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Your 2023 Holiday Freight Shipping Hub

Stay up to date with all-things-holiday-shipping this peak season, like key deadlines, service alerts, peak season best practices and more!

‘Twas the night before peak season and all through the house... all the shippers were stirring because they needed hot holiday tips! To streamline your busy season ahead, we’ve compiled all-things-holiday-shipping here in one convenient location. Make sure to check back in as the season progresses and use these holiday shipping tips to grow customer loyalty and retention, all while making the season merry and bright!

Holiday Service Alerts

Some may say, “let it snow!” But we know that surprise weather delays, natural disasters and other holiday-related service issues can have a big impact on your peak season shipping. Check out our Service Alerts page before booking shipments to make sure that your orders stay on track.

Freight Carrier Holiday Schedules

Managing a holiday calendar and factoring in pickup windows or limited operating hours are key to a successful holiday shipping season. Make sure to keep carriers' end-of-year schedules in mind to avoid just-in-time or stuck shipments!

  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on Sunday and Monday in 2023. Many companies will extend closures to include Friday, Dec. 22, resulting in a 4-day closure, so plan your shipping cutoff times accordingly.
  • Work ahead of your typical fulfillment timelines to ensure that you're on schedule for pickups. Always list your true opening and closing times to provide carriers with the widest available pickup window.
  • Set realistic expectations regarding cutoff times, transit times and delays. Communicate these expected timelines with your customers to avoid complications, build rapport and encourage repeat business in the new year.

Holiday Rates and Surcharges

It’s no secret that the holiday season brings the heat in terms of shipping demand. Fuller trucks and more shipments lead to higher costs — an effect you’ve likely experienced throughout the past few years.

While you can’t control the premium on capacity, you can avoid unnecessary fees and know which ones might affect you. Get useful tips and tricks in our recent blog, How to navigate peak season shipping (and the freight recession).

Expedited Service

Being short on time doesn’t necessarily mean you’re short on options. In fact, many of our less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier partners offer shortened transit times, and some guaranteed services may still be available.

Need to rush a holiday shipment? Learn how overnight services for freight offer a quick solution for your even-quicker shipping needs by reaching out to a GlobalTranz representative.

Protection for Your Holiday Investments

While it’s a good idea to safeguard your investments at any time of year, the holiday season isn’t the time to skimp on protecting your shipments. We know you pack your holiday shipments with care but make sure to check out our blog post on shipper interest insurance to gain some extra peace of mind this holiday season.

Helpful Resources for Year-End Freight Shipping

Even though we’re officially wrapping up this year, the 2023 holiday freight shipping season is just beginning! We know it’s been a challenging few years for freight shipping. Visit the resource hub for a peak season checklist and more relevant tips and content to help you this holiday season.