January is a month of new beginnings. As we flip open our shiny new 2025 calendars, it’s time to think about how this first month of the year will shape up for you and your business.
After the festive holiday season, your instinct may be to hunker down for a long winter’s nap. (And honestly, we don’t blame you!) But this is no time for snoozing: January presents a great opportunity to hit the ground running and position yourself for success all year long.
It just so happens that January 2025 marks Anderson Trucking Service’s (ATS) 70th year in business — so suffice it to say we’re quite well-versed in the annual fluctuations of the freight market!
Our long tenure in the industry has taught us that although each year is uniquely impacted by the ones that came before, there are some predictable patterns that emerge seasonally.
In this article, we’ll tell you what to expect from the trucking industry this January, including:
- Dry van capacity
- Reefer capacity
- Open-deck capacity
- Over-dimensional (OD) freight
- How to get the most from your supply chain this month
You’ll walk away with all the information you need to have a successful January and a strong start to the year.
How Will Dry Van Trailer Capacity Change in January?
January is historically a slow month in trucking, particularly for the dry van market.
As a new year begins, consumers are recovering from the busy holiday shopping season, and construction and harvest are drastically slowed, especially in the northern U.S.
That means that dry vans, which are usually kept busy by all the retail freight, construction equipment, produce, and agricultural goods moving during the rest of the year, experience a dip in demand in January.
This seasonal slow-down typically lasts until March, give or take a few weeks to account for the variable timing of the spring thaw in the north.
Meanwhile, dry van drivers are back on the road after taking extended home time over the holidays, looking for their next load and ready for full-time work.
All this means that dry van capacity tends to open up early in the year. If you’ve been struggling to find dry vans within your budget over the past few months, you might have better luck in January.
How Will Reefer Trailer Capacity Change in January?
After the bustling holiday season, during which refrigerated trailers (reefers) are tied up with plenty of temperature-controlled freight like plump turkeys and fresh Christmas trees, reefer demand tends to slow somewhat in January.
With that said, many reefers in colder regions will stay busy covering shippers’ freeze protection needs.
From November through March, the industry enters “freeze protection season,” also called “protect-from-freeze season.” This is the time of year in which many of the northern states experience below-freezing temperatures.
Certain goods (like paint, batteries, beverages, and even dry goods like coffee or oatmeal) are adversely affected by freezing and require additional protection from the elements during this period. Reefer trailers are therefore used to maintain a consistent, above-freezing temperature during transit.
In addition to reefers being allocated to freeze-protected freight right now, experts anticipate an even tighter reefer market this month than in previous years.
A Dec. 7, 2024 report by FreightWaves showed a significant jump in reefer tender rejection rates, a trend that has been ongoing since early Oct. 2024.
Industry experts believe the rising tender rejections indicate the reefer truckload market “is entering a more challenging transportation procurement environment” as we enter the height of protect-from-freeze season.
In general, a higher tender rejection rate reflects a favorable market for truckload carriers, as it suggests that demand exceeds available supply, which increases the value of their services.
The bottom line? Expect it to be harder (and possibly more expensive) to secure reefer capacity this month.
If you’re a shipper with refrigerated freight to move, prioritize giving your carrier ample lead time, and pre-cool your goods.
These proactive steps will help you to secure capacity and cut down on the costs associated with running the trailer’s cooling unit.
How Will Open-Deck Capacity Change in January?
Nothing major changes in the open-deck transportation market from December to January. If anything, January tends to bring stabilization to the open-deck landscape, particularly later in the month.
Many of the large construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing jobs that kept flatbeds, step-decks, and lowboy trailers moving throughout the year are all wrapped up by the end of November.
As a result, open-deck truckers either swap their equipment for a dry van in December or use the natural waning of open-deck freight as an excellent excuse to take a well-deserved break for the holidays.
In January, open-deck freight starts to pick back up. But open-deck transportation comes with some additional intricacies this month.
In northern states, winter weather makes moving flatbed freight more challenging, so it’s not uncommon for these shipments to face delays.
If your timelines are set in stone, expediting these loads can cost a pretty penny, particularly in mountainous regions — so plan your shipments accordingly to avoid unnecessary costs.
Tarping charges for open-deck freight may also see a bump in January. Throwing and securing heavy tarps is challenging for drivers even in the best conditions, to say nothing of the freezing temperatures, high winds, snow, and ice they can encounter in northern states during this time.
To avoid unnecessary price hikes, consider designating a sheltered area for truck drivers to use during tarping, or better yet, help them do so. In colder climates, the easier you can make it for drivers to service your freight, the better off you’ll be in January.
Related: 5 Tactics For Avoiding Transportation Delays This Winter
How Does Over-Dimensional Shipping Change in January?
Moving heavy haul and oversized goods is a complex process all year round. Over-dimensional (OD) freight already requires permits to move safely, as the transportation of oversize goods carries an inherent safety risk to the motoring public and to the infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, and tunnels) it travels on. Winter weather can make these movements even more dangerous.
So, when ice, snow, or wind makes navigation difficult and roads hard to visualize, OD freight (also referred to as “permitted freight”) is understandably the first to be restricted.
For this reason (and because many construction projects stall during winter), the transportation of oversize freight is slower in January.
If you’re a shipper of oversized goods, this may mean your supply chain will slow down in kind.
How to avoid this seasonal sluggishness? Plan ahead. Communicate with consignees and providers to match your timelines with their needs and capabilities.
By setting realistic expectations for your January freight movement in collaboration with all stakeholders, you’ll set yourself up for greater success in the weeks to come.
Get the Most From Your Supply Chain This January
As the weather changes and the days begin to lengthen again (finally!), you’ll want to be prepared for everything January may throw at you.
To the best of your ability, try to plan around New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20).
Both of these national holidays slow (or outright halt) the movement of trucks, and many businesses will be closed. (And yes, that means their receiving operations won’t be staffed, so don’t schedule pick-ups or deliveries on those days!)
By scheduling strategically around these holidays, you’ll avoid paying the price-hikes associated with asking a driver to sit on your load for longer than necessary.
Ultimately, a successful January requires flexible appointment scheduling and clear, consistent communication.
So, as the coming year kicks off with a bang, make sure to:
1. Be Less Picky About Pick-Up Times
As trucking companies get back into the swing of things after the December holidays, the ever-increasing pace of business can make it a bit more difficult for carriers to meet rigid pick-up and delivery time requirements.
During this period, allowing your providers some flexibility in their appointment times will help you secure truck capacity more reliably. This is particularly helpful on the pick-up side of your transportation supply chain.
More specifically, providing a two-day window for pick-up will let your provider look beyond trucks in the immediate vicinity.
Their pool of options expands, thereby making capacity easier to secure — and often lowering your costs in the process.
If the recommended two-day window is too broad for your supply chain to support, offering as much flexibility as you can will still go a long way with your carriers.
Even a simple shift from, say, a strict 8 a.m. appointment time to an appointment window of 7-11 a.m. can make it easier for your provider to find the best-fit driver for the job.
In the end, supply and demand are prime price-driving factors. If you can give your freight carriers the time to ensure their supply can meet your demand most efficiently and effectively, you’ll save money and enjoy better service, too.
2. Be Specific
Many people set New Year’s resolutions to learn new skills, practice old hobbies, or change their lifestyle — so January is a fitting time for shippers to commit to clear, detailed communication with their carriers.
Specifics are everything in the transportation industry. Communication is a powerful tool in any shipper’s tool belt, especially where your transportation supply chain is concerned.
Even seemingly small differences between the specs provided to the carrier and the product the driver actually loads onto their truck can cause major delays, an increased risk of damage, and additional costs.
Miscommunications and mistakes happen, but they don’t have to. By giving your carrier a comprehensive breakdown of load details for your shipment, you’ll safeguard your company against losses and delays.
When sourcing for transportation capacity, clearly state load specifics like:
- Weight (In pounds or tons)
- Dimensions (Length x width x height)
- Commodity specifics
- Pick up location, date, and time
- Names and information of all shipper and consignee contacts
- Drop-off location, date, and time
- Required equipment type
- Any special instructions for your driver, such as:
- Parking instructions
- Tarping requirements, if any
- Which side of the building to enter on
- Information on multiple stops
This information helps the companies vying for your freight gauge their ability to do so effectively — and disqualify themselves if they can’t.
In turn, you’ll save time vetting carriers for your freight and see fewer delays due to lack of specifics.
Related: Moving Freight Around a Holiday: 3 Critical Planning Tips
Stay Productive and Profitable in 2025
January may bring unique challenges, but it also offers opportunities for freight shippers who plan strategically and communicate effectively.
Whether you're navigating seasonal capacity fluctuations in the dry van or reefer markets, preparing for open-deck or over-dimensional shipments, or optimizing your operations around holiday schedules, a proactive approach can make all the difference.
By staying informed, offering flexibility, and prioritizing clear communication, you’ll set your business up to be productive and profitable in Q1 2025 and beyond.
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