Logistics
Peak 2026: why the best warehouses are booking labour in July
Golden Quarter labour is won months before it's needed. The operators who book early get the pick of the pool — literally.
All insightsEvery year the pattern repeats: the first enquiries for November warehouse labour arrive in June and July from the most sophisticated operators, and in late September from everyone else. By then, the experienced pickers, MHE licence-holders and working supervisors are committed.
The early-booking advantage is compounding
Early commitments don't just secure heads — they secure returning heads. Workers who had a good peak with you last year will pencil you in again, but only if the offer lands before they've accepted elsewhere.
What to fix before volume hits
- Induction: compress it to half a day without cutting safety content
- Rate cards: agree overtime and premium triggers now, not mid-peak
- Supervision: one working team leader per 10–12 temps is the ratio that protects pick accuracy
- warehousing
- peak season
- workforce planning