North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2012

48-49 - Transportation and warehousing

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in transporting passengers and goods, warehousing and storing goods, and providing services to these establishments. The modes of transportation are road (trucking, transit and ground passenger), rail, water, air and pipeline. These are further subdivided according to the way in which businesses in each mode organize their establishments. National post office and courier establishments, which also transport goods, are included in this sector. Warehousing and storage establishments are subdivided according to the type of service and facility that is operated.

Many of the establishments in this sector are structured as networks, with activities, workers, and physical facilities distributed over an extensive geographic area.

493 - Warehousing and storage

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating general merchandise, refrigerated and other warehousing and storage facilities. Included in this subsector are third-party warehouses serving retail chains and wholesalers. Establishments in this subsector provide facilities to store goods for customers. They do not take title to the goods they handle. These establishments take responsibility for storing the goods and keeping them secure. They may also provide a range of services, often referred to as logistics services, related to the distribution of a customer's goods. Logistics services can include labelling, breaking bulk, inventory control and management, light assembly, order entry and fulfillment, packaging, pick and pack, price marking and ticketing and transportation arrangement. However, establishments in this subsector always provide storage services in addition to any logistics services. Furthermore, the storage of goods must be more than incidental to the performance of a service such as price marking.

Both public and contract warehousing are included in this subsector. Public warehousing generally provides short-term storage, typically for less than thirty days. Contract warehousing generally involves a longer-term contract, often including the provision of logistical services and dedicated facilities.

Bonded warehousing and storage services, and warehouses located in free trade zones, are included in the industries of this subsector. However, storage services primarily associated with the provision of credit are not.

4931 - Warehousing and storage

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating general merchandise, refrigerated and other warehousing and storage facilities. Included in this industry group are third-party warehouses serving retail chains and wholesalers. Establishments in this industry group provide facilities to store goods for customers. They do not take title to the goods they handle. These establishments take responsibility for storing the goods and keeping them secure. They may also provide a range of services, often referred to as logistics services, related to the distribution of a customer's goods. Logistics services can include labelling, breaking bulk, inventory control and management, light assembly, order entry and fulfillment, packaging, pick and pack, price marking and ticketing and transportation arrangement. However, establishments in this industry group always provide storage services in addition to any logistics services. Furthermore, the storage of goods must be more than incidental to the performance of a service such as price marking.

Both public and contract warehousing are included in this industry group. Public warehousing generally provides short-term storage, typically for less than thirty days. Contract warehousing generally involves a longer-term contract, often including the provision of logistical services and dedicated facilities.

Bonded warehousing and storage services, and warehouses located in free trade zones, are included in the industries of this industry group. However, storage services primarily associated with the provision of credit are not.

• Exclusion(s)

  • handling and distribution of goods, when the establishment takes title (See 41 Wholesale trade)
  • operating grain elevators that are not mainly for storage purposes (See 411120 Oilseed and grain merchant wholesalers)
  • self-storage of goods, commonly known as mini-warehouses (See 531130 Self-storage mini-warehouses)
  • packaging and labelling services, whether or not incidental storage is provided (See 561910 Packaging and labelling services)
  • storing garments and furs for individuals (See 812320 Dry cleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated))

49311 - General warehousing and storage

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating public and contract general merchandise warehousing and storage facilities. These establishments handle goods in containers, such as boxes, barrels and drums, using equipment such as forklifts, pallets and racks. They are not specialized in the handling of a particular type of good.

49312 - Refrigerated warehousing and storage

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating refrigerated warehousing and storage facilities. These establishments provide public and contract warehouse and storage services, using equipment designed to keep goods frozen or refrigerated. The services provided include blast freezing, tempering and modified atmosphere storage, in addition to the warehousing services typically provided by establishments in this industry group. Establishments engaged in the storage of furs for the trade are included.

49313 - Farm product warehousing and storage

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating farm product warehousing and storage facilities, except refrigerated. Grain elevators primarily engaged in storage are included.

49319 - Other warehousing and storage

This industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry, primarily engaged in operating warehousing and storage facilities. These establishments operate facilities and equipment that are designed to handle a particular type of good, for example, dead automobile storage, petroleum storage caverns and whisky warehousing.