Even in the heat of summer, smart logistics operators know that fall is coming fast—and with it, the freight surge that defines the fourth quarter. Whether you’re handling retail imports, manufacturing materials, or consumer electronics, the 2025 Peak Season will bring a familiar tidal wave of containers and a familiar set of challenges. If your transloading operation isn’t preparing right now, you’re already falling behind.

Why Start Planning Now?

Peak Season doesn’t sneak up on you—it barrels in. Starting in late Q3, container volumes begin to ramp up sharply as importers position inventory ahead of back-to-school, Black Friday, and holiday demand. By October, many port-adjacent warehouses and transloading facilities are operating at maximum capacity, with little room for error. Labor becomes scarce, dwell times increase, and costs rise across the board.

That’s why operations managers should treat mid-to-late summer as a critical planning window. By putting the right workforce strategy in place today, you can handle Peak Season volumes smoothly, keep costs under control, and avoid the firefighting that comes when you’re forced to react on the fly.

Step 1: Forecast Labor Needs Early—and Realistically

Use last year’s volume data as a baseline, then adjust for known changes—new SKUs, new customers, earlier ship dates, or changes in carrier routing. Don’t just rely on what your sales team thinks will happen. Get your planning team involved to model multiple volume scenarios and understand your labor demand curves.

Factor in both headcount and skill sets. Transloading isn’t just about unloading containers—it’s about moving freight quickly, safely, and often under tight turnarounds. Make sure you have the right mix of forklift drivers, material handlers, clerks, and supervisors.

Step 2: Build a Flexible Labor Model

A rigid, full-time headcount won’t cut it during Peak. But relying entirely on temp labor can be a gamble—especially if you’ve been burned before by unreliable staffing or inconsistent productivity. The answer is flexibility with control.

Explore workforce partnerships that allow for scaling up labor without sacrificing quality. Look for providers who can tailor a labor solution to your specific volume spikes, standard operating procedures, and output goals—not just send you warm bodies. Ideally, this partnership includes trained workers, performance monitoring, and onsite leadership support.

Step 3: Cross-Train Your Core Team

Even the best labor plan hits bumps during Peak. Cross-training your core team now helps you stay agile when the inevitable happens—whether it’s absenteeism, unplanned surges, or unexpected slowdowns. Employees who can flex between unloading, inventory scanning, and staging roles will keep operations moving without constant micromanagement.

Start running cross-training modules now, when there’s breathing room in the schedule. Don’t wait until September when the pace picks up and training becomes an afterthought.

Step 4: Streamline Your Layout and Flow

Efficiency on the floor becomes non-negotiable during Peak Season. Now is the time to optimize warehouse layouts, dock schedules, staging zones, and freight flow. Even small layout changes—like repositioning dunnage disposal or adjusting signage—can shave minutes off cycle times and reduce bottlenecks.

Make time for a walk-through with your floor leaders and ask them directly: “What’s going to break first when volume doubles?” Use those insights to build better processes today.

Step 5: Communicate Expectations Clearly

Peak Season chaos can often be traced to unclear roles, inconsistent standards, and overwhelmed supervisors. That’s why setting expectations upfront—before the storm hits—is critical.

Communicate performance targets, safety expectations, and escalation protocols early. Reinforce them regularly. If you’re using outside labor or scaling up new crews, make sure orientation and onboarding aren’t rushed or skipped entirely. The quality of the first day sets the tone for the rest of Peak.

Other Considerations Before the Surge

• Carrier Coordination: Confirm container appointments and yard schedules with trucking partners early to avoid bottlenecks.
• Technology Readiness: Test any handheld scanners, WMS updates, or load planning software to ensure nothing crashes under pressure.
• Safety Checks: More freight means more forklifts, more foot traffic, and more risk. Revisit safety procedures now to avoid injuries that can stall productivity.
• Contingency Planning: Have backup plans for labor shortages, weather delays, and port disruptions. Hope is not a strategy.

About iJility

At iJility, we understand the demands of transloading and port operations—especially when Peak Season hits. Our flexible workforce solutions are built around your operation. Whether you need to scale labor fast, improve productivity, or cross-train for agility, we deliver custom strategies that balance efficiency and cost control. We work alongside your team, not over them—bringing the people, processes, and insights that keep your operation moving at full speed.

Don’t wait until containers start stacking up. Schedule a discovery call with iJility today and get ahead of Peak Season 2025.