Groupe Transit

Groupe Transit is driven by a mission to help Canadian, American and European food manufacturers export goods anywhere in America or Europe as effortlessly as delivering them to a neighboring city.

Built by experts who’ve experienced the challenges of exporting firsthand, Groupe Transit approaches global logistics through the lens of manufacturers. While traditional customs brokers or transport companies treat exporting as a transactional process, it thinks outside the box to address hurdles.

As a premium, fourth-party logistics provider, Groupe Transit turns the complexities of international food export into a strategic advantage. Central to this is a turnkey service that delivers end-to-end support, covering everything from regulatory assistance to logistics and transportation. Offering all solutions under one roof and a single point of contact simplifies the export process.

“We never let food manufacturers misstep,” says Jacques Bédard, president. “In a time of uncertainty caused by shifting trade dynamics and new tariffs, we step in as a reliable partner, helping food importers and exporters execute their operations seamlessly and exceed customer expectations.”

Unmatched expertise in the regulatory and customs complexities of international food shipping makes it the go-to partner for all food supply chain needs. Compliance, certification and logistics services are integrated to streamline operations and provide peace of mind to clients.

Compliance services are at the top of the offerings, as importers seek to mitigate the risk of fines or even criminal charges that could arise if a product harms a consumer. Services include FDA Agent representation, FSVP Importer support, Food Facility Registration assistance and USDA Importer services for USDA-regulated products. Groupe Transit collaborates with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the European Food Safety Authority to support cross-border regulatory alignment.

It equally excels in ensuring the timely delivery of manufacturers’ products to retailers through comprehensive transportation solutions across road, sea and air. A robust network of over 250 warehouses in the U.S. and Canada, 48 throughout Europe, and additional locations in Mexico complements its capabilities.

Expertly Vetted Network for Timely and Quality Fulfillment

Groupe Transit helps manufacturers achieve high service standards and operational success. Many retailers closely monitor manufacturers’ delivery performance using metrics such as back orders and on-time delivery scores. Performance that consistently fails to meet a retailer’s delivery standards can trigger penalties or de-listing, jeopardizing their shelf space.

To overcome this, Groupe Transit operates as a manufacturer-based fulfillment partner, integrating every stage of the export process into a comprehensive logistics framework. It covers everything from selecting the best transporter and preparing the required customs documentation to choosing the ideal customs broker and scheduling deliveries.

“We know the best service providers,” says Bédard.

“Drawing on deep market connections, we select the ideal partner who can meet both B2B and B2C delivery requirements for manufacturers.”

For clients already compliant with border and FDA regulations, Groupe Transit provides tailored logistics and warehousing support.

Unlocking Final Delivery Efficiency

Drawing on advanced regulatory insight and proactive responsiveness to evolving requirements, Groupe Transit helps ensure compliance for hassle-free product export and delivery.

This is especially critical as regulations now strictly limit driver working hours—14 in the U.S., 12 in Canada, and 10 in Europe. Digital logbooks, synced with truck engines, automatically restrict vehicle movement once limits are reached. Driver restrictions prevent multiple long-haul drops in one day.

Groupe Transit helps clients overcome these challenges by pre-staging inventory and cross-docking shipments up to 48 hours in advance at its strategically located warehouses. This ensures faster, localized deliveries. The warehouse network also helps resolve common issues, such as missing paperwork or unclear storage instructions, which can lead to delays and require coordination between several parties. By providing alternative warehouse addresses, transporters can temporarily offload pallets, await border clearance and complete the final delivery to the customer.

An example is of a Canadian manufacturer supplying products to major U.S. retailers like Costco and Walmart and their many distribution centers (DC). If frozen products must enter between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., and a single buyer places orders for multiple distribution centers, coordinating delivery becomes extremely challenging. Trying to serve three DCs with a single truck, especially when stops are two hours apart, almost always results in delays and costly penalties. Groupe Transit’s network of strategically located hubs and warehouses acts as a reliable solution in these scenarios.

For one of its clients selling fresh cheese on Amazon, Groupe Transit’s network guarantees nationwide delivery within 24 hours. Specialized insulated containers with ice packs maintain freshness upon delivery.

The ability to offer this level of service is powered by Groupe Transit’s verified network of partners capable of managing specific service requirements. For example, it holds an excellent track record of damage-free delivery of individually packaged crystal glass across North America.

Tailored Logistics Solutions for Global Export Success

Groupe Transit works with over 800 transportation companies, delivering distinctive, comprehensive solutions that bolster client success. Ninety-seven percent of these companies are family-operated, with fleets of less than 50 trucks. The network is instrumental in providing a highly personalized and efficient service that often outperforms larger common carriers with thousands of vehicles.

In an implementation highlight, Groupe Transit engaged with a client who struggled with delivering to multiple distribution centers. The client used an LTL process to serve four distribution centers daily with one truck. It was on the brink of being de-listed by Costco due to poor delivery performance. By strategically positioning inventory in 10 hubs across the U.S., Groupe Transit enabled weekly service to all distribution centers. Shipments could be divided among different trucks and deliveries split within the same region.

Within weeks, the client expressed high satisfaction with the service and successfully stabilized its supply chain by maintaining a month’s inventory ready for prompt delivery. De-listing was prevented, and the client was able to expand its product range and tap into new business streams with Costco.

Customer satisfaction is further fueled by its effective legal solution for manufacturers affected by tariffs. Manufacturers see reduced impact of import duties, whether related to Section 321 tariffs or other customs charges on goods from Europe, South America, or Canada. While traditional customs brokers focus on standard cost-saving measures, Groupe Transit provides an additional strategy that reduces duty expenses by about $2,000 per load, supplementing the savings typically achieved by conventional customs broker interventions. Although the savings on a $20,000 duty may seem modest, every reduction contributes significantly over time.

Steering ahead, the company continues to lead the charge amid the evolving tariffs and regulations. As it solidifies its reputation, it aims to expand its reach and commercialize its comprehensive, ready-to-deploy service model.

With Groupe Transit as a strategic partner, food manufacturers unlock long-term success across borders.