Top Peak Season Freight Shipping Challenges for Businesses in 2025

As the holiday shipping season ramps up, shippers like you face one of the most unpredictable peak season environments in years. Shifting tariffs, higher operating expenses, and ongoing labor pressures have created a fragile landscape where even minor supply chain disruptions can snowball into costly delays and added stress for businesses.

In the freight industry, this time of year is already challenging. Demand spikes and tighter delivery windows don't just slow operations — they can eat into profits and strain customer relationships.

Below, we explore four of the biggest challenges threatening this year's holiday shipping cycle. You'll also see how working with a third-party logistics (3PL) partner can help shippers reduce risk, maintain efficiency and keep customers satisfied during the busiest time of year.

1. Why the Freight Recession Will Again Impact Peak Season Shipping

The freight recession that began in 2022 continues to cast a shadow over the trucking industry — and it's not going away in time for the 2025 holidays. Demand has softened, leaving too many trucks chasing too few loads. While this overcapacity keeps spot rates subdued (around $1.95–$2.05 per mile in early 2025 on average), carriers have struggled recently with average operating costs of $2.26 per mile.

For shippers, this dynamic cuts both ways. Lower rates offer short-term savings, but bankruptcies and consolidations among smaller carriers reduce options and flexibility this holiday season. However, during peak season shipping, capacity could tighten suddenly, driving up rates and limiting availability.

Why this hits shippers hard in peak season

• Fewer carrier options. Bankruptcies and mergers shrink the pool of reliable carriers, leaving businesses with less flexibility.
• Volatile rates. Spot rates look low now, but sudden spikes can catch shippers off guard during holiday surges.
• Capacity crunch risk. When demand rebounds, shippers may struggle to secure space against other businesses.

What shippers can do

• Lock in contracts. Work with a 3PL to secure stable rates before volatility returns.
• Diversify carriers. Don't rely on one or two carriers — spread your shipments across a network.
• Plan ahead. Build lead time into shipping schedules to absorb disruptions.
• Watch the market. Monitor rate trends and tender rejections as early warning signs.

In short, the trucking recession may feel like a temporary benefit on the rate sheet, but it carries long-term risks. Shippers who plan ahead now are less likely to face capacity crunches or sticker shock when the market shifts or when peak season arrives for real.

2. How Shipping Tariffs Will Threaten Shippers This Peak Season

Tariffs don't just affect big importers. In fact, they act like a hidden tax on every U.S. business that relies on global suppliers. For shippers, that means margins are thinner, flexibility is limited, and every unexpected cost can erode holiday shipping season profits.

A recent survey found that 62% of shippers have been impacted by shipping tariffs in the past year, from higher material costs to delayed inventory. And with U.S. imports from China dropping 28% from June 2024 to June 2025 due to tariff hikes, many shippers are scrambling to rework sourcing strategies at the worst possible time — right before peak season.

How shippers are feeling the pinch

• Margins under pressure. Some shippers can offset tariff impacts through volume leverage or contract negotiations, but many are absorbing higher costs head-on.
• Inventory risks. To prevent stockouts, businesses may need to order earlier or increase purchase volumes, straining cash flow and warehouse space.
• Lead time uncertainty. Tariff-driven supplier renegotiations and re-routing can slow down the supply chain — right when speed and reliability matter most.

How shippers can stay ahead

• Audit your imports. Identify tariff-sensitive products and explore alternate sourcing where possible.
• Plan ahead. Strategically secure appropriate buffer stock before the holiday rush to protect against sudden cost hikes or delays.
• Leverage 3PL insights. Logistics partners often have updates on shipping tariffs and routing strategies that individual shippers can't easily access.

For shippers heading into the holidays, tariffs aren't just a policy debate in Washington. They're a real-world cost driver that can upend shipping budgets and delivery schedules if not managed proactively.

3. How Logistics Labor Shortages Are Tying Up Your Peak Season Shipping

Even if demand is picking up this time of year, many shippers are discovering that having freight ready isn't enough — you also need drivers and labor to move it. In 2025, the U.S. trucking industry faces a shortfall of 80,000+ drivers, a gap driven by retirements and a lack of new workers joining the field, among other factors. So, while capacity may be available now, once peak season hits, driver shortages may exacerbate the capacity crunch.

Why this hits shippers hard in peak season

• Capacity shrinks. With fewer drivers, carriers take the best paying or easiest loads first, leaving some shippers with tough competition.
• Labor costs rise. Carriers boost wages and bonuses, pushing up cost per mile and passing the expense to shippers.
• Schedules slip. Shortages cause pickup delays, inconsistent deliveries and missed customer commitments.

What shippers can do

• Book early. Lock in carriers now to secure key lanes before demand spikes.
• Budget smart. Factor in higher labor costs and build extra time into schedules.
• Stay flexible. Work with multiple carriers so you're not left stranded.
• Leverage a 3PL. These providers often have a larger carrier network and strategies that improve reliability.

Labor shortages may not grab headlines like tariffs or freight theft, but for freight shippers they create costly ripple effects. A top-notch 3PL can secure reliable carriers, build flexibility into your strategy and keep peak season freight moving on schedule.

4. How Smarter Cargo Thieves Raise the Stakes This Peak Season

Cargo theft isn't just rising — it's evolving. Criminals now use fake documents, stolen identities and even AI-driven scams to hijack freight before it hits the road. For shippers heading into the holidays, this is one of the most disruptive risks.

According to one report, cargo theft was up 27% in 2024 and is predicted to rise another 22% by the end of 2025. Electronics, food and beverage shipments are often the products that top the freight industry list of most stolen goods. The problem is especially severe in freight-dense states like California, Texas and other major hubs.

Why this hits shippers hard in peak season

• Holiday inventory draws thieves. High-value goods like consumer electronics are prime targets.
• Limited safeguards. Some shippers may lack the layered security needed to combat theft.
• Tight timelines. Rushed schedules make it harder to vet carriers and protect freight.

How shippers can reduce exposure

• Rely on vetted carriers. Avoid unknown or lowest-bid options.
• Tighten protocols. Enforce ID checks and secure pickup procedures.
• Use tracking tools. GPS alerts and 3PL visibility platforms flag unusual activity.
• Carry insurance. Even with safeguards, coverage can protect against loss.

For shippers, cargo theft isn't just a crime problem. It's a peak season survival issue. Planning ahead and tightening controls now can keep shipments safe when it matters most.

How can shippers manage freight industry volatility?

So, what can shippers do with all these disruptions in the supply chain — from the lingering freight recession to tariffs, labor shortages and cargo theft? The most effective strategies, aside from what we have already mentioned, come down to three points:

• Stay informed. Track policy updates, economic shifts and shipping trends that affect the freight industry. This helps you anticipate rate swings, plan inventory purchases and take steps to protect high-value loads.
• Stay flexible. Don't depend on just one or two carriers. As carriers exit the market and demand spikes strain capacity, shippers need a broad, reliable carrier network to protect shipping options.
• Don't go it alone. Partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL)
  provider gives shippers broader capacity, smarter routing and stronger safeguards. A 3PL can audit your operations for vulnerabilities, provide cargo theft prevention tips and offset tariffs by negotiating better rates or identifying more efficient shipping routes.

Your Peak Season Partner: Learn How Worldwide Express Supports Shipper Just Like You

Getting ready for the holiday shipping season requires careful planning and smart execution. From anticipating demand to selecting the right freight shipping options, managing inventory, and staying proactive against potential delays, shippers can stay ahead during the busiest time of year. That's where Worldwide Express, a trusted third-party logistics (3PL) provider, comes in.

For more strategies and insights, explore our Holiday Shipping Hub — your go-to source for peak season tips, tools and resources.

Ready for personalized support? Connect with a Worldwide Express expert today and discover how we can help simplify your peak season shipping!