Peak-Season Shipping: How to Avoid a November Disaster

September 14, 2025 · 6 min read · by the Klein dispatch team

Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, two things happen: shippers panic, and rates double. Both are avoidable if you start the conversation in October. Six things we tell every new customer:

1. Book your November loads in early October. Wait until November 1 and you are negotiating against everyone else in your industry.
2. Don't assume same-day pickup. 2–3 day pickup windows give your carrier room to optimize routing and save you money.
3. Palletize properly. Stretch-wrap, corner boards, labeled top and side. Bad palletization is the #1 cause of damage claims in peak.
4. Don't ship on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Find a way to ship Monday or wait until the following Monday.
5. Communicate receiver hours clearly. A receiver closing at noon on Christmas Eve is a different load than one open until 5.
6. Have a backup carrier. Even good carriers run out of trucks in December. Two relationships is one of the cheapest forms of insurance there is.

Need help with a load? Call dispatch at +1 (678) 756-1908 or request a quote.