Dispute resolution settlement

The Canadian Grain Commission’s Dispute resolution settlement is a neutral third-party investigative process that Canadian grain companies, producer car shippers and railway companies can access to resolve weighing disputes and maintain consistent grain handling practices. The Dispute resolution settlement process is most commonly used to determine the reason for a difference between the loading and unloading weight of grain in a carrier. Upon completing an investigation, a Dispute resolution settlement report is sent to the party that initiated the investigation. This report is often used to support claims against a weight discrepancy.

Located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Canadian Grain Commission’s National Dispute Resolution Coordinator is supported by regional investigation specialists located in the Pacific and Eastern Regions.

There is no service fee for the Dispute resolution settlement process as it is an extension of the Canadian Grain Commission’s Official weighing services for inward carriers. Inquiries about the Canadian Grain Commission’s Dispute Resolution Settlement operations can be made by calling 1-800-342-7971.

Steps in the Dispute resolution settlement process

Request is filed

A producer, grain company, producer car administrator or railway company provides basic information in an approved format for an investigation request.

Investigation begins

Dispute resolution settlement staff:

• Review all Canadian Grain Commission documentation relating to the unloading of a carrier and the official weighing and inspection process
• Check and authenticate information from railway and grain companies and other sources
• May contact the loading facility, unloading terminal and railway to investigate or validate information

Report is issued

Dispute resolution settlement staff:

• Prepare and send an official report outlining their findings to the party that filed the DRS request
• May recommend further action

In some cases, the official unload weights are adjusted on the basis of the investigation’s results.

As a result of Dispute resolution settlement requests and collection of investigative data, the Dispute resolution settlement process may also identify or support:

• Missing or misdirected railcars
• Leaking or damaged railcars
• Grain losses in transit
• Weigh scale accuracies at primary, transfer and terminal elevators
• Grain shipments downgraded because of mishandling or commingling
• Grain shipment tracking and rail car status
• Grain shipments exported by rail
• Grain shippers with ‘Bulkhead Shipment information’ notices
• Railcar unloads and transportation fees for railway companies
• Special Handling Information for partially unloaded cars
• Accuracy issues in related industry programs on car information