As South Florida heads into the fourth quarter, one sector begins to move at lightning speed: logistics. The weeks leading into Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the peak holiday shipping season are the most demanding of the year for warehouses, e-commerce operations, and shipping centers.

For businesses across the state, keeping up with this demand means ramping up their workforce and doing it fast. That’s where GL Staffing, a trusted name in logistics temp staffing in Florida, steps in. We help distribution hubs, fulfillment centers, and retail logistics teams prepare for the seasonal volume spikes with flexible, reliable, and fully vetted temporary workers.

Why the Holiday Rush Requires a Special Staffing Strategy

From late September through early January, shipping volumes explode. South Florida’s ports and fulfillment hubs see a dramatic increase in inbound and outbound goods, while customer expectations for quick delivery get higher each year. This seasonal surge leaves little room for error.

Key Drivers Behind the Staffing Crunch

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday now start earlier and last longer, creating weeks of extended high-volume demand rather than just one or two peak days.
• E-commerce sales growth puts enormous pressure on same-day and next-day fulfillment timelines.
• Holiday returns and exchanges begin flowing into warehouses before Christmas even ends.
• Retailers backfill inventory quickly and require fast-turnaround distribution support.

These seasonal patterns are predictable but intense. Companies that are not staffed up in time face shipping delays, customer complaints, and overworked permanent employees. That’s why so many warehouse operators and logistics coordinators in Florida partner with GL Staffing well before the peak hits.

Common Staffing Challenges in Warehouses During Peak Season

Even the most well-managed logistics operations run into trouble during the holidays if they don’t plan ahead. With higher shipping volumes come operational bottlenecks and scheduling issues that multiply without proper staffing.

Most Frequent Issues:

• Unexpected absenteeism: Call-outs become more frequent during the holidays due to illness, family travel, or burnout.
• Increased turnover: Temps who aren’t the right fit leave mid-assignment, leaving managers scrambling.
• Undertrained staff: Bringing on new hires too late means they’re not fully productive during the most important weeks.
• Overtime fatigue: Core staff often work excessive hours, increasing the risk of injury or costly mistakes.
• Lack of flexibility: Many in-house teams cannot pivot quickly when order volumes spike overnight.

Having the right staffing partner allows you to avoid all of the above and focus on what matters most: fast, accurate, and cost-effective fulfillment.

Key Roles GL Staffing Fills During the Holiday Rush

GL Staffing has a deep bench of warehouse-ready workers trained for short-term, seasonal, and peak-period assignments. Our candidates are screened, verified, and equipped to contribute from day one.

Here are the most requested temporary logistics roles we staff throughout Florida:

1. Order Pickers and Packers

These team members are responsible for gathering items from inventory shelves, packaging them safely, and preparing them for shipment. During the holidays, pickers and packers are essential for keeping order turnaround times low and error rates minimal.

2. Loaders and Unloaders

As inbound shipments increase, loaders and unloaders keep the dock flowing. These workers handle pallet breakdowns, box movement, and safe loading procedures to keep your operation moving on time.

3. Inventory Control Staff

Accurate inventory is critical in Q4. We supply workers for counting, restocking, inventory reconciliation, and system updates to ensure your warehouse management system reflects real-time product availability.

4. Forklift and Pallet Jack Operators

Certified forklift drivers are in high demand during holiday months. Our operators are experienced, OSHA-compliant, and able to handle heavy-load environments where safety and speed matter equally.

5. Returns Processors

As orders increase, so do returns. Whether it’s apparel, electronics, or general goods, we supply staff to inspect, log, and reshelve returned items to avoid backlog buildup.

6. Shipping and Receiving Clerks

We provide clerical support for label creation, documentation, receiving logs, and outbound tracking so you don’t lose valuable time or fall behind on administrative accuracy.

7. General Warehouse Labor

These flexible workers support everything from pallet wrapping and sorting to assembly and facility cleanup. They fill gaps where you need an extra set of hands right away.

Why Timing Is Everything: Hire Before Black Friday

Waiting until late November to staff up means competing with every other warehouse, distribution center, and retailer in your area. By then, top candidates are already working. That is why GL Staffing recommends starting your holiday hiring in September or early October.

Benefits of Starting Early:

• Train staff before volume reaches peak
• Build consistent shifts and reduce burnout
• Reduce risk of last-minute payroll errors
• Allow time to fine-tune schedules and team productivity
• Reduce pressure on full-time staff with layered support

GL Staffing helps you design a staggered onboarding plan so you can add workers in phases based on volume forecasts, not just panic-mode emergencies.

Our Experience With Florida’s Logistics Sector

GL Staffing has decades of experience in providing logistics temp staffing in Florida, including support for:

• High-volume retail fulfillment centers
• Local last-mile delivery hubs
• E-commerce startup warehouses
• Third-party logistics (3PL) providers
• Cold storage and perishables operations
• Regional distributors and wholesalers

We’ve worked with facilities ranging from 10,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and beyond. Our understanding of shift scheduling, safety regulations, WMS integrations, and seasonal workforce flow gives our clients an operational edge during their busiest quarter.

What Sets GL Staffing Apart

Hiring temps for warehouse work is not just about filling seats. It is about hiring people who can move safely, work efficiently, and follow protocol. That is where GL Staffing provides unmatched value.

Our Advantage Includes:

• Pre-screened candidates with verified logistics experience
• Background checks and eligibility verification
• Flexible availability including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Real-time support from dedicated staffing managers
• Custom onboarding support for large-volume projects
• Safety-focused training and PPE compliance

Because we recruit and staff locally, our temps are familiar with South Florida work conditions, traffic patterns, and the unique expectations of your operation.

Real Success Stories

Case Study 1: Holiday Surge for an E-Commerce Fulfillment Center

A Miami-based apparel fulfillment center needed 60 additional workers across two shifts for the peak month of December. GL Staffing supplied:

• 30 packers
• 10 forklift operators
• 10 inventory control specialists
• 10 general laborers

Result: They achieved 98.6% on-time order fulfillment and reported zero injuries during peak season.

Case Study 2: 3PL Support for Holiday Returns

A logistics provider in Pompano Beach needed help handling over 50,000 returns in January. GL Staffing placed 15 temp workers for returns inspection and data entry.

Result: Returned inventory was processed three days ahead of schedule, and full-time staff were able to stay focused on outgoing orders.

Secure Your Seasonal Workforce Today

If you’re waiting until November to solve your holiday staffing challenges, you are already behind. Start preparing now with a logistics staffing partner that knows your industry, understands the pressure of Q4, and delivers every time.

Let’s build your seasonal workforce before the first holiday shipment hits the dock. GL Staffing makes peak season easier, safer, and more profitable.