When you hand off your inventory to a logistics partner, you need to know it’s managed with accuracy, speed, and visibility. That’s what turns fulfillment into a true partnership.
At Red River Freight, we handle every stage of storage and delivery for businesses across North America. Many of our clients are Canadian companies shipping to U.S. customers, while others are U.S.-based brands that rely on us for flexible warehousing and fulfillment. Whatever your setup, our process is built to save time, reduce costs, and keep operations predictable.
Here’s how an order moves through Red River Freight: from the moment it reaches our Pembina warehouse to the moment it’s delivered to your customer.
Step 1: Arrival at Pembina
Our warehouse in Pembina, North Dakota is just minutes from the Pembina–Emerson border crossing. That location gives our clients a clear advantage, especially Canadian businesses shipping to U.S. customers. With inventory already stateside, orders reach customers faster and avoid unnecessary cross-border complications.
When shipments arrive, our team checks them in immediately. Each pallet is scanned, verified against documentation, and inspected for accuracy and condition. We log every detail into our CRM system and assign storage locations based on product type and turnover. Within hours, your inventory is mapped and visible in real time.
Many of our clients also use this step to save on costs. By importing goods in bulk and storing them in our U.S. facility, they pay tariffs once upfront instead of on every outbound order. That change reduces customs fees and shortens delivery times, keeping products closer to your customers.
Step 2: Smart Inventory Management and Real-Time Visibility
Once your products are received and stored, the real work of managing them begins. Accurate inventory management keeps everything moving—orders get filled faster, stock levels stay balanced, and customers receive what they expect.
Our system provides real-time visibility into every product the moment it enters the warehouse. You can log in anytime to see stock levels, recent movements, or order activity. The platform also integrates with tools like UPS and QuickBooks to reduce manual entry and eliminate costly errors.
This smart inventory management removes common frustrations: misplaced items, inaccurate counts, or delays caused by missing data. For one client struggling with frequent inventory discrepancies, the switch to our system made an immediate difference. Real-time tracking replaced manual spreadsheets, and clear reporting restored their confidence in the numbers.
Behind that technology sits the physical backbone of our operation. Our Pembina facility includes more than 10,000 square feet of heated storage, cold storage for temperature-sensitive products, and outdoor space for vehicles and oversized equipment. Every item is stored in the right conditions and can be located or replenished quickly when orders are triggered.
With accurate data and the right storage environment, orders move without hesitation, and your business avoids the costly ripple effects of stockouts, overstocking, or missed deliveries.
Step 3: Picking, Packing, and Preparation
When an order comes in, precision and timing matter most. Our fulfillment team pulls products directly from their assigned locations, verifies each item, and prepares them for shipping according to your exact requirements.
For some clients, that means straightforward carton labeling and shipment batching. For others, it includes custom packaging, branded inserts, or special handling for fragile or high-value goods. Whatever the setup, every order is double-checked before it leaves the dock to make sure it’s complete and accurate.
Because all inventory data flows through our CRM, the process stays organized from start to finish. Pick lists are accurate, quantities are confirmed, and updates appear in real time. Clients can check order status at any point without waiting for manual updates.
During high-demand periods, such as major sales events or seasonal peaks, we scale operations to keep up. Additional labor, extended hours, and optimized workflows ensure we maintain accuracy and turnaround speed, no matter how busy it gets.
At this stage, the goal is simple: get every order out on time, in perfect condition, and ready for fast delivery.
Step 4: From Pembina to the Customer’s Door
Once orders are packed and ready, our focus shifts to fast, dependable delivery. Because inventory is already stored in our U.S. warehouse, shipments move through domestic carriers instead of crossing the border each time. That means shorter transit times, lower shipping costs, and fewer customs complications.
Our team manages carrier selection and routing to balance speed and cost. Whether it’s a single parcel or a full pallet, every shipment is tracked through our CRM, giving clients complete oversight from dispatch to delivery. You can review status updates, access past shipment data, and address potential delays before they affect customers.
This level of transparency makes fulfillment predictable. Businesses can plan around accurate delivery windows, and customers receive their orders when expected, with clear updates along the way. The result is simple: fewer service issues, clearer communication, and stronger customer trust.
Step 5: Scaling, Seasonality, and Support
No two businesses operate at the same pace all year. Demand shifts, markets change, and logistics must keep up. At Red River Freight, we design our operations to scale with yours – whether you’re preparing for a seasonal rush, launching a new product, or adapting to new trade conditions.
When order volumes rise, we expand capacity. Extra labor, extended hours, and flexible storage options keep fulfillment steady even when orders double overnight. That adaptability helps our clients avoid the bottlenecks and delays that often come with sudden growth.
We also support businesses when the market itself changes. During the recent 25% U.S. tariff adjustments, several Canadian companies worked with us to reconfigure their logistics strategy. By moving stock into our Pembina warehouse, they paid tariffs once upfront instead of on every shipment. The result was faster delivery to U.S. customers and a significant reduction in cross-border costs.
This kind of adjustment is where partnership matters most. We help clients evaluate options, model costs, and implement changes without disrupting their operations. Whether it’s navigating tariffs, managing a sales surge, or expanding into new regions, our goal stays the same: keep your supply chain steady, efficient, and ready for what’s next.
Step 6: Partnership in Motion
Behind every shipment is a customer waiting, a business depending on accuracy, and a partner working to keep things moving. At Red River Freight, that sense of responsibility drives everything we do.
From intake to delivery, our people, systems, and processes are built around reliability. Clients stay informed, and our team is always ready to solve issues or adjust workflows as needed. We don’t disappear once inventory is stored—we stay involved to keep your logistics performing at their best.
The result is a supply chain that runs smoothly, scales easily, and delivers the consistency your business and customers rely on.
If you’re ready to simplify your logistics and strengthen your operations, let’s start with a conversation.
Contact us to learn how our 3PL solutions can help your business move smarter and faster, from storage to delivery.
