When fall arrives, it’s not long until you’ll have some great chances to make more money. This includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Many businesses have their biggest sales seasons during this time of year, and it’s important to make allowances for the added demand placed on truckload shipping. Here are some helpful tips for getting the most from the holidays without a lot of hassles.
Plan Far in Advance
It might seem crazy to get ready for Christmas in October or September, but it’s never too soon. This is the time to order all your extra supplies for the season. When it gets closer to the holidays, truckload shipping prices often go up and so do prices on holiday-related supplies. You may need to make some extra warehouse space available, but the money you save will make it worthwhile.
Consider Standard Packaging
Do you have many different size cartons or pallets going into your trucks? If so, you may want to consider standardizing your materials. For example, smaller cartons can be placed into unitized bundles that are the same size as large cartons. When you have materials that are all the same size, it’s easier to plan loads, and you’ll have less wasted space inside the truck. This helps you all during the year and not just during the holidays.
Hire Part-Time Help Early
Many warehouse operations need extra help during the holiday season. However, it’s important to start taking applications more than a month in advance. This helps you get a “jump-start” on the competition. This is important if you hire students because they make work plans far in advance.
Consider Professional Help
When you need truckload shipping services, talk to a trusted 3PL provider. They’ll help you find the best rates and best carriers for the job, and it will lighten your holiday workload.
