It’s a tale as old as time: when the holidays approach, shipping volumes surge. And when carrier capacity tightens and costs climb, peak shipping season can quickly turn from a time of opportunity into a logistical challenge for shippers nationwide. Delays, limited truck availability and rate fluctuations all demand careful planning and strong partnerships to keep goods moving smoothly.
At Ryan Transportation, we’ve been helping shippers manage peak shipping season for nearly 40 years. We’ve guided businesses of all sizes through holiday surges and unpredictable markets, ensuring their freight stays on schedule. Read on for practical peak season shipping tips to help you plan ahead, control costs and deliver with confidence.
How To Manage Peak Shipping Season
Peak shipping season typically runs from August through December, when back-to-school inventory, holiday retail demand and year-end restocking drive freight volumes to their highest levels. During these months, truck capacity tightens, transit times lengthen and shipping rates increase. Stay ahead of these challenges with the following five tips for peak season:
- Plan Early & Expect Delays
The best way to manage peak shipping season is to prepare well in advance. Forecast demand, secure capacity early and communicate your needs with carriers before the rush begins. Proactive planning — which could include identifying and focusing on high-priority or time-sensitive shipments — gives you a competitive edge when the market gets tough.
- Be Flexible
Flexibility is one of our most valuable peak season shipping tips. Allow for alternate pickup times, routes or even modes of transport, like intermodal or expedited options, to ensure your freight keeps moving even when capacity is tight. And if you’re working with a trusted third-party logistics provider, be open to their suggestions. They will likely have a variety of solutions for your unique business needs.
- Communicate Frequently
Keep open, consistent communication with your carriers, brokers and customers. If you provide real-time updates to everyone in your supply chain, it will be easier for you to adapt to last-minute changes, weather delays or market shifts that are common during peak shipping season. Technology tools can help you communicate in a transparent and strategic way.
- Monitor the Market
Stay informed on freight trends, capacity challenges and rate fluctuations. Understanding current market dynamics — including border crossings and port operations for international freight — allows you to adjust your holiday shipping solutions as needed, helping you stay agile.
- Outsource to a 3PL
One of the smartest peak season shipping solutions is to work with a reliable third-party logistics provider (3PL). An experienced 3PL offers shipping expertise, carrier relationships and technology to streamline your shipping operations, especially when things get hectic.
Benefits of a 3PL for Peak Season Shipping
Partnering with a 3PL provides stability and scalability when shipping volumes spike. Whether you’re struggling to find capacity, manage costs or meet delivery deadlines, a logistics partner can step in with the right tools for the holidays.
So, what makes a strong shipping partner during the chaos that is August to December? When you’re looking for a 3PL, make sure they have a network of carriers across all modes, tracking technology and fully managed transportation solutions. Above all, they need to be a reliable partner, with market resilience to guide you through peak season fluctuations.
Why Partner With Ryan Transportation?
Ryan Transportation has been helping shippers navigate peak shipping season and beyond for nearly four decades. Our experienced team combines one-on-one support, deep industry knowledge and a nationwide carrier network to keep your freight moving, no matter how busy the season gets.
Connect with our team today to learn how Ryan Transportation can help you deliver smarter, faster and more efficiently!