Memphis, Tenn. — Shippers are telling carriers to begin holiday load planning now, well before the usual November surge, according to Paul Bingham, transportation consulting director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, in a September 10, 2026 interview with Transport Topics.

The move comes as the industry still wrestles with pandemic‑era disruptions, a protracted war in Ukraine and stubborn inflation that have left freight lanes tighter than they were a year ago. Drivers and fleet managers who once could rely on a predictable seasonal lull now face a compressed window for loading, routing and equipment maintenance.

Bingham noted that last year shippers already experimented with advancing orders and shipments to dodge congestion, a tactic that was “embedded in the minds of shippers.” The practice, once a pandemic‑era stopgap, has become a permanent fixture, forcing carriers to renegotiate capacity, explore intermodal options and keep a flexible roster of OTR truck driver crews ready for early peaks.

What This Means for Drivers

CDL‑A drivers can expect to receive load assignments in August rather than the customary September or October window, compressing the time available for equipment inspections and mandatory rest periods. Owner‑operators may need to adjust lease terms or secure additional trailers to accommodate the earlier surge, while also negotiating higher pay for the extra mileage. Fleet managers are pushing for more dynamic scheduling software to match drivers with the right loads, and many are offering premium pay for early‑season OTR truck driver assignments to keep the wheels turning.

Industry Reaction

Carrier associations warn that the accelerated timeline could strain already‑thin driver pools, especially as trucking companies hiring for the holiday season report difficulty filling routes. Some large trucking companies are expanding recruitment drives, touting “truck driver jobs” on their websites and promising sign‑on bonuses to attract CDL‑A drivers. At the same time, logistics firms are emphasizing multimodal solutions—shifting a portion of freight to rail or short‑haul trucks—to preserve lane capacity for long‑haul OTR moves.

Key Points

• Shippers are requesting holiday load planning to start in August, weeks earlier than the historical norm.
• Practice of advancing orders, first seen during the pandemic, is now a standard expectation among carriers.
• COVID‑19 shutdowns, the Ukraine conflict and high inflation remain the primary drivers of current supply‑chain strain.
• Carriers are offering premium pay and flexible scheduling to retain CDL‑A drivers, owner‑operators and OTR truck driver talent.

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