Peak season

Solid holiday spending growth supporting truckload market

Retail spending during the 2024 holiday season exceeded expectations, with consumers demonstrating resilience in the face of economic uncertainties. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, total retail sales from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 increased by 3.8% year over year, surpassing the previously forecast rise of 3.2% and topping the 3.1% increase during the same period last year.

This growth was primarily driven by a surge in online shopping, which saw a 6.7% increase compared to the previous year. In...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/solid-holiday-spending-growth-supporting-truckload-market

Why the intermodal market is in a ‘long peak’ right now

Intermodal volumes aren’t slowing down. By mid-December, we’re well past the time when goods bound by train would arrive in retail stores in time for Christmas shoppers, yet railroads are still carrying near-record numbers of boxes. Tariff pull-forward, consumer demand and inventory building are all driving higher intermodal volumes, setting the market up for rate increases next year.

Call it a “long peak.”

Total intermodal traffic in North America saw a significant boost last month, increasing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/why-the-intermodal-market-is-in-a-long-peak-right-now

Fireside Chat: RXO CEO discusses navigating 2025

This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves’ 3PL Summit on Wednesday.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Managing peak season and planning for 2025

DETAILS: Peak season presents its own challenges and with 2025 on the horizon, planning ahead is paramount. Drew Wilkerson, CEO at RXO, and FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell break down year-end and what to expect and plan for in the first quarter of 2025.

KEY QUOTES FROM WILKERSON:

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https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fireside-chat-rxo-ceo-discusses-navigating-2025

DHL Express’ Miami air hub meets the moment for peak season

MIAMI – DHL Express’ parcel volumes during the peak season are expected to grow 1% year over year in the U.S. and 4% to 5% in Latin America, according to company officials. That growth wouldn’t be possible without the delivery company’s strategic air hub at Miami International Airport (MIA), which connects Central and South America, as well as the eastern Caribbean, to the rest of DHL’s global network.

DHL operates 14 daily flights from Miami with its Panama-based cargo airline DHL Aero Expreso...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dhl-express-miami-air-hub-meets-the-moment-for-peak-season

Check Call: It’s time for the coolest tree in town to make a scene

(GIF: GIPHY)

Wednesday is the renowned Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting. The annual production is an entire night of festive celebrations and holiday cheer for all. The tradition goes all the way back to the Great Depression in 1931. Construction workers building Rockefeller Center set up a tree at the site and adorned it with homemade decorations to boost morale and provide hope during dark times.

Fast forward to the tree-lighting ceremony of 2024 and it’s a slightly less modest affair,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/check-call-its-time-for-the-coolest-tree-in-town-to-make-a-scene

UPS forecasts softer peak shipping season

UPS on Thursday reported positive revenue and profit growth in the third quarter, turning the corner on nearly two years of subpar performance. But the company also cautioned that macroeconomic conditions and more in-store shopping could dampen peak season shipping activity.

Full-year revenue guidance of $91 billion was down slightly, mostly related to the disposal of Coyote Logistics. The forecast suggests UPS (NYSE: UPS) doesn’t expect a surge of shipping activity during the current quarter,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-forecasts-softer-peak-shipping-season

Union Pacific adds peak surcharges in Southern California

Citing surging demand for its fleet of domestic containers, Union Pacific has assessed peak season surcharges out of Southern California.

“Union Pacific is experiencing an increase in demand for EMP and UMAX domestic container capacity out of Southern California,” the railroad’s Premium Business Team said in an announcement to customers. “It is anticipated that demand will increase further in the coming weeks. Action is being taken to reposition containers and increase train capacity to meet the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-adds-peak-surcharges-in-southern-california

Long Beach hotter than July as containers soar to monthly record

The Port of Long Beach in Southern California set a monthly record in July  as retailers got a substantial head start moving inventory heading into the peak shipping season.

Total volume was 882,376 twenty-foot equivalent units, an increase of 52.6% from the same month a year ago and 12.4% ahead of the previous record set in July 2022. Imports rocketed 60.5% to 435,081 TEUs while  exports grew 16.3% to 104,834 TEUs. Empty containers surged 57.8% to 342,462 TEUs.

Shipper concerns over a possible...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/long-beach-hotter-than-july-as-containers-soar-to-monthly-record

Peak season came early this year – what to do if you missed it

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

By Robert Reiter, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding USA

In the 1996 Christmas movie classic, “Jingle All The Way,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s mattress salesman, Howard Langston, faces off against a rival dad in a desperate race to find a Turbo Man toy that has all but sold out on Christmas Eve.

While many of us could likely relate to the regret of leaving our holiday shopping...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/peak-season-came-early-this-year-what-to-do-if-you-missed-it

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