Best-Laid Plans: Preparing Your Logistics for Peak Season

As summer draws to a close and autumn sets in, planning is already underway for peak season in the world of logistics. Projects are in full swing, deadlines loom, and in the run-up to Christmas, we hit full speed. If you’re not prepared, the added pressure this brings can overwhelm usually smooth operations.

Today Team has been doing this for 20 years. We’ve seen how things can go wrong, and maybe more importantly, how the right planning (and having a solid backup) can prevent you from letting down clients and customers.

Why peak season can provide logistical challenges

Here are some of the challenges you’re likely to face:

• Driver shortages: The UK is already seeing a serious shortfall of qualified drivers in the logistics sector. Estimates suggest a gap in the tens of thousands of HGV and van drivers, thanks to an ageing workforce, post-Brexit reductions in labour supply, and competition for drivers from other roles.
• Increased demand & reduced slack: More urgent jobs, more last-minute requests, tighter delivery windows. When everyone is busy, late cutoffs, restricted access, or traffic issues can cascade into big delays.
• Higher operational pressure: Issues such as fuel costs, vehicle availability and maintenance all get magnified. When logistics providers are pushing their fleets hard, even small breakdowns or inefficiencies become headaches.
• Diminished responsiveness: As couriers fill their schedules, their ability to respond quickly to unplanned or urgent jobs drops. If your regular partner is stretched, there’s a ripple effect through your supply chain.

Planning ahead: tips to stay ahead of the curve

If you’re in the business of needing what we refer to as “high consequence deliveries” here are some steps you can take now to ensure you’re prepared for peak:

1. Forecast demand early: Estimate what your upcoming projects will need — parts, equipment, urgent materials — especially for Q4 and into the New Year. Order early, build buffer stock if possible, and communicate with your suppliers.
2. Lock in commitments from logistics partners: If you have a reliable same day logistics provider, get agreements in place now for peak windows. Book early slots, secure vehicle type availability, and define SLAs clearly (pickup and drop-off windows, any special delivery requirements etc.)
3. Map out your risks: What could go wrong? Traffic, weather, driver unavailability, supplier delays. For each risk, define a Plan B. Do you have a trusted and flexible partner with the capacity to step in when needed?
4. Review your internal processes: Make sure databases, paperwork, addresses, contact names, and site access details are accurate. Delays often start with small mistakes. Make sure your staff and your logistics partner know what’s needed for urgent jobs.
5. Communication is key: Keep stakeholders (suppliers, customers, internal teams) in the loop. If delays happen, rapid transparency saves trust. Provide real-time updates where possible.

Why you always need a “Plan B”

Even best plans fail sometimes. Your regular logistics provider might be stretched, vehicle availability might dip, staffing issues or traffic hiccups crop up. When that happens:

• Having a partner with a large national network and access to a large diverse fleet of dedicated vehicles means you’re not scrambling.
• Experience matters, and partnering with a courier who understands the special requirements of your industry is essential. They will know your requirements including security, handling, vehicles, delivery access and procedures.
• Quick recovery and adaptability is what separates companies who suffer knock-on effects from those that carry on delivering reliably to their customers, even during the busiest period.

Today Team – your trusted time critical logistics partner for peak season

Here’s what partnering with us means during high-pressure periods:

• 20 years of experience of making high consequence deliveries when it counts.
• A large fleet of dedicated vehicles and partner network across the UK for flexibility and availability.
• Same day and time critical logistics backed by a clear commitment to service, clear communication, and reliability.
• A team of logistics professional who understand the specific requirements of different sectors: fragile goods, high-value or confidential items, security procedures, precise pickup and delivery windows.

We can be your Plan A, but if you find yourself needing a Plan B, you don’t have to panic.

Looking for a logistics partner you can lean on this peak season?

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