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When it comes to moving freight, the ability to consistently meet customer expectations is a given. Yet, for many midsize shippers navigating the chaos of peak seasons, that expectation is easier said than done.
According to a recent survey highlighted by SupplyChainBrain, only 23% of shippers believe their logistics partners perform "very well" during peak season. That leaves a staggering 77% struggling with delays, rate spikes, and poor communication precisely when their customers expect reliability the most.
This “peak season” underperformance is often repeated throughout the year at various times.
So what’s causing the gap? And more importantly, how can midsize shippers close it without overhauling their entire supply chain? Let’s dig in.
Whether it's the holiday rush, end-of-quarter surges, or seasonal product rollouts, peak season puts freight networks to the test. And when performance breaks down, the ripple effect is massive:
For midsize shippers, especially in industries like food and beverage, packaging, construction, and manufacturing, these are critical risks. And unfortunately, many shippers lack the tools to react quickly when disruptions hit.
Despite increased investment in supply chain tech, 40% of shippers still say they lack visibility into their peak season performance. This blind spot leads to missed insights on what's causing delays, an inability to pivot when demand shifts, and difficulty holding carriers accountable.
Without real-time data, shippers are stuck reacting to problems after the fact, instead of preventing them in the first place.
Real-world example:
A midwest-based food distributor shipping 15 loads weekly saw 3-day delivery windows turn into 6-day frustrations during Q4. Without visibility, they couldn’t tell whether it was a carrier issue, warehouse delay, or route bottleneck. Customers were left in the dark, and frustrated.
Market volatility and poor data sharing frequently lead to preventable capacity shortages. Carrier capacity isn’t fixed, it shifts constantly based on a mix of seasonal demand, lane popularity, fleet availability, and external disruptions like weather or labor shortages.
Yet many midsize shippers still rely on outdated processes to find and secure carriers. Manual emails, inconsistent rate sheets, and limited options mean they’re often overpaying or missing shipments when it matters most.
Meeting customer expectations doesn’t require a massive investment or a full-blown logistics overhaul. With Portex, midsize shippers get the tools to stay agile, informed, and competitive, without the chaos.
When freight markets tighten, timing matters. Portex lets shippers quickly request and compare quotes from multiple carriers. That means faster decisions, fewer missed opportunities, and better alignment with real-time demand.
No more chasing down responses or hoping for the best: just fast, flexible execution.
Portex provides end-to-end shipment tracking, empowering shippers to:
This kind of transparency transforms customer relationships. Instead of excuses, shippers can offer proactive updates and clarity.
Data matters, especially when the pressure's on. Portex provides metrics on carrier reliability, timeliness, and historical performance, helping shippers prioritize top-performing partners, phase out inconsistent carriers, and ultimately build a resilient freight network that holds up under pressure.
Peak season doesn't have to mean panic and chaos. Even with limited resources, midsize shippers can meet customer expectations by leaning into smart tools and data-driven workflows. This will lead to a more efficient, more effective shipping function throughout the year.
With Portex, shippers can:
You don’t need a massive tech stack to take performance to the next level. You just need the right partner.
Portex is built for midsize freight teams that want to save time, cut costs, and deliver on their promises – even during the busiest times of the year.
Ready to meet customer expectations without the stress? Let’s talk
