Peak season punishes late planners. When volumes surge, capacity disappears and spot rates climb. UPS alone expects its U.S. daily volume to rise about 25% from the third quarter to the fourth in 2026 (Logistics Management). The short version: lock in capacity early, tender early, and keep your docks moving. Use this checklist to stay ahead.
Why does peak season get so tight?
Holiday retail and e-commerce volume peaks in the fourth quarter, so shippers compete for the same trucks at the same time. Capacity that was easy to find in the summer gets booked up, tender rejections rise and spot rates climb. See our guide to cutting tender rejections.
What should you do 8–12 weeks out?
- Share volume forecasts with your carriers, by lane and by week.
- Lock in committed or dedicated capacity on your most critical lanes.
- Review contract rates against the current market.
- Confirm carriers' holiday operating hours and dispatch coverage.
What should you do 4–8 weeks out?
- Extend dock hours or add appointment slots for the surge.
- Stage extra trailers or arrange drop-trailer programs.
- Set up clear escalation contacts on both sides, including nights and weekends.
- Plan backup carriers for each key lane.
What should you do during peak?
- Tender as early as possible. Same-day freight gets rejected first.
- Track loads daily and flag delays early.
- Keep dock turn times short. Detention drives carriers away.
- Hold a short weekly check-in with each major carrier.
What are the warning signs your plan isn't working?
- Tender rejections rising on the same lanes week after week.
- More loads falling back to the spot market.
- Detention and dock wait times creeping up.
- Late deliveries clustering on a few lanes or facilities.
What should you do after peak?
- Review on-time performance and tender acceptance by carrier.
- Note which lanes needed spot coverage. Those are candidates for dedicated capacity next year.
How can American Miles help?
American Miles moves time-critical freight for parcel and logistics leaders, with dispatch available 24/7 through the holidays. Plan peak capacity with our team.
