5 Ways to Prepare for Peak Shipping Season Before the Rush Begins

If you’re a small business owner, you probably have plenty to think about as summer winds down. Fall sales. Holiday inventory. End-of-year orders. And, of course, making sure everything gets where it needs to go on time.

The last thing you want to worry about is finding a truck when you’re already up against a deadline. That’s why now is the time to start thinking about peak season shipping. Freight markets are tightening, LTL pricing is on the rise and hurricane season can add another layer of uncertainty to transportation.

The good news? A little planning now can help you avoid some big headaches later. Here are five ways to get ahead of the holiday shipping rush.

1. Start lining up shipping capacity now

You don’t have to know every detail of every shipment yet to start planning. In fact, getting a head start can make things much easier when you’re ready to ship.

Take some time now to gather shipment details, get a few quotes and see what transportation options are available. That way, you’re not trying to figure everything out when your inventory is sitting on the dock and the clock is ticking.

What’s happening in the market?

Truckload capacity remains tight, which means there’s less wiggle room when demand suddenly increases or a disruption throws things off schedule.

A few things you can do now:

• Book important shipments as early as you can.
• Get quotes before your inventory is ready to move.
• Compare your options while you still have time to do so.
• Avoid waiting until the last possible minute to arrange transportation.

For businesses that don’t ship freight every day, it can be reassuring to know that Freightquote, backed by C.H. Robinson, can help you find a truck when you need one. The good news is you won’t have to scramble to find capacity. But as the market gets tighter during peak season, transportation costs can increase. Planning ahead gives you more time to compare options and find the right fit for your shipment.

2. Get more from every LTL shipment

If you’re shipping pallets but don’t need a full truck, LTL can be a great option. But when the freight market gets tighter, it pays to make sure every LTL shipment is as efficient as possible.

That starts with the basics: accurate dimensions, correct weights, good packaging and smart palletization.

What’s happening in the market?

According to the August C.H. Robinson Edge Report, LTL pricing is increasing as the freight market tightens. As capacity gets tighter, network efficiency becomes even more important.

In other words, the way you prepare your freight can make a big difference.

Before you ship, take a few minutes to:

• Double-check your shipment’s dimensions and weight.
• Make the most of the space on each pallet.
• Combine shipments when it makes sense.
• Make sure everything is packaged and labeled properly.

It may not seem like a big deal if a pallet is a little oversized or a shipment’s weight is slightly off. But small mistakes can lead to extra charges or delays—and those costs can add up quickly when you’re shipping a lot of freight. A better-prepared shipment is usually a smoother shipment.

3. Get a head start on holiday inventory

If you sell products online, you already know the holiday season has a funny way of sneaking up on you.

By the time customers start thinking about holiday shopping, you may have already needed to move a lot of inventory. That’s especially true for Amazon sellers preparing inventory for FBA.

What’s happening in the market?

Holiday inventory planning is already underway for many Amazon sellers. And as peak season gets closer, there’s less time to recover if an inventory shipment is delayed.

Now is a good time to:

• Look at your upcoming FBA inventory needs.
• Check important replenishment deadlines.
• Schedule shipments before those deadlines become urgent.
• Give yourself some extra time for transit.

Think of it this way: November is not the time to discover you needed to replenish inventory in October.

Getting products where they need to be early gives you more breathing room and helps keep a transportation delay from turning into a missed sales opportunity.

4. Give yourself some wiggle room

You can plan everything perfectly and still run into a surprise. A storm rolls through. A highway closes. A shipment gets delayed. Suddenly, the timeline you thought was more than generous isn’t looking so generous anymore.

That’s why a little breathing room can go a long way during peak season.

What’s happening in the market?

Hurricane season is getting underway just as businesses are ramping up fall and holiday shipping. Even if a storm doesn’t affect you directly, it can disrupt transportation in other parts of the country and create ripple effects across the freight network.

A little extra planning can help a lot:

• Build some extra transit time into important shipments.
• Avoid relying on the latest possible delivery date.
• Give yourself backup options for time-sensitive freight.
• Prioritize flexibility for inventory you absolutely can’t afford to have delayed.

You can’t control the weather or other disruptions that might come your way. But you can control how much cushion you build into your shipping plans. A little extra time now can save a lot of scrambling later.

5. Make sure you’re using the right shipping mode

Sometimes the best way to save on shipping isn’t to negotiate a better rate. It’s to make sure you’re using the right type of transportation in the first place.

Shipping a few boxes? Parcel might make sense. Moving several pallets but not enough to fill a trailer? LTL could be the better fit. Have enough freight to fill a truck? It may be time to look at truckload.

What’s happening in the market?

Transportation costs are under pressure, so choosing the right mode can have a bigger impact on your bottom line, especially when you’re moving a lot of holiday inventory.

Before you book, ask yourself:

• Does this shipment really need a full truck?
• Would LTL be a better fit?
• Could multiple smaller shipments be consolidated?
• Is the lowest rate actually the best option if it takes longer to arrive?

The right answer will depend on your freight, your timeline and your customers’ expectations. But taking a few minutes to compare your options can help you find a better balance between cost and delivery time.

Don’t wait for the holiday rush to start planning

Peak season shipping doesn’t have to mean scrambling for capacity or paying more than you planned. The earlier you understand your options, the more time you have to find the right fit for your freight, budget and delivery timeline.

Whether you’re getting ready to replenish inventory, move holiday merchandise or simply prepare for a busier fall, start by getting a shipping quote. With Freightquote, you can compare your options, see your rate and book your shipment when you’re ready.

The holiday rush will be here before you know it. Get your quote now, then book when it’s time to ship. Because when the rush arrives, you’ll be glad you got ahead of it.

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