This blog was written by Steve Congro, Sr. Director of Systems at Saddle Creek Logistics Services

For a third-party logistics provider with a high volume of parcel shipments, preparing for peak season is a year-round activity. At Saddle Creek Logistics, it is a collaborative effort between our technology, parcel and operations teams.


It’s a multi-pronged approach that must work harmoniously. The data in the system – rates, accessorial fees, fuel surcharges, etc. – must be accurate, and the systems must be able to handle the load that peak volumes bring.


These are a few of the key things that our teams focus on each year:

Accurately rating a package requires a lot of data, and that data will come to us in a variety of ways. Rates for some carriers are fed in electronically, some aspects of rates will have to be loaded manually, and some things – like the weights and dimensions of a package – come from our operations across the country.


Accurate weights and dimensions are essential to ensure optimal carrier selection for clients that leverage rate shopping, as Megan Rudolph, Saddle Creek’s Regional Senior Director of Parcel Operations, detailed in a recent blog.


We work closely with clients to ensure that they have captured this data accurately in the WMS since it can have a significant impact on cartonization requirements and shipping costs. For example, if a carton size is reduced by an inch on every side, this can lower the dimensional weight of a package by a pound or more, reducing shipping costs for many carriers.

Carrier rates are constantly changing, and client shipping profiles can shift over time which can, in turn, create inaccuracies.


Maintaining rates is critical for a 3PL, and those rates need to be accurate to the penny, inclusive of all carrier discounts and accessorial fees. Throughout the year, we are constantly auditing our rating engines proactively. After all, what good is a top-tier rate-shop engine if the rates aren’t accurate?

Saddle Creek starts receiving peak surcharge information around the August timeframe. We immediately begin loading rates and validating them in advance with “test shipments” done against our system, simulating future ship dates. When the fees take effect, we’re ready.


When a carrier discontinues a surcharge, peak fees are automatically removed from our rating engines through ProShip’s built-in update processes, which allow us to implement changes without any downtime for our operations.

Clients who experience seasonal increases are in the unenviable position of needing to predict consumer demand months before peak season arrives.


Inevitably, as peak approaches, things come up that just couldn’t be predicted in advance – regardless of the level of preparation. When that happens, we have to be ready to react on our clients’ behalf, whether that requires accommodating changes in desired transit time, additional order volume, or expanded service levels.

Data accuracy is critical, but none of that matters if the systems can’t scale to handle the load that peak season brings.


Since we are constantly enhancing our shipping systems, we need to validate that our changes can stand up to the strain that peak volumes present.


We continually test our servers, networks and load balancers to ensure they are up for the task. We also test each carrier and service to confirm that timing benchmarks are performing properly. International services bring additional requirements, such as filing the commercial invoices required for customs clearance.

Preparation is vital and critical. The majority of what happens during peak each year is known well in advance – at least to some degree. That said, every year brings unique challenges.


This year, we had to keep an eye on the Canada Post strike and its impact on shipments for clients who ship from the U.S. into Canada. Many carriers will inject into Canada Post once the packages travel north across our border, so we worked with clients to explore other shipping options. With ProShip’s advanced shipping software, switching carriers just requires a simple configuration change.

When the last trucks pull away on December 23rd, peak isn’t over. Now, the returns season is upon us. That brings its own set of challenges and opportunities as we staff up the returns areas in our warehouses.


We know that it is critical to process returns in a timely manner, so our clients can provide prompt refunds and exchanges and return products to stock for resale. For example, parcel shipping data can help us understand how much return volume to expect and when so we can ensure sufficient staffing for the returns department in the warehouse.


As the New Year approaches, we also need to prepare for another set of changes. Many carriers’ rate increases go into effect on or around January 1st. As with peak fees, these changes begin as soon as carriers release their rates for the next year.

Peak season is never over until we’ve reviewed “lessons learned.” Inevitably, there are things that can be improved on. Even after 21 peak seasons in this industry, I know I still learn something every single year. This year was no different.


This final review process is also, in effect, the first step in preparing for the next peak season. We will identify action items and use them to roadmap new initiatives in 2025.


Preparing for peak parcel volume takes a concerted effort and careful attention to a wide variety of factors. Having the right data, systems and processes in place can go a long way toward ensuring a successful peak season.

About the Author:

Steve Congro serves as Senior Director of Systems for Saddle Creek Logistics Services, one of the largest privately held 3rd Party Logistics companies in the country. Currently, Steve’s role includes direct oversight over Order Management, Parcel Technology, and Integration Systems and the teams that support and enhance these offerings. Additionally, he oversees the systems strategy surrounding the company’s omnichannel and fulfillment offerings and champions initiatives across all systems in this space. He collaborates with Saddle Creek’s Information Services Team, corporate leadership, and Saddle Creek’s Technology Partners and Clients, working to develop processes for new and existing Saddle Creek Clients, as well as keeping an eye towards future needs and industry trends.


Prior to Saddle Creek, Steve served as the Director of Supply Chain Solutions for Fanatics, a Top 50 Internet Retailer Company. Fanatics is the world’s largest online retailer of licensed sports merchandise and the official online store partner for every major professional sports league in America and many organizations in the world of sports. While at Fanatics, Steve oversaw the company’s order management, warehouse management, product customization, and parcel transportation systems that run Fanatics’ Customer Service and Fulfillment network. During his almost 12-year tenure, Fanatics’ enjoyed a near 20,000% growth in business.


Steve is a graduate of Jacksonville University with a Bachelor of Science in Computing Sciences. He resides in Jacksonville.