Northern Roads & Winter Road Trucking

What Are Winter Roads?

Winter roads are temporary ice roads that open each year when the ground freezes solid enough to support heavy vehicles. They connect remote communities in Northern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario that have no permanent road access — communities that depend on these roads for building materials, fuel, food, and supplies.

The window is short. Typically 6–10 weeks, depending on temperatures. When the ice is ready, fleets move fast. When it closes, access is gone until next year.

Shortline's Northern Roads Operation

Shortline has been running northern roads operations for years, delivering 175+ loads per season to remote communities. Our drivers know the conditions, the routes, and the critical importance of the cargo they're carrying.

This isn't a side business for us. It's core to who we are. As a Métis-owned company deeply connected to northern Indigenous communities, we take this responsibility seriously.

What We Haul

• Building materials and construction supplies
• Fuel and heating oil
• Equipment and machinery
• Food and household supplies (bulk)
• Medical and community supplies
• Vehicles and heavy equipment

The 2024 Wildfire Response

When northern Manitoba communities were evacuated due to wildfires in 2024, Shortline mobilized vehicles and drivers to assist with the response. This is who we are — a Manitoba company that shows up when communities need it.