Tackle this year’s peak shipping season with confidence with essential tips from BC’s leader in trucking and warehousing.
It’s only October, but many importers and businesses have begun planning since Q1 on how to get their goods in time for the holiday shopping rush. Shippers and carriers are no strangers to capacity limitations that were commonplace in 2020 and 2021. As we dive into 2022’s peak shipping season, some challenges that owners faced have eased, but others have remained front and center. Let’s dive into some strategies that you can use to get ahead of the curve this year.
What is Peak Shipping Season?
Peak shipping season begins to take off starting in July and is categorized as one of the busiest times in the trucking and shipping industry. Businesses are laser-focused on getting goods onto shelves to meet consumer demands as the holiday season approaches. Orders and shipping volume begin to increase rapidly and demand for trucks is high.
This intensity continues through to September and takes on a whole new level of pressure from October to December. The final high-paying loads typically begin during this time until the shopping frenzy dies down at the end of December.
How to Get Ahead of the Peak Shipping Season this year
Plan Ahead and Have a Strong Team Working for You
You’ve probably got your whole year’s business plan laid out with budgets firmly in place. However, navigating through ever-changing waters means that hiring a team of experienced experts may be money well spent. The extra costs may not appeal to you initially, but the time, stress, and money that is saved in the long run are worth every penny. Sudden delays and administrative errors may mean more than just revenue being lost as fees start to build up.
Prioritize and Pivot
Decisions, decisions, decisions. In a perfect world, there would be no sudden shortages and delays. However, it’s been three years since the topic of supply chain problems popped up, and having to prioritize and pivot has become second nature for many business owners. Prioritizing products with the highest demands and continuing to move quickly is key in coming out ahead this season.
Shipping Strategies
Do you need to ship your entire shipment now? Can it be shipped in staggered stages? If your cargo is non-perishable and is not needed for this upcoming holiday season, choosing to ship them at the start of 2023 may be the best decision. Freight shipping capacity tends to increase at the beginning of the year and this means that there are deals to be had.
Shipping a small portion of your goods now and allowing for the bulk of it to arrive later via a slower and more cost-effect channel is also a viable strategy. Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is also a great way to transport smaller shipments.
Delays and sudden changes happen, but it’s essential to have a plan in place to mitigate and reduce risks and costs when problems do arise. Careful planning and expert advice from your team can help you conquer this peak shipping season.
As a leading provider in container trucking and bonded warehousing in BC with authorized access to all major ports and rails in Metro Vancouver, we are here to fully support all our customers. From monitoring documentation issues and free time for demurrage and detention to securing the best reservations, we are here to provide exceptional customer service 24/7!
Our LTL (less than truckload) and FTL (full truckload) services are also able to transport your freight from port to major destinations across Canada including Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Contact us at (604)-276-9044 or info@sandhartrucking.com to learn about how we can help you during this peak shipping season.