Selecting a warehouse partner is a high-stakes decision for any industrial business. Whether you’re storing high-density pulp bales, fragile plywood sheets, or bulk freight for international shipping, the wrong vendor can create inefficiencies, product damage, or missed delivery windows.
That’s why it’s crucial to ask the right questions upfront—especially when choosing a long-term partner in the competitive British Columbia logistics market. This guide outlines seven key questions to ask when evaluating options and helps you use the right BC warehouse checklist to assess value, infrastructure, responsiveness, and scalability.
Canamex Global—based on Annacis Island in Metro Vancouver—has become a trusted partner for companies in the paper, pulp, plywood, and general freight industries. Our 175,000 sq. ft. warehouse, in-house drayage capabilities, and real-time inventory systems support seamless end-to-end operations designed for complex supply chains.
1. Does the Warehouse Offer Industrial-Grade Infrastructure?
Not all warehouses are created equal. For manufacturers and bulk shippers, general-purpose storage may lack:
- High-clear ceilings
- Floor-load capacity for heavy pallets
- Wide aisles for oversized forklifts
- Rail spur or container handling zones
Canamex Global’s facility was built specifically for high-volume, high-weight freight. Located in a Metro Vancouver distribution hub, it includes:
- Multiple dock-height and grade-level doors
- A dedicated rail spur
- 175,000 sq. ft. of optimized, flexible space
- Heavy-duty racking systems and climate-aware staging zones
When reviewing warehouse partners, ask about technical specs—and ensure they align with your product type, load sizes, and throughput volume.
2. How Responsive Is Their Customer Support?
Delays in communication can be just as costly as delays in freight. Whether you’re managing just-in-time delivery or need to reroute a shipment, fast answers are non-negotiable.
At Canamex, we’re proud of our 5–10 minute average response time. Every client is assigned a dedicated account representative, who knows your business and provides proactive service.
When asking how to choose a warehouse partner, evaluate their customer service structure:
- Do you get a direct contact or a generic support queue?
- Can you reach someone quickly during off-hours or urgent situations?
- Will your account manager be familiar with your inventory and shipping schedule?
Speed, accuracy, and accountability should be the standard.
3. What Inventory Management System (WMS) Do They Use—and Is It Real-Time?
Accuracy and visibility are essential to supply chain control. Your warehouse should be equipped with a robust Warehouse Management System (WMS) that supports:
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Batch or SKU-level visibility
- Order picking and fulfillment updates
- Online portal access for clients
- API or ERP integration
Canamex Global’s WMS provides full transparency. Clients can log in 24/7 to view:
- Inventory levels
- Shipment history
- Lot or serial details
- Alerts on low stock or cycle count timing
If a prospective warehouse partner still relies on manual records or only provides periodic reports, your operations will suffer.
4. Are They Familiar with Your Industry and Product Type?
Paper rolls. Pulp bales. Plywood sheets. General freight. Each product type has unique handling, stacking, and storage requirements. Choosing a warehouse with industry-specific experience ensures fewer errors, reduced damage risk, and faster product movement.
Canamex specializes in forest products and industrial freight. Our facility and staff are trained to:
- Use clamp trucks for paper rolls
- Stack bales to preserve integrity
- Band and protect plywood sheets
- Manage mixed loads for domestic and export shipping
A warehouse that understands your materials can be a value-added partner—not just a storage vendor.
5. Do They Provide In-House Drayage and Transportation?
Port logistics are a bottleneck for many BC manufacturers and importers. If your warehouse partner doesn’t offer drayage, you’ll need to coordinate third-party container pickups—adding complexity and cost.
Canamex is an authorized drayage provider in Metro Vancouver, with direct access to:
- Deltaport
- Centerm
- Vanterm
- Fraser Surrey Docks
We pick up your containers directly and transport them to our Annacis Island facility. No outsourcing. No delays. This tight integration speeds up delivery cycles and reduces demurrage, detention, and communication errors.
6. Can They Scale with Your Growth?
Your warehousing partner should be able to grow with you—whether that means increased product lines, higher volume, or expansion into new markets.
Canamex offers:
- Flexible storage configurations
- Overflow space for seasonal or project-based needs
- Staging for e-commerce, retail, or export orders
- Short- and long-term warehousing without restrictive commitments
With 175,000 sq. ft. and scalable systems, we ensure your logistics infrastructure doesn’t limit your growth.
7. Do They Offer Value-Added Services?
Look for a warehouse that provides more than just storage. Value-added services allow your partner to act as a true extension of your supply chain.
At Canamex, these services include:
- Cross-docking to reduce dwell time
- Product consolidation for export containers
- Order staging and kitting
- Custom packaging or labeling
- Real-time inventory alerts for replenishment triggers
These capabilities support operational agility and reduce internal labor costs on your end.
Bonus: Use This BC Warehouse Checklist When Evaluating Providers
| Evaluation Criteria | Why It Matters | Canamex Advantage |
| Industrial infrastructure | Supports heavy/bulk freight | 175,000 sq. ft., rail spur, Annacis Island |
| Dedicated account support | Reduces errors, improves response time | Direct contact, <10 min replies |
| Real-time WMS | Increases inventory accuracy | Online access, ERP-friendly |
| Industry specialization | Reduces product damage | Paper, pulp, plywood expertise |
| Authorized drayage | Streamlines port pickup | Direct access to all Metro Vancouver ports |
| Scalability | Supports long-term growth | Modular storage, flexible terms |
| Value-added logistics | Improves supply chain efficiency | Cross-docking, sorting, kitting |
