Intermodal / Drayage Jobs — Holiday Peak Season Freight

Intermodal / Drayage During Holiday Peak Season Freight

Holiday peak season is the Super Bowl of trucking, running from October through December as retailers stock up for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. Dry van rates typically surge 15-25% as shippers compete for capacity to move consumer goods from distribution centers to stores and fulfillment centers. This period accounts for 25-30% of annual retail sales, and every package, pallet, and trailer matters.

Intermodal drivers (also called drayage drivers) transport shipping containers between ports, rail yards, and warehouse facilities using specialized chassis trailers. The containers — typically 20-foot or 40-foot steel boxes — arrive on cargo ships or trains and need to be moved the 'last mile' to their final destination.

Top States for Holiday Peak Season Freight

Companies Hiring

Tips

• 💡 Start talking to recruiters in August and September — the best holiday freight contracts and sign-on bonuses are offered before peak season begins.
• 💡 Keep your truck and trailer in top mechanical shape entering October — a breakdown during peak season means missing the highest-paying weeks of the year.
• 💡 Consider team driving during the holidays — shippers will pay premium rates for expedited coast-to-coast service when inventory is running low.

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