September is a transitional time: School starts, regular season baseball ends, iced coffees give way to pumpkin spice lattes, and Labor Day marks the unofficial beginning of fall.
While the trucking industry hustles year-round, some aspects of this business do start to shift with the falling of the leaves. New fruits and vegetables crop up, construction kicks into a final frenzy before the snow arrives, and retail merchandisers transition from back-to-school items to holiday stock.
So, what should shippers expect in September? A capacity crunch to rival all those autumn leaves underfoot (especially where dry vans and reefer trailers are concerned) and a renewed emphasis on the importance of flexibility.
But worry not: Throughout the 69-year history of Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we’ve observed the patterns that emerge in the transportation industry during September. In this article, we’ll outline those patterns, the effect they’ll have on your supply chain, and what you can do to plan ahead this year.
We'll outline:
- How Labor Day 2024 will impact shipping
- What freight types move in September?
- Dry van and reefer truck capacity in September
- Flatbed/open deck truck capacity in September
How Labor Day 2024 Impacts Shipping
This year, Labor Day is Monday, September 2. Like most of us, drivers prefer to spend the long weekend with their families. This means there are fewer trucks on the road, leading to a spike in shipping rates.
Drivers who are working the long weekend will understandably expect to get paid more, so freight movement during this time will be a bit more expensive than normal.
The impact of Labor Day on the national supply chain will linger for a few days after the holiday as shippers catch up on loads delayed by the long weekend. By planning your freight needs before or after the holiday, you can lessen the impact on your budget and your supply chain.
What Van Freight Moves in September?
Now that the shelves are emptied of backpacks, notebooks, and dorm furniture, retailers are putting out costumes and candy — and then quickly transitioning to twinkly lights, wrapping paper, and literally anything that can be wrapped and opened in December.
But holiday-related items aren’t the only things moving around the country in September. The end of the growing season in the Midwest means apples, pumpkins, cabbages, tomatoes, squash, and green beans need to make it to warehouses, grocers, and canners across the country. Refrigerated and dry van trailers will have plenty of work to do in these areas of our country.
Since truck drivers are in high demand in harvesting regions, the price of their trailer space will rise accordingly. Truck drivers will have plenty of freight to pick from in these areas, and the power of choice means you’ll likely pay more if you’re moving reefer or dry van commodities out of the Midwest or Northwest this month.
Dry Van Capacity in September
Dry vans are used to transport nearly all retail goods and non-perishable food items. Dry van space will be at a premium as consumers start looking for items that will round out their holiday season — that means Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the multiple winter-month holidays, too.
Costumes, faux spider webbing, and pounds upon pounds of candy? Hauled in a dry van. Canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, stuffing mix, canned pumpkin, and that ever-divisive jellied cranberry sauce? All hauled in a dry van. Artificial Christmas trees, Hanukkah gelt, wrapping paper? Well, you get the picture.
In short, this is not the time to expect quick, cheap dry van deliveries. Planning ahead and being flexible with your delivery dates will go a long way toward getting your commodities moved to their destination without breaking the bank.
If you’re open to paying more if it means a faster delivery, well, your transportation provider will likely be relieved to hear it. The more funds they have to play with, the more likely they will be to quickly find the right driver with the right truck to move your freight in a timely fashion.
Reefer Capacity in September
Reefer freight is, naturally, hugely affected by the harvest season’s timing, which can be difficult to plan around. Weather (both this year’s and the previous year’s) has a major impact on when crops are ready and at what volumes.
In September, the busiest region for harvesting is the Midwest, so expect trucks to be heading into that area in droves — and they may not want to head out any time soon. Here are three things to keep in mind this September:
- If you’re located in the Midwest, expect to pay a premium to incentivize drivers to choose your load.
- Loads moving out of the Midwest region may have a harder time finding a driver.
- Moving freight into the Midwest may be less expensive, as drivers are eager to return to this profitable part of the country.
All enclosed trucks will be in high demand in September. If you need to move freight in a reefer or dry van, you will have the best chances of success if you are able to be flexible with your dates and/or pay a premium.
Flatbed/Open Deck Capacity in September
Up in the northern states, construction and infrastructure projects are working at a frenzied pace to finish up before the ground freezes. Lumber, construction materials and heavy equipment will be moving north as quickly as possible this September — and all on open-deck trailers.
Flexibility is a huge advantage when it comes to busy shipping seasons. And one perk of moving flatbed freight is that it can often be moved on other open-deck trailer types. If your freight can be moved on a standard flatbed trailer without exceeding legal load limits, it can probably be hauled on a step-deck trailer if need be.
So, if you can be flexible with your trailer type and dates, you’ll have a better chance of finding a truck and driver.
Not sure what types of trailers your freight can safely travel on? Ask your transportation provider. They’ll be able to tell you which trailer types are commonly used for your freight type and which of those trailers they can easily procure.
Shipping Over-Dimensional Loads in September
September presents several complications to shipping oversized freight. At the beginning of the month, the long Labor Day weekend means more restrictions on the number of hours and days permitted loads can travel.
Each state has its own set of restrictions; if you are moving oversize freight that weekend, be sure to verify the origin and destination states in addition to any other states on its route.
The U.S. also loses nearly two minutes of daylight every day in September. This impacts the number of hours permitted loads can legally travel. Over-dimensional (OD) freight can only move during specific windows of time primarily or exclusively during the day, depending on the state.
And — perhaps most surprisingly — football season means oversize travel restrictions in some major college football towns. If there’s a home game with thousands of people likely to be in attendance, you may have to drive around town to move an OD load.
Permitted load restrictions are regulated by the government, and drivers have no flexibility when it comes to moving these loads. Starting this month, plan for a significant slowdown when it comes to moving OD freight.
Planning for Success in September and Beyond
Planning ahead is the name of the game when it comes to shipping in September, as it often is throughout a shipper’s year.
Anticipate capacity shortages when and where applicable to your locations and freight types, be mindful of holiday movement restrictions, and be flexible whenever possible to ensure you have your most successful September yet.
But September isn’t the only month that ushers in changes to your freight shipping schedule. Working with an experienced carrier will give you an advantage in all seasons; they’ll stay on top of what’s going on in the industry on your behalf, so you can focus on your business.
When in doubt, ask your carrier if there are any restrictions or special considerations when it comes to moving your particular load.
Think your carrier network might be due for a fall refresh? Check out our Transportation Provider Scorecard.
It’s a free downloadable tool that will give you an easy-to-follow rubric for scoring your providers on key performance indicators like tender acceptance rate, timeliness, billing accuracy, responsiveness, and more.
Use it to determine which carriers are shipping superstars — and which you’ll be sending to the compost heap with all those September leaves!
