This latest addition to the Pival family is the only facility in Eastern Canada to provide over 1,500 feet of double track indoor rail services. The spacious 370,000 sq. ft. building sits squarely between CP and CN rail yards, where it’s ready and waiting to receive incoming rail and truck shipments of automotive parts for distribution to assembly plants and after market suppliers across Canada.
   A company that prides itself on partnerships , Pival International was launched five years ago in Montreal to provide large capacity cross-docking services for rail and non-rail exporters. In fact, the name Pival was created from the concept Partners In Value Added Logistics. Today Pival has operations in Montreal (two locations), Trois Rivières and Valleyfield, Quebec.
   “Our business was built on partnerships,” says Mario La Barbera, who spent 20 years working with Class 1 railway companies throughout North America before founding Pival. “A key part of that are the relationships we’ve made with major rail companies.”
   The Oshawa Logistics Centre has the capacity to handle 22 oversize railcars, as well as 52 dock doors and 85 trailer parking spots. “We’re the only ones that can combine the capacity, technology and cross-docking expertise to this level,” says La Barbera. That technology also includes advanced scanning systems that allow customers to accurately monitor the movement of their shipments en route and on arrival. Scanning technology within the warehouse itself is used to identify parts information, location and movement.
   La Barbera is a firm believer that connection to the North American railway system is going to become increasingly important for the logistics industry to move forward. “When you consider that an 86- by 17-foot railcar has the capacity of four truckloads, that’s a lot of traffic you can keep off the roads, which means fewer emissions and lower costs for shippers. It also means far less congestion and delays at border crossings.”
   Pival will also be set up to take advantage of the new Pacific Gateway initiatives that will see more Asian shipments shipped direct to Canada. “Vancouver and Prince Rupert will play an important part in reducing border crossings and driving more rail traffic,” says La Barbera.
   Since the Oshawa warehouse is in “start-up” mode, he reports it is currently running at 50% of its total receiving capacity, but that will change very soon as the demand for rail services continues to grow. “Once we're full steam ahead, we will be handling 150 truckloads and 20 railcars a day,” he estimates.