Every holiday season, warehouses and distribution centers face the same challenge—too much freight, not enough hands. Delays pile up, shipments miss deadlines, and customer expectations grow higher each year.
The stakes are real: According to industry data, a single day of shipping delays during peak season can cost mid-sized operations $50,000 or more in missed delivery windows, expedited freight fees, and customer compensation.
That’s why more logistics teams turn to American Freight Service (AFS) for dependable, on-site lumping services that keep freight moving smoothly during peak demand.
The Holiday Freight Bottleneck: By The Numbers
Between November and January, the logistics landscape transforms entirely:
- Shipment volumes increase by 40-60% as e-commerce orders spike
- Dock wait times can double from 2 hours to 4+ hours
- Driver detention costs average $75-150 per hour of delay
- Customer patience decreases while delivery expectations rise
For many facilities, this translates into truck congestion, backed-up docks, and costly downtime that cascades throughout the entire supply chain.
How AFS Breaks the Bottleneck
AFS helps prevent these slowdowns with trained lumpers who know how to move freight quickly, safely, and accurately. Our teams integrate seamlessly into your workflow—working alongside your staff or independently—to unload, sort, rework, and prepare shipments for final delivery.
The result? Facilities using AFS support report average turnaround time reductions of 35-40% during peak season, keeping trucks moving and deliveries on schedule.
Supervised Labor That Keeps Freight Flowing
Here’s what separates professional lumping from basic temp labor:
The AFS Difference: The key to AFS’s success isn’t just manpower—it’s supervision. Every AFS crew is led by an experienced field supervisor who ensures quality control, safety, and accountability from the first pallet to the last.
This supervision-first model means clients don’t just get workers—they get a reliable team that performs to their standards, every time.
What Supervision Means in Practice
When you bring in temp labor, you often get workers who need constant direction, may lack warehouse safety training, and can create liability concerns. With AFS, you get:
- Pre-trained freight specialists who understand dock protocols and equipment safety
- Real-time quality control from experienced supervisors who catch errors before they compound
- Accountability systems that track productivity and ensure consistency
- Safety compliance that reduces workplace incidents and insurance claims
- Simplified communication that makes your operations team’s life easier—instead of coordinating with multiple workers, your supervisors deal with one AFS point of contact who handles the rest
Unlike temp agencies that send untrained labor, AFS provides dedicated, on-site freight specialists who understand warehouse environments, seasonal urgency, and efficiency targets. This isn’t just about moving boxes—it’s about reducing stress on your core team and moving business forward.
See what makes our approach different on our Why AFS page.
Rework, Repack, and Recover — Without Breaking Stride
Real scenario: It’s December 18th. A shipment arrives with damaged pallets and mixed SKUs. Your options: Send it back (3-day delay), wait for a contractor (1-2 day delay), or handle it now with existing staff (pulling them from other urgent tasks).
The AFS solution: Handle it immediately, on-site, without disrupting your workflow.
When seasonal volume spikes, errors are inevitable. What matters is how quickly you can resolve them:
- Damaged pallets? We restack freight onto new pallets (client-provided) on the spot
- Mislabeled shipments? Our teams relabel and resort for compliance
- Mixed SKUs? We separate, organize, and prepare for distribution
- Return merchandise? We inspect, sort, and repackage efficiently
Our teams provide Rework Services and Repackaging & Kitting Services that ensure freight stays compliant and ready for distribution. By managing these corrections on-site, AFS keeps operations running smoothly while minimizing downtime.
That responsiveness keeps you on schedule—and your customers happy. No waiting. No excuses. No delays.
Flexible Support Built for Your Operation
Whether you operate a warehouse, manufacturing hub, or third-party logistics center, AFS understands that one size doesn’t fit all. We provide on-site labor solutions across Arizona and the Midwest, scaling your workforce precisely to meet seasonal demands—without increasing long-term overhead or committing to permanent hires you don’t need year-round.
Core Services That Keep You Moving:
Freight Unloading & Trailer Management
Fast, efficient unloading that reduces dock congestion and keeps drivers moving. We handle floor-loaded trailers, palletized freight, and everything in between.
Pallet Restacking, Labeling & Sorting
Ensure compliance and organization with accurate sorting, labeling, and pallet configuration that meets retailer and distributor requirements.
Seasonal Surge Support & Rework Labor
Scale up instantly when volume spikes hit. Our teams integrate quickly, require minimal training time, and deliver immediate productivity gains.
Cross-Dock Transitions
Speed up delivery cycles by moving freight directly from inbound to outbound with minimal warehousing time. Our crews excel at the fast-paced environment of cross-dock operations.
Explore how our Cross-Docking Services can optimize your freight flow during the holiday rush.
Real Impact: What Clients Experience
When AFS teams arrive at your facility, here’s what changes:
Day 1: Reduced dock congestion and faster truck turnaround—plus your supervisors immediately feel the relief of having one point of contact instead of managing multiple temp workers
Week 1: Smoother workflow, fewer bottlenecks, measurable productivity gains, and less daily stress on your operations leadership
Peak Season: Consistent performance even when volume is 50%+ above normal, while your core team avoids the burnout that comes from constant firefighting
Post-Season: Easy scale-down without layoff complications or ongoing obligations
Our clients consistently report that AFS support doesn’t just solve immediate problems—it helps prevent burnout among the supervisors and operations managers they depend on most. Instead of juggling five different workers throughout the day, they coordinate with one experienced AFS supervisor who handles the rest.
Keep Freight Moving This Holiday Season
The difference between a successful peak season and a costly one often comes down to a single decision: Do you have the right people in place when volume hits?
When demand spikes, reliability matters most. Partnering with AFS means you’re not just hiring lumpers—you’re gaining a supervised, experienced team ready to keep freight moving on schedule, resolve issues in real-time, and protect your reputation with customers.
Don’t Wait Until the Rush Hits
Most facilities contact us after delays have already started. The smartest operators plan ahead—securing support before the chaos begins.
Avoid costly shipping delays and protect your bottom line this season with on-site labor you can trust.
📞 Contact AFS today to schedule support for your warehouse or logistics operation and make sure your holiday freight arrives on time.