# FLS Transportation Services

> Cross-Border & Temperature-Controlled Freight Broker · Laval, QC · Founded 1981

**Canonical URL:** https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/fls-transportation/
**Markdown source:** https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/fls-transportation/index.md
**Last updated:** 2026-04-27

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## Key facts

- Founded 1981 · headquartered in Laval, QC
- Privately held
- Gross revenue: $0.1B (est.) per Transport Topics 2024
- Primary freight modes: Dry Van, Reefer

## About

FLS Transportation Services is a Laval, Quebec-based freight broker founded in 1981, making it one of North America's most experienced cross-border Canada–US freight specialists. With an estimated $100 million in gross brokerage revenue, FLS operates from a Canadian headquarters with genuine domestic Canada coverage and a 40+ year track record on the US–Canada trade lane — a combination that's rare among brokers that primarily operate from US bases. The broker's roots in Quebec give it particular density in the Montreal–Toronto–Northeast US corridor, one of the highest-volume cross-border lanes in North America.

FLS's primary mode strengths are dry van truckload and refrigerated/reefer, reflecting the freight mix on US–Canada lanes — consumer goods, food and beverage, perishables, and manufactured products. Temperature-controlled cross-border freight is a genuine specialty, requiring not just carrier relationships but expertise in Canadian customs, CFIA regulations, and the documentation requirements that accompany cold chain shipments crossing the border. US domestic coverage is national, though carrier depth is strongest in Northeast and Midwest lanes that connect naturally to Canadian origins.

For shippers evaluating FLS Transportation, the clearest fit is US–Canada cross-border freight — particularly refrigerated and dry van — where FLS's Canadian operational base, customs knowledge, and carrier relationships provide genuine advantages over US-headquartered brokers that treat cross-border Canada as a secondary capability. Shippers with purely domestic US freight moving outside the Northeast–Midwest corridor will find FLS less differentiated. Flatbed, intermodal, and parcel are not active capabilities.

## Load types

| Mode | Status |
|---|---|
| Dry Van TL | ● Primary |
| Refrigerated | ● Primary |
| LTL | Limited |
| Intermodal | Not offered |
| Flatbed | Not offered |
| Air / Expedited | Not offered |
| Bulk / Tank | Not offered |
| Parcel | Not offered |

Source: Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerages, 2024

## FMCSA & Licensing

FMCSA MC# and DOT# not confirmed for FLS Transportation Services, Inc. FLS is a Canadian-headquartered broker operating cross-border — verify both US broker authority at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov and Canadian licensing as applicable before tendering cross-border loads.

## Coverage

US domestic · Canada domestic · US–Canada cross-border

**Strongest lanes:**

- Canada → Northeast US
- Quebec → New England
- Ontario → Midwest US
- US → Canada cross-border
- Canada → Southeast US

## Pros & Cons

**What shippers like:**

- Genuine Canadian-headquartered broker — domestic Canada coverage that US brokers treating Canada as an add-on service can't match
- 40+ years of US–Canada cross-border expertise, including customs coordination and CFIA documentation for temperature-controlled freight
- Primary refrigerated/reefer capability — strong for food, beverage, and perishable shippers crossing the US–Canada border
- Deep carrier relationships in the Quebec–Ontario–Northeast US corridor, one of the highest-volume cross-border lanes on the continent
- Stable, privately held company with four decades of operation — no investor pressure on service trade-offs

**Common complaints:**

- Limited US domestic footprint outside Northeast and Midwest lanes — national US coverage is available but not the competitive core
- No cross-border Mexico capability — shippers with US–Mexico freight need a separate provider
- LTL, flatbed, intermodal, and parcel are not active capabilities, limiting utility for shippers with mixed mode needs
- Technology is functional but not a differentiator — no instant quoting or API integration reported
- Canadian HQ may create communication or billing complexities for US-based procurement teams unfamiliar with cross-border broker operations

## FAQ

### Is FLS Transportation Services licensed and bonded as a freight broker?

FLS Transportation Services, Inc. is a Canadian-headquartered freight broker operating cross-border into the US. FMCSA MC# and DOT# for US broker authority are not confirmed in this profile — verify at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov by searching 'FLS Transportation' before tendering US or cross-border loads. Canadian broker licensing should also be confirmed separately. All US-licensed freight brokers are required to carry a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond or trust fund.

### What types of freight does FLS Transportation Services move?

Per Transport Topics' Top 100 Freight Brokerage Firms report, FLS Transportation Services primarily brokers dry van truckload and refrigerated/reefer freight, with a particular specialty in US–Canada cross-border temperature-controlled shipments. LTL is limited. FLS does not actively cover flatbed, intermodal, air/expedited, bulk/tank, or parcel freight.

### How do FLS Transportation Services' rates compare to other freight brokers?

FLS is most price-competitive on US–Canada cross-border lanes, particularly for refrigerated and dry van freight in the Quebec–Ontario–Northeast US corridor. For cross-border Canada freight, FLS's carrier relationships and operational depth typically translate to competitive rates and fewer service exceptions than US-headquartered brokers with limited Canada networks. Benchmark FLS quotes against ShipperGuide's network before booking any cross-border load.

## Best for

Shippers moving US–Canada cross-border freight — especially refrigerated, dry van, or perishable loads on Northeast and Midwest corridors — who need a broker with genuine Canadian operational presence and 40+ years of cross-border expertise.

## Compare alternatives

- [Choptank Transport](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/choptank-transport/) — 8,000+ carriers · Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Flatbed · All 48 contiguous states · Canada
- [Scotlynn Group](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/scotlynn-group/) — Dry Van, Reefer, Flatbed · All 48 contiguous states · Canada (US-Ca…
- [MTS Logistics](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/mts-logistics/) — Dry Van, Reefer, LTL · All 48 contiguous states
- [Echo Global Logistics](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/echo-global-logistics/) — 50,000+ carriers · Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states · Mexico (EchoX…
- [Redwood Logistics](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/redwood-logistics/) — 50,000+ carriers · Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states

## Sources

- Revenue and ranking: Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerages (annual list)
- FMCSA licensing: li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov — broker authority status verified at publication where possible
- Reviews: G2, Trustpilot, Google Business — shipper reviews only
- Listing assembled from public records. Brokers can claim/update via directory@shipperguide.com