Logistics Glossary

Get to know the vital terms of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Line-Haul Shipment

What Does Line-Haul Shipment Mean in Logistics?

A line-haul shipment in logistics is the transportation of goods over long distances, usually between major cities or distribution terminals, in one single journey. Logistics terms are central to the concept of long-haul logistics since it means moving cargo from one big terminal to another, thereby covering large distances with very few dislocating breaks.

Characteristics of Line-Haul Shipments Terms

Long-distance travel: Line-haul shipments are arranged to be transported over long distances, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of miles.

Dedicated vehicles: It often involves large trucks, rail cars, or aircraft carrying line-haul shipments since the primary modes lend themselves well to the movement of large volumes of cargo over large distances.

One leg and unbroken journey: Local or last-mile deliveries, which require multiple stops, are distinct from line-haul shipments since they normally make one uninterrupted journey directly from one terminal to another.

At the heart of freight networks: Line-haul is very often considered the backbone of logistics transportation as it ties together many segments of a supply chain, moving freight from regional warehouses to central hubs or ports.

Benefits of Line-Haul Hauls

Directness: A non-stop voyage ensures it will receive less handling and fewer delays, so line-haul shipping is one of the fastest long-distance transportation options.

Cost Efficiency: Consolidating large volumes of freight into fewer movements will also save business-to-business shippers money in the cost of transportation per unit when shipping large volumes.

Reliability: Because line-haul movements follow set routes and schedules, they are generally reliable, which allows shippers and third-party logistics providers to account for anticipated delivery times.

Uses of Line-Haul Transportation

Retail and Manufacturing Businesses

Many retailers and manufacturing companies transport products from manufacturing facilities to distribution centers or retail locations using line-haul movements.

Intermodal Transport: Line-haul shipments can be coupled with other logistics services, for instance, an intermodal transport where products are transferred from one mode of transportation to another, like from the rail to a truck.

Conclusion

Linehaul shipments are required to transport cargo over long distances, implying that they get the products from one destination point to distribution points quickly and at the lowest cost. Since linehaul shipments bridge the major logistical centers, they are efficient for companies that depend on the reliable movement of heavy or bulk cargo.

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