The cost of missing carrier capacity shows up fast.
One of the most common breakdowns for ecommerce fulfillment is carrier capacity. In Q1, we hear from brands that struggled to ship on time because their provider didn’t secure enough options early. Promises made to customers were broken, not because orders weren’t picked and packed, but because they were sitting in the warehouse waiting for carrier pickups.
The good news is that this is preventable. Securing carrier capacity and diversifying shipping options is one of the most critical steps to lock down before peak—if you know what to confirm with your provider. Here are a few things you can do to avoid carrier capacity breakdowns before volumes spike.
Carrier networks hit their limits when you need them most.
Carriers prioritize freight with secured commitments. Brands relying on spot capacity or single-carrier agreements are the first to feel delays. A promised two-day delivery can quietly become four or five, leaving customers chasing tracking numbers that don’t move and service teams spending their time managing complaints.
Here’s how to avoid carrier capacity breakdowns before peak season.
Ask your fulfillment partner these three questions and note whether they have specifics or just general assurances:
- How early do you lock in extra carrier capacity for peak?
- How do you decide which orders go to which carriers?
- How do you set and communicate cutoff dates for each shipping method?
A weak provider hopes their existing contracts will stretch. A strong one locks in capacity months in advance, diversifies carriers, and sets clear customer cutoffs before promotions go live.
When carrier planning falls short, the impact isn’t just late packages. It shows up in refund requests, discount codes for service recovery, and campaigns that lose momentum when customers don’t get their orders in time.
The right shipping plan can avoid carrier capacity breakdowns and protect both customer trust and sales momentum. With capacity secured, cutoff dates set, and flexibility built in, you can keep promises even when networks are under the heaviest pressure.
We’ve covered just one of the common pitfalls seen during peak season. In “The Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Holiday Logistics Pitfalls”, we break down three more that cause the biggest problems in Q4 and how to avoid them. Download it now so your business can get through the holidays without losing momentum.
