Mobilization of a massive workforce in a few short months was assigned to General Hoge. In order to push through a tote road in one season, he divided the route into sections and started work in different directions simultaneously. Crews started in Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Whitehorse, Carcross, and Big Delta.

One ongoing challenge faced by the regiments was obtaining the materials required to do the work. Equipment and supplies were shipped through three points: to Dawson Creek through Edmonton by train; by ship to Skagway and then by train to Whitehorse; and by ship to Valdez and then bulldozed and trucked to Slana and Tanana Crossing. Bottlenecks occurred in these places as well as more southern stations including Seattle and Vancouver. Bottlenecks also occurred along the highway due to washed out road and bridges. In addition, the members of the Railway Battalion tried to keep the supplies running through deep snows on the White Pass and Yukon Route railway from Skagway to Whitehorse. Sometimes regiments had to wait for days or weeks until their equipment and supplies caught up with them.