5 Common Causes of Delays and How to Avoid Them

No one likes to hear that a shipment’s been delayed. It slows down your business, frustrates your customers, and can hurt your reputation. Some delays are totally out of your hands, but a lot of them can be avoided with the right prep and the right logistics partner.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common causes of delays and what you can do to stay ahead of them.

Missing invoices, wrong product descriptions, or incomplete customs info can hold your shipment back or even get it returned. The best fix is working with a team that knows exactly what paperwork is needed and helps make sure it’s always right the first time.

Storms, snow, and wildfires can delay transportation across air, sea, and land. You can’t control the weather, but you can work with a partner who’s actively tracking disruptions and adjusting routes to keep things moving.

During peak seasons or unexpected demand surges, carriers can get overwhelmed. That leads to shipping delays, reroutes, and extra costs. Booking early, building strong carrier relationships, and having backup options help keep things flowing.

Shipments rely on people, from pickers and packers to drivers and customs agents. Strikes, staffing shortages, or global events like the pandemic can slow everything down. Planning ahead, having a flexible logistics plan, and good communication make it easier to pivot when needed.

Delays can happen before the order even ships if something gets packed wrong or sent late. This is why a well-run warehouse, trained team, and clean inventory system matter. Our team keeps fulfillment smooth so your orders leave on time and show up right.