Adapting to Seasonal Peaks: Drayage Strategies for High-Demand Periods

High-demand periods for drayage services typically coincide with peak seasons in ocean shipping, ebbing and flowing according to import volumes. That’s not to say that drayage demand only rises and falls near the nation’s seaports. It varies inland too, particularly at major intermodal hubs like Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Memphis. 

No matter the season, VCPB Transportation is the industry leader in providing efficient, customer-tailored drayage solutions. 

Understanding Seasonal Peaks and Their Challenges

Drayage plays a critical role in the supply chain, connecting various modes of transportation — i.e., container ship, freight train, or semitruck — via short-distance moves and facilitating the flow of goods across long distances.

As retailers ramp up for seasonal shopping, whether that’s back to school, Halloween, or Christmas, experienced drayage providers know to be prepared for the demand spike. We’ve already seen pushes this year for Valentine’s Day and Easter. Memorial Day and Fourth of July products are soon to come. 

Retailers, of course, aren’t the only ones that depend on efficient drayage services. Automotive parts, for instance, may need to make their way from China to a plant in South Carolina. Produce may need to be transported from the Port of New York and New Jersey to a cold chain facility nearby. Or a container full of tequila may need to be transported from Mexico to everyone who needs a margarita. 

With demand spikes come challenges, including:

• Congestion at ports, intermodal facilities, and container yards.
• Increased pressure on efficiency and quick turn times.
• Disruptions due to any number of events, such as weather or road closures.

Strategies for High-Demand Periods

While it’s probably not possible to get through a peak season without a single headache, the number of bad days can be drastically reduced with:

• Proactive Planning and Forecasting. The most trusted drayage providers use historical data to predict demand surges and plan accordingly to have capacity in place when and where it’s needed.   

• Collaborative Partnerships. Building strong relationships with shippers, carriers, and port authorities ensures you can work effectively together to overcome peak season challenges.
• Real-Time Tracking. Today’s drayage provider must utilize advanced technology to keep shippers informed where their freight is. 

• Streamlined Processes. Advanced technology also is necessary to ensure seamless drayage operations from pickup to drop-off and avoid unnecessary detention and demurrage fees. 

It’s also important to partner with a trusted drayage provider with a solid business. Customers of one California-based drayage company were left high and dry in November 2023 when its operating authority was revoked and it was forced to shut down. In August 2024, an Ohio-headquartered company told independent owner-operators in New Jersey they would no longer be tendered drayage loads unless they secured their own Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration operating authority. 

Drayage drivers must be taken into consideration. “A shipper calling a drayage driver 50 times a day to find where their shipment is simply feeds into the cycle of turnover and detracts from the driver’s actual task of moving freight between the ports and warehouses,” a contributed Trucking Dive article said. A drayage services provider that utilizes advanced technology takes that pressure off the driver.  

“The right approach removes the friction between drayage operators and other stakeholders, and streamlines this vital intersection, the ports, of global freight transportation,” the article said. 

VCPB Efficiently Navigates Seasonal Peaks

VCPB Transportation is committed to providing excellent drayage service — in every season, for every customer, on every load, every time. We provide reliable service and on-time deliveries during high-demand periods, and our customers trust us to develop comprehensive drayage solutions tailored to their specific needs.  

We are the drayage management partner you can trust every time for:

• Expert scheduling to avoid dwell time.
• Reliable equipment when you need it thanks to our extensive network. 
• Keeping you informed about what’s going on with your freight.
• Win-win relationships so no one suffers from a supply chain headache. 
• 24/7/365 service so we are always there when you need us.
• Real-time tracking with our state-of-the-art tech stack. 

In addition to drayage, we’re experts at transloading, expedited shipping, produce transportation, intermodal services, temperature-controlled trucking, and overweight and oversized freight. 

Whatever it takes, we’ve got you covered. Start shipping with VCPB Transportation today.