Transittime

Transit time is the total time required for an object, person, or signal to move from a starting point to a specified destination. In logistics and transportation, it usually denotes the interval between shipment departure and arrival, including handling, transfers, and waiting times, but excluding initial order processing. In telecommunications and networking, transit time (often called propagation delay) is the time a signal takes to traverse a path from source to destination.

Transit time is typically measured in hours or days and can be reported as an estimate or as an observed actual value. In shipping and freight, carriers provide estimated transit times (ETTs) that reflect routine routing, with actual times subject to variance. Measurement often excludes upstream activities such as order entry, but may include intermediate storage or dwell times at facilities depending on the context.

Several factors influence transit time. Distance and mode of transport (road, rail, sea, air) strongly affect base speed. Route efficiency, congestion, customs clearance, weather, and accidents can introduce delays. Intermodal transfers, handling times at warehouses, and scheduled versus unscheduled stops also contribute to variability.

Transit time is related to, but distinct from, lead time. Lead time encompasses the full period from order placement to delivery, including procurement and production steps, whereas transit time focuses on movement between points. Understanding transit time helps organizations plan inventories, set service levels, optimize routing, and evaluate reliability across supply chains, public transit systems, and data networks. See also lead time, dwell time, and on-time performance.