- Enclosed trailer capacity in August
- Open-deck capacity in August
- How to plan around the Labor Day holiday
As summer winds down and fall looms on the horizon, August brings a complex blend of freight market dynamics.
For freight shippers, this means navigating a shifting landscape of trailer availability, balancing seasonal demand fluctuations, and preparing for the Labor Day capacity crunch.
Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) has been in the trucking industry for 70 years, so we know a thing or two about seasonal fluctuations on the market.
In this article, we’re using our experience and expertise to break down what you need to know about enclosed (dry van and reefer) and open-deck trailer capacity heading into August.
Whether you're moving dry goods, heavy machinery, or time-sensitive freight, staying informed in August means staying competitive. Let’s dive in!
Enclosed Trailer Capacity in August 2025
Enclosed trailers move steadily all summer long, and August is no exception.
While dry van drivers will be busy moving all their usual freight types (read: nearly every commodity that can fit inside the trailer), you may see them run more specific, fixed lanes than they do in other months.
This shift in driver behavior comes down to supply, demand, and the realities of drivers’ hours of service (HOS) restrictions. As demand for truck capacity surges in August (for reasons we’ll get into shortly), drivers — the “supply” — get their pick of freight and lanes.
Truckers tend to prefer to plan their loads out days in advance, as it helps them make the most of their HOS clocks. Settling into steady, stable lanes — like those readily available in August thanks to the high demand — helps them optimize their schedules and spend more time moving and loaded than not.
So, what’s driving all that dry van demand? Here are just a few factors that kick off in August:
- Retailers begin planning (and moving freight) for the holiday shopping season and end-of-the-year sales.
- Harvest season in the Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, both Dakotas) begins.
- August informally marks the final month of stable(ish) summer weather, which can encourage shippers to move more freight before the less-predictable autumn and winter seasons.
Over on the refrigerated “reefer” freight market, these specialized trailers will be in especially high demand in the regions of the U.S. that experience the hottest summers. Gotta keep those sodas, ice cream bars, and hot dogs cool!
And speaking of the hottest regions of the country, the South will continue to tie up some reefer capacity with its late-summer harvests of produce like oranges, tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, and more.
The bottom line: expect tighter capacity for both dry van and reefer trailers this August. Expect to pay a bit more to pull a driver away from any of the August hot spots listed above.
On the bright side, finding a trailer to carry freight into those areas may be a bit easier than other months — and may cost a little less, too.
Open-Deck Capacity in August 2025
Historically, August ushers in beautiful weather (hurricane season not withstanding) that is ideal for open-deck shipping.
Construction projects, infrastructure improvements, and harvest seasons keep open-deck trailers busy in August. Shippers and project managers are wrapping up their efforts before the temperatures drop and snow inevitably falls later in the year.
That means open-deck capacity will likely be tighter this month, especially in areas that experience true winters.
As such, we advise allowing for some flexibility in your open-deck equipment types this August. When the market is tight, the more you can do to widen your pool of options, the better off your budget will be.
How to Plan for Shipping Around Labor Day
Wait, we’re talking about Labor Day . . . in an August article? Yep, and there’s good reason for it.
The first Monday in September — Sept. 1, 2025 — is Labor Day, a national holiday dedicated to celebrating this nation's working class.
Whenever a federal holiday falls on a weekday, the freight market predictably lulls. Drivers are at home spending time with their family and friends, and travel restrictions make it more difficult to move over-dimensional (OD) freight.
That means finding a truck to meet your delivery and/or pick-up times during the long Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2025) will be more difficult — and likely more expensive.
The truth is that the only way to effectively combat the capacity crunch and rate increases that come with shipping over Labor Day is to . . . not do it.
That’s right: if you can avoid shipping over the holiday weekend, do. Schedule shipments for the final two weeks of August or the week following Labor Day to ensure your budget and timelines don’t suffer.
And if you absolutely must ship over Labor Day, give your carrier as much advanced notice as you can. Ample lead time can make the difference between an on-time shipment and a preventable delay.
Stay a Step Ahead of Your Competition
As August rolls in, enclosed and open-deck trailer capacity will tighten in response to rising seasonal demand, regional harvests, and pre-Labor Day activity.
Knowing what to expect — and how to plan around it — is key to keeping your freight moving efficiently and cost-effectively.
By staying flexible with equipment types, scheduling around the Labor Day slowdown, and booking ahead, you’ll set yourself up for success in one of the freight market’s most transitional months.
Looking to stay one step ahead all year long? Check out our 2025 Freight Shipping Calendar for a month-by-month look at the best and worst days to ship this year.
Download it for free and keep a copy on-hand to help you plan out your freight schedule and get ahead of your competition.
