Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the December holiday rush are no longer just retail events, they’re full-scale stress tests for the logistics industry. In 2025, with early shipping activity already shaping trucking markets, the season is proving to be shorter and more unpredictable than usual (SupplyChainDive, 2025).

For customs brokers and freight forwarders, the pressure includes moving goods, keeping compliance tight, documents flowing, and clients reassured when every delay could risk costly fallout.

Why the Holiday Surge Is Tougher in 2025

Concentrated demand window: Shippers have been frontloading cargo, spiking demand earlier than usual and leaving less flexibility in the traditional holiday window (SupplyChainDive, 2025)

Front-loading imports: Many U.S. retailers stocked up early following tariff relief, which could mean unpredictable spikes at ports (Financial Times, 2025).

Canadian bottlenecks: Congestion at Vancouver and Halifax, plus warehouse labor shortages, are already stretching lead times heading into peak season (MacMillan Supply Chain Group, 2025).

Last-mile crunch: Black Friday and Cyber Monday alone can flood parcel networks, straining carrier capacity (Moll Solutions, 2025).

The takeaway: Peak season is no longer just a December challenge, it’s a multi-month stress test where even small inefficiencies ripple into big costs.

What This Means for Customs Brokers

Increased entry volume: Retail surges mean more declarations and tighter timelines.

Compliance under stress: Errors in HS codes or missing data risk penalties at the worst possible time.

Team fatigue: Staff stretched thin with extended hours face burnout and rising error rates.

Bottom line: Brokers need surge-ready support to process entries accurately and on time, even as volumes spike.

What This Means for Freight Forwarders

Cargo flow disruptions: Customs delays can snowball into missed sailings and storage fees.

Higher client expectations: Shippers expect forwarders to anticipate risks and communicate proactively.

Scaling pressure: Handling exception management and client updates often overwhelms lean teams.

Bottom line: Forwarders that keep cargo moving and clients informed through chaos will win loyalty when competitors stumble.

How Portway International Supports Holiday Surge Success

At Portway, we help brokers and forwarders turn peak-season chaos into an opportunity to strengthen client trust. Our BPO solutions provide:

After-hours & overflow coverage: keep shipments moving across time zones and weekends.

Scalable staffing: flex up during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday spikes without adding permanent headcount.

Error-proof documentation support: reduce rework and penalties by outsourcing high-volume, repetitive tasks.

Client communication back-up: ensure your customers stay informed, even when your core team is maxed out.

Whether you’re bracing for the holiday rush or planning for year-end compliance, Portway integrates seamlessly with your workflows to protect service quality and client confidence.

The holiday surge is inevitable, but missed deadlines, compliance errors, and burned-out teams don’t have to be.

With the right preparation and a trusted BPO partner, brokers and forwarders can stay ahead of the chaos, safeguard relationships, and turn seasonal stress into long-term opportunity.

Contact Portway today to build your holiday readiness plan!

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References

1. SupplyChainDive. (2025, June 25). Early peak season signals challenging market ahead for trucking. Retrieved from https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/may-truckload-reefer-dry-van-spot-rate-rose-modestly-amid-tariffs/751633/
2. Financial Times. (2025). US–China trade ceasefire to drive early Christmas stockpiling. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/c5e7054e-ad7d-48b1-a7ec-ff2795f378d5
3. MacMillan Supply Chain Group. (2025). What supply chain issues can we expect this holiday season? Retrieved from https://www.macmillanscg.com/blog/supply-chain-issues-holiday-season/
4. Moll Solutions. (2025). Navigating the 2025 peak shipping seasons: A strategic guide for shippers. Retrieved from https://mollsolutions.com/navigating-the-2025-peak-shipping-seasons-a-strategic-guide-for-shippers/