Will we get the xmas rush this year?
 

In the last couple of weeks Ive noticed freight volumes have slowed alot shippers cutting back brokers cutting wayyyy back and were getting low rates. so my question is will we get the xmas rush we normally have at this time or will we go into the slow season the way things are now?

It is difficult to say with the slow economy. At least 1 in 10 people are out of work. I think a lot of people are not spending as they were a couple of years ago. I would say that the Christmas season will see some increase from what we see now, but I expect total volume to be down over 2 years ago. It is a crap shoot and is only a guess. There is no way to tell for sure until the season is behind us.

We don't get X-Mas rush in the tanker biz........ I sure hope you guys get some kind of a break, lord knows you need it.

From the few people I talked to about this the consensus is that retailers are only ordering and stocking what they need with little extra. This may change but I wouldn't count on a big last minute rush.

There hasn't been a Xmas rush in a couple of years; we will see more of a bump this year. Knowing that capacity is tight and the potential for rate increases high, retailers started shipping from Asia during the summer. Container activity at the west coast ports peaked in Aug/Sept. That early restocking will help mute the holiday shipping season.