The Planning Window Is Almost Closed
November is here. If you haven’t locked in your holiday freight capacity yet, you’re running out of time.
Carriers are filling up. Rates are climbing. The flexible terms you could have negotiated in October? Those are gone. What’s left are limited slots, premium pricing, and the hope that your backup plan actually works.
The companies shipping smoothly through Black Friday and the holidays didn’t get lucky. They secured their capacity weeks ago.
What Actually Happens During Peak Season
Every year follows the same pattern.
September and October: Carriers have space. Rates are normal. You can negotiate delivery windows and lock in reasonable pricing.
Early November: Capacity starts tightening. Rates begin their climb. Carriers get selective about which loads they’ll accept.
Mid-November through December: Most carriers are at capacity. Rates hit peak levels. Your only option becomes “we’ll deliver when we can.”
This isn’t a surprise. It happens every single year. The question is whether you planned for it or you’re about to scramble through it.
How to Secure What Capacity Remains
Know your volume
Pull last year’s Q4 numbers. Factor in this year’s growth. Account for any major promotions. You don’t need perfect forecasting, just a realistic range to work with.
Don’t rely on one carrier
Your primary carrier will hit capacity limits. Have backups identified and ready. The time to find alternatives is before you desperately need them.
Understanding different types of freight carriers helps you build a stronger backup strategy. Platforms like GoShip show you real-time rates and capacity from over 100 vetted LTL carriers in seconds, so you can secure backup options fast.
Match your mode to your needs
LTL works for: Regular smaller shipments where cost matters most. Know that LTL capacity fills fastest during holidays and involves more handling.
FTL works for: Larger shipments, high-value goods, or situations where you need more control and less handling. Full truckload shipping costs more per shipment but delivers more reliability during peak chaos.
Expedited shipping works for: Emergencies only. Premium pricing gets very expensive very fast during the holidays.
Choose your mode based on what you’re shipping and what matters most: cost, speed, or control.
Lock in rates where possible
Some carriers offer capacity guarantees or rate locks for the holiday period. Even if rates are slightly higher than normal, they beat peak season pricing in December.
Get your team aligned
Your operations team needs to know which carriers to use, how to handle overflow, and who approves expedited decisions.
Your customer service team needs realistic delivery timelines and clear talking points for when delays happen.
When everyone knows the plan, you stay ahead of problems instead of constantly reacting to them.
If You’re Already Behind Schedule
Early November: Get competitive quotes immediately. Secure at least one backup carrier. Review your packaging to handle the increased handling that comes with holiday shipping. Set realistic expectations with customers now rather than disappointing them later.
Mid-November: You’re in damage control. Prioritize your most valuable shipments. Consider switching from LTL to FTL if it means guaranteed capacity. Be transparent with customers about delivery timelines, honesty beats silence when things get tight.
No matter what industry you’re in, having industry-specific shipping solutions ready makes a difference when capacity gets tight.
Why Fast Access to Options Matters
The difference between companies that handle peak season well and those that don’t often comes down to visibility.
When your primary carrier hits capacity, can you see your alternatives immediately? Or are you spending hours calling around, leaving messages, and building comparison spreadsheets?
GoShip gives you instant quotes from 100+ vetted carriers, real-time capacity visibility, online booking without phone tag, and centralized tracking so you’re not chasing updates.
When Black Friday hits and you need to move fast, having this visibility means staying in control while competitors scramble.
Your Holiday Freight Checklist
Before the surge hits, make sure you’ve handled these essentials:
- Forecast your shipping volume realistically
- Compare rates across multiple carriers
- Secure primary and backup capacity
- Choose the right mix of LTL and FTL
- Align your team on the plan and protocols
- Set accurate customer delivery expectations
The companies that execute smoothly during the holidays didn’t wing it. They worked through this list weeks ago.
What This Actually Comes Down To
Holiday freight logistics isn’t complicated or unpredictable. Demand spikes every year. Capacity tightens every year. Rates climb every year. The companies that win aren’t the ones with special tricks. They’re the ones who planned before everyone else panicked.
If you haven’t secured your capacity yet, this is your window. It’s closing fast.
Ready to lock in your holiday shipping capacity?
Compare rates from 100+ carriers and book in minutes: Get your quote now
Don’t let freight capacity issues ruin your best sales quarter.