Summer Shipping Surges: How to Beat the Heat and the Rush
During the summer season, the weather heats up, and so does demand in shipping. While the freight industry is busy year-round, there are certain times throughout the year when shipping volumes surge due to a variety of factors, causing tighter capacity and increased costs.
In the summertime, keeping your freight cool and beating the heat isn’t the only concern of logistics experts, but beating the rush as well.
How Does Summer Affect Shipping?
Summer is known for hot weather, vacations, an increase in tourism, celebrating holidays like the Fourth of July, and also preparing for the back-to-school season. All of these factors play a critical role in the surge in demand.
To prepare for all the summer festivities, retail experiences a boom in demand – from the need for grills and beach equipment to school supplies, there’s always a product that needs to be delivered to customers successfully.
Additionally, many e-commerce platforms run promotions for the summer, like Amazon, which typically has its anticipated Prime Day sales in July, further increasing shipping demand.
This surge in demand for all these products causes last-mile delivery delays, longer lead times from warehouses to retailers, and congested freight lanes and ports for international shipments.
Summer isn’t just a hotspot for retail, but for produce as well. From late spring to summer, produce season kicks into high gear. And while each region in the U.S. experiences a surge in demand, states like California, Florida, and Texas experience a particularly heavy outbound of freight due to fruits and vegetables hitting the market.
The need to ship produce across the country drives up the demand for reefer trucks, which can not only limit truck availability but also inflate shipping rates in those produce-heavy regions.
While the summer months bring the warmest weather, high heat can make certain goods like produce, pharmaceuticals, or other perishable goods more vulnerable to spoilage or damage than in the colder months.
Not only can the summer heat affect shipping, but severe storms like flooding or hurricanes can lead to route disruptions and delays. And not just the weather can lead to route disruptions, but construction! Yes, construction. Due to the favorable weather through June, July, and August, construction ramps up on highways, leading to increased traffic and delays.
All these factors are what create summer shipping surges and the challenges logistics experts face when transporting freight during this time.
How You Can Beat the Summer Rush
While summer can be a relaxing time for many, for individuals in logistics, it can be a stressful time due to rising rates, tight capacity, and an increase in demand and traffic. However, there are ways in which shippers can not only beat the summer heat, but the shipping rush too.
First and foremost, booking early can help you lock in capacity and rates while avoiding premium charges. Doing so 1-2 weeks ahead of your usual schedule is an optimal choice.
Booking early is especially important if your shipments require a reefer van. Reefer capacity gets tight quickly during peak produce weeks, so reserving one well in advance will ensure you get your temperature-sensitive freight to its destination in optimal condition.
Booking your freight early can help secure transportation, but unpredictable factors like weather and delays can still cause disruptions and added stress.
While you can track the weather forecast for when you plan to ship your freight, you can also leverage logistics platforms to stay ahead of delays and prepare backup plans for high-risk zones like wildfire-prone or hurricane-prone areas. This is why diversifying your carriers and routes can give you alternative options for when weather or highway conditions are not suitable for a timely delivery.
Above all else, communication among supply chain partners – vendors, carriers, customers – is key to successful shipment. By setting clear expectations, backup plans, and keeping each party informed, you can help to alleviate some of the stress of shipping during the summer months.
By planning, staying flexible, and implementing innovative freight strategies, you can successfully handle the challenges that the summer season brings. Taking proactive steps not only can help avoid costly disruptions during peak shipping times but also allow for an efficient, smoother operation – leaving you more time to enjoy the summer season.
