Glossary

Terminal

Definition

In the context of logistics and transportation, a terminal refers to a designated facility where freight is consolidated, stored, loaded, unloaded, or transferred between various transportation modes, such as trucks, trains, ships, or airplanes. Terminals serve as strategic hubs for the movement of goods and are essential for efficient and effective supply chain operations. They can handle various types of cargo, including containers, bulk materials, breakbulk, and specialized cargo.

— sennder Team

FAQ

Some common types of terminals include: - Container terminals: These handle the loading, unloading, and storage of shipping containers. - Dry bulk terminals: These are designed for handling non-liquid bulk materials, such as grains, coal, and minerals. - Liquid bulk terminals: These handle liquid bulk cargo, such as crude oil, petroleum products, and chemicals. - Ro-Ro terminals: These facilitate the loading and unloading of vehicles, such as cars and trucks, which are driven on and off ships or ferries. - Air cargo terminals: These are located at airports and handle the loading, unloading, and storage of air freight.
Terminals often offer a variety of services, including: - Loading and unloading of cargo - Storage and warehousing - Cargo consolidation and deconsolidation - Customs clearance and inspection - Transshipment and cross-docking - Container repair and maintenance
Terminals play a critical role in supply chain efficiency by providing a centralized location for the transfer, storage, and handling of cargo. This enables seamless integration between various transportation modes, reduces transit times, and helps to minimize transportation costs.
Example or usage in road freight logistics

A trucking company picks up a shipment of electronics from a manufacturer and transports it to a terminal. At the terminal, the cargo is unloaded from the truck and consolidated with other shipments heading to the same destination. The consolidated shipment is then loaded onto a train for the next leg of its journey. Upon arrival at the destination terminal, the cargo is deconsolidated and loaded onto local delivery trucks for final delivery to the retailers.

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