ICS Courier tracking

What is ICS Courier?

ICS Courier is a Canadian courier and parcel delivery company founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, under the original name Information Communication Services, or ICS, Inc. Built around commercial shipments from its earliest days, the company grew over several decades into a national carrier with approximately 35,000 business accounts and more than 35 offices across Canada. On November 1, 2007, ICS Courier was acquired by TransForce Inc., a major Canadian transportation conglomerate that has since been renamed TFI International Inc. and remains publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Following the acquisition, ICS continued to operate under its own brand and identity within the TFI group, with a workforce of just over 1,000 dedicated employees and owner-operators.

The company distinguishes itself from larger national carriers through a fixed-route delivery model in which drivers arrive at business customers at a consistent, predictable time each day. Packages are handled manually throughout the transit process, placed in cages and moved by hand rather than through automated conveyor systems, a method the company attributes to lower damage rates. ICS Courier cites above-industry-average on-time delivery performance and a lower-than-industry-average claims rate per 10,000 shipments. The company offers bilingual support in English and French and provides a full technology platform that includes online label creation, account portals, and API integration with platforms such as Shopify.

• Founded: 1978, in Toronto, Ontario, as Information Communication Services (ICS) Inc.
• Acquired: November 1, 2007, by TransForce Inc. (now TFI International Inc.), along with its holding company Century II Holdings Inc.
• Parent company: TFI International Inc., publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
• Headquarters: 201 Westcreek Blvd, Suite 102, Brampton, Ontario
• Customer accounts: Approximately 35,000 business accounts at the time of acquisition
• Office network: More than 35 offices across Canada
• Workforce: Just over 1,000 dedicated employees and owner-operators
• Countries served internationally: Over 220

ICS Courier's primary market has always been business-to-business, though its e-commerce solutions extend service to residential recipients across Canada. The company's positioning within TFI International places it inside one of Canada's largest transportation groups, which operates across package and courier, less-than-truckload, truckload, and logistics segments. This corporate structure gives ICS access to broader infrastructure while it continues to operate as a distinct brand focused on the commercial courier market.

Which countries does ICS Courier deliver to?

For domestic delivery within Canada, ICS Courier serves all Canadian postal codes, from major urban centres such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary to smaller cities and towns across the country. The carrier maintains regional offices and facilities in several provinces, with documented locations in Ontario, including Brampton, Etobicoke, Ottawa, and Aylmer, in Quebec at Dorval, where claims processing is based, and in British Columbia at Victoria. This network of regional facilities supports the fixed-route delivery model and allows the company to maintain consistent delivery schedules for its business customer base across the country.

There are specific limitations on domestic delivery that shippers should know before booking, as ICS Courier does not deliver to P.O. boxes or to rural route addresses that lack a physical street address and provides no service on Saturdays, Sundays, or statutory holidays. For shipments to remote or otherwise unserved destinations, the company applies what it refers to as furtherance charges, which are additional fees reflecting the cost of reaching those locations. A partnership with netParcel announced in February 2023 confirmed that ICS pickup services within that third-party platform were available specifically for Ontario and Quebec.

• Domestic coverage: All Canadian postal codes, across all provinces and territories
• Ontario facilities: Brampton, Etobicoke, Ottawa, and Aylmer
• Quebec facilities: Dorval, where customer service and claims processing are based
• British Columbia facilities: Victoria
• Excluded domestic addresses: P.O. boxes and rural route addresses without a physical street address
• Delivery days: Monday through Friday only; no service on weekends or statutory holidays
• Remote destinations: Served with furtherance charges applied as an additional fee
• International reach: Over 220 countries through the US and International service

Internationally, ICS Courier offers delivery to more than 220 countries through its US and International service category. This service is not available as a fully self-serve online process; shippers must contact ICS Customer Service directly to arrange international shipments. Both business and residential delivery options are supported at international destinations, with full tracking included and optional additional insurance available for higher-value goods.

What are the ICS Courier services and delivery times?

ICS Courier organizes its domestic parcel offering into three distinct tiers, each assigned a numeric service identifier used in account management and label creation. The tiers differ in transit speed, cost structure, and whether tracking visibility is included. A Transit Time Calculator is available on the ICS Courier website to obtain delivery estimates based on specific origin and destination postal codes. Beyond the three domestic tiers, the company also offers an e-commerce delivery solution for at-home B2C deliveries, a US and international service covering over 220 countries, and a freight service for larger shipments.

• ICS Courier Next Day (Service ID 564): Guaranteed delivery by 11:59 p.m. on the next business day, with full tracking and optional extended liability insurance. If delivery within a designated Next Day service area does not occur by 11:59 p.m. on the next business day, the shipper may request a credit within 15 business days of the expected delivery date.
• ICS Courier Ground (Service ID 565): Delivery in 3 to 5 business days, with full tracking and optional insurance. Items longer than 3 meters are not accepted on this service.
• ICS Courier Everyday Economics (Service ID 566): The most economical tier, designed for documents and paper-based products. Delivery takes 1 to 2 days to major city centres and up to 5 days to other locations. This service is non-trackable by design, and ICS assumes no liability for loss or damage; it is accepted entirely at the shipper's risk.
• E-commerce Solutions: At-home B2C delivery across Canada, with a no-signature-required option, the SMARTSpots pickup and drop-off network, the ICS Alert Me delivery notification feature, advance ship notice, pre-authorized returns, and API integration with platforms such as Shopify.
• US and International Shipping: Delivery to over 220 countries, with full tracking and optional additional insurance, arranged through direct contact with ICS Customer Service.
• Freight Service: A distinct service category for larger and heavier shipments.

The Next Day service carries a defined guarantee mechanism built around the B2B clients who form the company's core customer base. If a package within a designated Next Day service area is not delivered by 11:59 p.m. on the following business day, the shipper can submit a credit request, provided it is filed within 15 business days of the expected delivery date. This kind of time-anchored commitment is relatively specific among regional Canadian couriers and reflects the operational priority ICS places on next-day delivery reliability for commercial accounts.

The Everyday Economics tier occupies a fundamentally different position in the product lineup. Because it carries no tracking capability and no liability protection, it is suited only to document shipments where cost is the overriding factor. The non-trackable nature of this service is a deliberate structural design, not a gap in the system. Shippers using it cannot file a claim if a package is lost in transit, and it should be reserved for low-priority paper documents where neither speed guarantees nor shipment visibility are required.

What are the ICS Courier rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

ICS Courier does not publish standard rate tables publicly. Pricing is calculated on an account basis and varies according to destination, package weight, and dimensions. There are no startup fees required to open a business account, and free pickups are available for accounts that meet the qualifying criteria. Volumetric weight calculations apply to Ground shipments, meaning the billable weight will be the greater of the actual weight or the dimensional weight derived from the package's measurements. Shippers seeking specific pricing information must contact ICS Customer Service or use the account portal after an account has been established.

Size and weight restrictions differ by service type. Ground shipments accept pieces up to 3 meters in length, while air shipments accept pieces up to 2.5 meters in length. The maximum weight per individual piece across domestic services is 30 kilograms; pieces above this threshold are subject to an excess weight charge. Beyond the base rate, ICS applies a documented set of additional charges, including surcharges for residential delivery, remote destinations, after-hours pickups, and several administrative corrections. Invoices unpaid for 20 or more days are subject to a 5% late payment fee, and ICS holds a lien on any shipment for all unpaid charges, fees, taxes, and duties until payment is received.

• Maximum weight per piece: 30 kg; pieces above this limit incur an excess weight fee
• Maximum length for Ground shipments: 3 meters
• Maximum length for Air shipments: 2.5 meters
• Dimensional weight: Applied to Ground shipments; billing uses the greater of actual or volumetric weight
• Account setup fees: None
• Residential Delivery Fee: Applied to deliveries at residential addresses
• Furtherance charge: Applied for remote or otherwise unserved destinations
• Fuel surcharge: Applied as a standard additional charge on shipments
• After-hours pickup fee: Applied for pickups outside standard business hours
• Cubing charge: Applied to low-density or oversized freight
• Correction fees: Separate fees for account number, postal code, and weight corrections when label data requires amendment
• Late payment fee: 5% applied to invoices overdue by 20 or more days

What are the ICS Courier delivery options?

For deliveries where no one is available to receive the package, ICS Courier drivers leave a doorknocker notice at the delivery address directing the recipient to a nearby pickup location. Packages are held at an ICS facility for five business days following the first failed delivery attempt before being returned to the sender. Recipients can alternatively arrange a Hold for Pickup at an ICS facility as a planned option rather than waiting for a missed delivery. An Address Redirection service is also available for a flat fee of $60, allowing a package to be redirected to a different address for a period of up to 30 days.

For e-commerce shipments, ICS Courier has built several features aimed at increasing first-attempt delivery success for residential recipients. The ICS Alert Me notification system sends recipients advance notice of an upcoming delivery by text or email, giving them time to be home or to make alternative arrangements before the driver arrives. A no-signature-required option allows parcels to be left at the door without requiring the recipient to be present. The SMARTSpots network provides a set of drop-off and pickup points across Canada, giving both recipients and e-commerce customers a convenient location to collect packages or hand off pre-labeled return shipments.

• Standard delivery: Delivery to the recipient's address, Monday through Friday during regular business hours
• Doorknocker notice: Left at the door when no one is available, directing the recipient to a local ICS pickup location
• Hold for Pickup: Package held at an ICS facility for the recipient to collect at their convenience
• Hold period: 5 business days from the first failed delivery attempt before return to sender
• SMARTSpots network: Alternative pickup and drop-off locations for parcels and e-commerce returns
• Address Redirection: Available for $60; redirects a package to a different address for up to 30 days
• Hold Mail Request: Available through the ICS online services portal for account holders
• No-signature-required delivery: Available for e-commerce shipments to improve first-attempt delivery rates
• ICS Alert Me: Advance delivery notifications sent to recipients by text or email ahead of the delivery attempt

What should I do if my ICS Courier parcel is lost or damaged?

ICS Courier's default liability for domestic shipments is set at the greater of $100 for hard goods or $4.41 per kilogram of the damaged goods. This standard coverage applies automatically unless the shipper purchases extended liability protection at the time of booking, which raises the maximum protection to the declared shipment value up to a ceiling of $1,500 per shipment. The Everyday Economics service falls outside this liability structure entirely; ICS accepts no responsibility for loss or damage on that service under any circumstances, as it is accepted at the shipper's risk.

Claims for lost or damaged domestic shipments must follow specific deadlines set out in the ICS terms and conditions. Written notice of loss or damage must be submitted within 60 days of delivery. The completed claim, with supporting documentation including proof of value and photographs of any damage, must be filed within 9 months of the shipment date. Legal action related to the claim must be initiated within 2 years of the shipment date. For international air shipments governed by air carriage conventions, shorter deadlines apply, with damage claims required within 30 days of delivery and non-delivery or misdelivery claims within 90 days. Claims can be submitted through the online claim form on the ICS website or by mail to the ICS Customer Service office in Dorval, Quebec.

• Standard domestic liability: The greater of $100 per shipment or $4.41 per kilogram of damaged goods
• Extended liability option: Up to $1,500 per shipment based on declared value, purchased at the time of booking
• Everyday Economics liability: None; accepted entirely at the shipper's risk with no recourse for loss or damage
• Written notice deadline (domestic): Within 60 days of delivery
• Final claim deadline (domestic): Within 9 months of the shipment date
• Legal action deadline (domestic): Within 2 years of the shipment date
• Damage claim deadline (international air): Within 30 days of delivery
• Non-delivery claim deadline (international air): Within 90 days
• Claims submission: Online via the ICS website claim form, or by mail to Customer Service in Dorval, Quebec
• Customer service hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time

Does ICS Courier handle international shipments and customs formalities?

ICS Courier offers international delivery to more than 220 countries through its US and International service category. Shippers must contact ICS Customer Service directly to arrange international shipments, as the service is not available as a fully self-serve online process, and all bookings include full tracking along with optional additional insurance coverage for higher-value packages, with both business and residential delivery supported at international destinations. International air shipments are governed by international air carriage conventions, which impose claims deadlines of 30 days for damage and 90 days for non-delivery, both significantly shorter than the deadlines applicable to domestic shipments.

Certain categories of goods are prohibited across both domestic and international ICS Courier services. The company does not accept glass, ceramics, or fragile items, liquids, goods requiring temperature control, as ICS does not offer temperature-controlled shipping, confectionery products including chips, chocolate, pastries, and baked goods, privately packaged household goods and personal items, items exceeding the applicable length limits for the chosen service, or any goods that could soil, taint, or damage other shipments in transit. Shippers are responsible for confirming that their goods do not fall within these prohibited categories before booking a shipment.

• Countries covered: Over 220 countries through the US and International service
• Service arrangement: Requires direct contact with ICS Customer Service; not available as an online self-serve process
• Tracking: Full tracking included for international shipments
• Additional insurance: Available as an optional add-on for international shipments
• Damage claim deadline (international air): Within 30 days of delivery
• Non-delivery claim deadline (international air): Within 90 days
• Temperature-controlled shipping: Not available
• Prohibited items: Glass and ceramics, liquids, temperature-sensitive goods, confectionery, household and personal items, oversized items, and any goods that could contaminate other shipments

Understanding tracking statuses

ICS Courier's proprietary tracking system, called ICS Courier Trax, provides real-time shipment visibility from the point of pickup through to final delivery. Tracking is available for Next Day and Ground shipments; the Everyday Economics tier is non-trackable by design. The system allows up to 25 tracking numbers to be entered simultaneously, and tracking records are retained for six months from the shipment date. Next Day shipments carry tracking numbers beginning with the prefix "ND" followed by 18 alphanumeric characters, while Ground shipments use the prefix "GR" in the same format. In addition to the main tracking number, recipients can also look up a shipment using a doorknocker number or by entering a reference number paired with the destination postal code.