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Businesses need to prepare for increased strains on their supply chain during the peak season. Read our expert tips to help you prepare for peak shipping season to keep your customer happy with on-time deliveries.
Dominate Peak Shipping Season: Your Ultimate Guide (2025)
Are you ready to thrive during the peak shipping season of 2025? As the holiday retail season approaches, ensuring the smooth operation of your delivery services is paramount. The period from September to the end of December presents a remarkable opportunity for businesses, but it also brings increased challenges. To help you maximize your success, we’ve gathered expert insights and strategies to help you excel during the peak shipping season.
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What is Peak Shipping Season?
Peak shipping season is the period when couriers experience their highest shipping volumes of the year usually from late October through December. In 2025, this includes Canadian Thanksgiving, Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and Boxing Week.
For small businesses, this period brings opportunity with higher order volumes and revenue potential, but also challenges such as increased shipping costs and surcharges, tightened courier capacity, and the risk of delivery delays.
Key Aspects of Peak Shipping Season
To better prepare, here are the main challenges businesses should expect during peak season:
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Increased shipping costs and surcharges – couriers add peak season surcharges that raise shipping expenses.
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Higher freight volumes – more orders mean couriers handle more shipments than usual, creating bottlenecks.
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Tightened carrier capacity – limited truck and plane space makes it harder to secure timely deliveries.
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Potential delays – weather, infrastructure overload, and network strain increase the risk of late arrivals.
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Customer expectations – buyers still expect fast, reliable shipping despite courier constraints.
By understanding these realities, businesses can prepare strategies that minimize risks and keep customers satisfied.
Peak shipping season doesn’t have to be stressful.
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Key Strategies to Thrive During Peak Shipping Season
Facing higher costs, courier surcharges, and the risk of delays can feel overwhelming but with the right plan, your business can turn peak shipping season into a time of growth. Below are practical, proven strategies to help businesses stay ahead, control shipping expenses, and keep customers happy during the busiest months of the year.
1. Plan Ahead for Success
The key to navigating the peak shipping season is meticulous planning. Don’t wait until the last minute, especially around major shopping events like Canadian Thanksgiving, Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and Boxing Week. These periods are marked by high shipping volumes, and couriers are often stretched to their limits. To avoid delays and disappointments, ship early and offer various shipping options to your customers.
2. Offer Expedited Shipping Options
To cater to last-minute shoppers, offer expedited shipping services, such as Express and Next-Day delivery. Utilizing the FlagShip shipping system, you can easily access a variety of services with real-time pricing, tracking updates, and more. Consider offering free expedited shipping for orders exceeding a certain amount to encourage customer purchases.
Not sure which shipping option is best? Let us help you understand the differences between ground delivery and express delivery, helping you pick the perfect shipping method that fits your business like a glove.
3. Familiarize Yourself with Courier Holidays
Be aware of courier holidays to prevent shipping disruptions. Different couriers have different operating schedules, with some offering limited or no service on statutory holidays. For instance, many couriers do not operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Use FlagShip’s courier holiday schedule to stay informed and adjust your shipping plans accordingly.
Courier Holiday Schedules: A Quick Overview
| Courier | Holidays Observed | Service Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, GLS | Family Day (Feb 17), Good Friday (April 18), Victoria Day (May 19), Canada Day (Jul 1), Thanksgiving (Oct 13), Christmas Day (Dec 25), New Year’s Day (Jan 1) | Closed on major holidays; limited service on other statutory holidays depending on region |
| U.S. Couriers | Memorial Day (May 26), Independence Day (Jul 4), Thanksgiving (Nov 27), Christmas Day (Dec 25), New Year’s Day (Jan 1) | No service on major U.S. holidays |
4. Optimize Pickup Scheduling
Couriers may experience overload or delays due to weather conditions during peak season. To avoid last-minute issues, schedule your pickups earlier in the day and provide a flexible pickup window. Keep in mind that pickups are generally conducted in the afternoon, so avoid scheduling morning-only windows.
Read more tips on how to schedule and plan a shipment pick up successfully!
5. Prepare All Necessary Documentation
Ensure a smooth shipping process by preparing all documentation beforehand. This includes invoices, customs forms, packing slips, and shipping labels. The FlagShip platform allows you to generate and print all necessary documents in just a few clicks. For international shipments, it’s crucial to have accurate documentation, including commercial invoices and CUSMA Certification, to avoid unnecessary duties and streamline customs procedures.
6. Comply with Courier Regulations
Make sure you comply with courier rules and regulations when shipping domestically or internationally. Couriers like Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, and GLS maintain lists of prohibited items, and failure to adhere to their guidelines could result in shipment delays or returns. Unsure whether your package meets the requirements? FlagShip’s dedicated customer service team is available to assist you.
It is important to know how to avoid undue charges for for your shipments:
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How Modern Shipping Solutions Like FlagShip Can Help
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to tackle the peak shipping season with confidence. FlagShip’s platform simplifies the process by allowing you to compare rates, book, track, and manage all your shipments in one place. By signing up for a FREE FlagShip account, you can enjoy up to 70% off regular shipping costs while accessing expert customer support throughout the shipping process.
Upcoming Retailer Shopping Events for Peak Season 2025
Here are key shopping events to be aware of as you prepare for peak shipping season:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Canadian Thanksgiving | October 13 |
| Halloween | October 31 |
| U.S. Thanksgiving | November 27 |
| Black Friday/Cyber Monday | November 28 to December 1 |
| Super Saturday | December 20 |
| Christmas | December 25 |
| Boxing Week | December 26 to December 31 |
Peak Shipping Season FAQs
What is peak shipping season?
Peak shipping season refers to the busiest months of the year for couriers (late October through December) when shipment volumes surge due to holiday rush.
What months are peak shipping season?
In Canada, peak season generally runs from October through December, with the heaviest demand in November and December.
When does peak shipping season begin and end?
For 2025, peak shipping season begins in October and continues until December 31, covering major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas.
Why is peak shipping season a problem for businesses?
During peak season, businesses face higher shipping costs due to surcharges, limited courier capacity, potential delays, and increased customer expectations for fast deliveries.
What are “peak season surcharges”?
Peak season surcharges are extra fees couriers add during high-demand months to cover increased operational costs like fuel, staffing, and extended delivery hours. To avoid surprises, always use FlagShip’s shipping system to get an accurate, up-to-date shipping estimate before booking. Learn how to get the most accurate shipping estimate here.
When is peak shipping season in Canada and when does it start in 2025?
In 2025, Canada’s peak season will start in early October and continue through the end of December.
How long does peak season typically last for UPS, FedEx, Purolator, DHL, Canpar, and GLS?
For most major couriers, peak season lasts from October through December. Some carriers may extend surcharges into early January.
What peak season surcharges should Canadian SMBs expect in 2025?
Expect additional fees on large packages, residential deliveries, and high-volume shipments. The exact rates vary by courier but are generally applied from October through December.
What should small businesses do differently during peak shipping season to avoid delays?
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Ship early and clearly communicate cut-off dates.
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Offer multiple delivery options (Standard + Express).
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Schedule pickups in advance.
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Ensure accurate labels and documentation.
Do couriers offer weekend/evening delivery during peak season in Canada?
Yes. Many couriers expand service hours in December to meet demand, but availability depends on location. It’s best to confirm with your courier and book early.
How early should I schedule pickups in December to beat peak-season cut-offs?
Schedule pickups at least one week earlier than usual in December, and avoid last-minute requests close to Christmas to ensure timely delivery.
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