What you need to know about Christmas tree shipping

How many real Christmas trees would you say are sold in the U.S. each year?

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the answer is around 25 to 30 million. That means millions of trees need to be shipped around the country, moving from farms to stores and pop-up tree lots, in time for the holidays.

For growers and distributors, a successful season hinges on efficient logistics and proper timing. But that’s not always easy to achieve. 

If you have trees to ship, you need an effective and practical plan to keep your Christmas tree logistics on track. So, we’re looking at how Christmas trees are prepared for shipping, the unique challenges of Christmas tree shipping, and best practices to get your seasonal logistics right.

How are trees prepped for Christmas tree shipping?

Whether you’re shipping a hundred trees or a thousand, proper preparation is vital for successful Christmas tree freight transportation. Here’s how Christmas trees are usually prepared for shipping before the holidays:

• Harvesting at the right time: Trees are usually harvested two or three weeks before peak demand. This ensures freshness, which is crucial to satisfy both sellers and buyers.
• Cleaning and bundling: Loose needles are removed, and then trees are shaken, wrapped, and baled in netting. This process allows trees to be stacked easily and remain secure during shipping.
• Moisture preservation: Trees may be misted or sprayed to retain their freshness during transportation.
• Loading for shipping: Trees are usually shipped in refrigerated (reefer) or ventilated dry vans. This depends on the distance traveled and the climate the trees will travel through.
• Distribution: Trees are moved from farms to regional distributors or go directly to retailers for final sale.

6 Christmas tree shipping challenges

Here are some common challenges that come with Christmas tree logistics:

Tight timelines

Demand for Christmas trees peaks in a short seasonal window. This leaves little room for even minor errors or brief delays. Even small oversights can impact the success of your Christmas tree shipping.

Temperature sensitivity

Christmas trees may not be perishable like food, but they are used to growing outside in the cold. That means exposure to heat can dry out trees and shorten their shelf life. Distributors and retailers expect fresh, green trees to arrive — so it’s important to ship Christmas trees in a temperature-controlled environment.

Handling and damage prevention

If handled incorrectly, Christmas trees can get damaged or crushed. They must be loaded and secured properly during transit to minimize the risk of damage.

Capacity and carrier availability

Finding reliable carriers for time-sensitive loads during the busy pre-holiday season can be challenging due to increased holiday freight volumes. Waiting too long to contact carriers cancause serious delays and disruptions, so get in touch with carriers early.

Route planning and regional demand

Weather, distance, and delivery timing all have a major impact on coordinating efficient shipments. This can be especially challenging in locations prone to heavy snowfall and other potentially disruptive conditions. Shippers should build in extra time to their shipping schedule to ensure their Christmas tree shipments arrive on time.

Best practices for successful Christmas tree logistics

Follow these best practices to help your Christmas tree shipping run smoothly:

• Plan early: Secure carriers and equipment as early as you can, ideally several weeks in advance, to avoid seasonal rate spikes.
• Use the right equipment: Use reefers or ventilated trailers to prevent trees from overheating and drying during transit.
• Communicate with retail partners often: Coordinate delivery windows (which can be strict and tight) and confirm unloading capabilities well before peak season.
• Monitor weather and routes: Plan journeys carefully to avoid long detours and keep in mind potential weather delays.
• Work with an experienced 3PL: Partnering with a reliable third-party logistics provider like DTS makes it easier to coordinate multi-stop deliveries and balance capacity during peak shipping season.

Keep these best practices in mind when planning your Christmas logistics. The more organized you are, the less likely you are to overlook key risks (e.g., extreme weather) or miss delivery windows.

Partner with DTS for Christmas logistics

Properly coordinated Christmas tree shipping is critical to ensure that customers across the U.S. have access to trees during the festive season. But with various potential challenges to contend with, getting your Christmas tree logistics right isn’t always easy.

Fortunately, DTS is here to help make your Christmas logistics run smoothly.

We can help you find the right Christmas tree freight carrier for your unique needs, and we can handle your other logistics for you in the lead-up to the busy holiday season. 

To learn how we can transform your logistics management, get in touch with our professionals today.