in the U.S. and Canada. 

Kamloops Airport  

Kamloops Airport (YKA) is operated by YVR Airport Services Ltd. and is the main airport in the Thompson Nicola Regional District.  Kamloops Airport provides air service throughout North America with connections to virtually every part of the world. 

As one of the fastest growing regional airports, coupled with rail access via CNR rail, the airport is in a prime location to handle air cargo.  The airport offers direct service between Kamloops and Vancouver, Calgary and Prince George.

Kamloops Airport Traffic

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Passengers	150,130	170,103	200,611	288,141	280,371
% Change	-1.63%	13.30%	17.93%	13.73%	22.89%

Source: Kamloops Airport Ltd.

Click here to see current monthly airport passenger statistics.

In addition to passenger transport, the airport handles a considerable amount of air cargo.  The airport is in a prime location to handle air cargo given the excellent road infrastructure and minimal air and ground traffic congestion. There is a solid industrial base at Fulton Field including aircraft sales, parts and maintenance.  Charter operations, forest service protection branch, air traffic control, ground transportation and storage hangars all operate as airport tenants.  Aircraft refuelling, customs and a Border Services Agency is available.

Competitive Advantages

Kamloops is a hub of continental and international business activity. 

New funding from Building Canada has been approved for the expansion of the Trans Canada Highway 30 km east of Kamloops.  The $42.8 million in funding will help move people and goods in the region. 

Jobs, safety and efficient transportation for industry, visitors and residents using a well travelled highway just east of Kamloops on Highway #1 will help promote economic development and also contribute to the highway system in BC as a whole.  For more information on this highway project click here.

 

Opportunities

Integrated Industrial Land Lease Opportunity - Kamloops Airport 

Site 1: Fulton Industrial Park
            - 2.7 hectare (6.6 acres) available for lease
            - T-2 zoning, Air-side Commercial, Aviation Way West

Site 2: Airside Business Park
            - 9.0 hectare (22.0 acres) available for lease
            - 1-S zoning, Fulton Field Industrial Park, Airport Road North

Click here to see Airport Land Property Profiles.

Inland Port Consideration  

There are many reasons why Kamloops offers a unique opportunity for an inland intermodal container facility.  First, such a facility would offer reload services, storage, or custom facilities for containerized, break-bulk, and bulk cargo moving by rail to the Vancouver Port.  Second, given its proposed location on the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead highways and with the line-haul efficiency of both Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) railways, the facility would be the best-situated intermodal facility in the province.  Finally, the community of Kamloops recognizes the value of an intermodal container facility to help local companies generate profits, create value, and improve regional and international competitiveness.

  

Resource Organizations

Kamloops Airport  
Inland Port Study