For a Canadian railway operation, importing tools and parts from the US can look cheaper on the invoice — until the freight, the customs paperwork, the exchange rate, and the wait at the border are added up. And when an imported tool needs warranty service, it has to go right back across that border. Backtrack takes all of that off your plate: parts, tools, and factory-authorized service, sourced and serviced here in Canada, from five locations with the expertise to keep your crews working.
The Hidden Costs of Importing from the US
When you buy a railway tool from a US supplier, the price on the invoice is only the start. The real landed cost also includes cross-border freight, customs brokerage and paperwork, and currency exchange — along with the swings that come with it. And then there’s time: the days or weeks a shipment can sit at the border. For a crew waiting on a tool to keep a track program moving, that lost time is often the most expensive line of all.
Importing vs. Buying with Backtrack
| Importing from the US | Buying with Backtrack | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Order and wait; lead times ride on the border | 1,000s of parts, tools & accessories in stock across five locations |
| Freight | Cross-border shipping on every order | Same-day delivery available from your nearest location |
| Currency | Priced in USD; exchange rates fluctuate | Priced and paid in CAD |
| Customs & paperwork | Brokerage, duties, and customs forms | None — it’s a domestic purchase |
| Warranty repairs | Ship the tool back across the border | Factory-authorized repairs done in Canada, warranty intact |
| Service turnaround | Weeks, plus border delays | Most repairs completed in one to two weeks |
| Support | A phone number in another country | Knowledgeable, authorized staff who know MOW equipment |
| Hard-to-find parts | Whatever that supplier happens to stock | Deep inventory of OEM, obsolete, and legacy parts |
The Real Risk Is Warranty and Service
The sticker price is one thing; what happens when the tool breaks is another. A tool imported from the US usually has to go back to the US for warranty work — more freight, more paperwork, more downtime. As Canada’s factory-authorized repair, warranty, and distribution centre focused on railway MOW, Backtrack performs warranty and non-warranty repairs here, with genuine OEM parts, so your coverage stays intact and your tool comes back to spec — without ever leaving the country.
In Railway Work, Speed Is the Whole Game
Railway crews can’t wait on cross-border delays. A tool stuck in customs is a crew standing still. Because we stock parts and tools in Canada and service what we sell at every location, the tool you need is usually already on this side of the border — ready to ship, or ready to fix.
What You Get with Backtrack
- Five locations across Canada, plus our mobile trailer for on-site demos, training, and delivery.
- Factory-authorized sales, warranty, and repair for the major railway tool brands.
- Brand-agnostic advice — we recommend what’s right for the job, not just what’s on our shelf.
- 1,000s of in-stock parts, tools, and accessories, including hard-to-find and discontinued items.
- Built by railroaders, for railroaders — 30 years serving Canada’s railways.
Common Questions
Can Backtrack service a tool I imported from the US?
Yes. We service tools no matter where you bought them — from us, from another supplier, or imported from the US. If we can source the parts, we can repair it.
What happens to my warranty if an imported tool needs repair?
If a tool is imported, warranty work often means shipping it back to the US. Where Backtrack is the factory-authorized service centre for that brand, we handle warranty repairs here in Canada with genuine OEM parts, keeping your coverage intact. Contact us to confirm coverage for your specific equipment.
Does importing from the US actually save money?
It depends on the full landed cost, not just the sticker price. Cross-border freight, customs brokerage, currency exchange, and border delays all add up — and the downtime while a crew waits is often the biggest cost of all. We’d rather help you weigh the true cost than promise a number on the invoice.
How fast can I get railway tools in Canada compared with importing?
We keep 1,000s of parts, tools, and accessories in stock across five Canadian locations, with same-day delivery available from your nearest location. Importing means waiting on cross-border shipping and customs; buying here usually means the tool is already on this side of the border.
Can you source parts I’d otherwise have to import from the US?
Often, yes. Alongside our factory-approved catalogue, we keep a deep inventory of obsolete and legacy parts here in Canada — frequently the exact components crews would otherwise chase down through a US supplier, with the freight and customs that come with it. Check with us before you order across the border.
Keep Your Crews Working — On This Side of the Border
Before you place another cross-border order, talk to Backtrack. We’ll tell you what we have in stock, what we can service, and what it really costs to keep your tools running — honestly. Find your nearest location or get in touch.