intransit

In transit is a shipping and logistics term that refers to goods that are currently moving between locations in the supply chain and have not yet arrived at their final destination. The phrase is commonly used for parcels, freight shipments, and inventory held between origin and destination facilities. In tracking systems and ERP software, a shipment's status may be shown as in transit, along with a current location and an estimated time of delivery.

In transit can cover multiple legs of a journey, including pickup, transfer at hubs, customs checks, and last-mile delivery handoffs. For international shipments, transit often includes cross-border processing and customs clearance, after which the goods continue toward final delivery. The exact meaning of the status can vary by carrier and IT system, but it generally indicates movement rather than a completed handoff to the recipient.

Impact on inventory and risk: Goods in transit are typically not counted as on-hand inventory at the recipient site, though they may be recorded as transit stock or in-transit inventory in ERP systems. Transit time varies by mode (air, ocean, ground) and distance and can be affected by weather, holidays, port congestion, and customs delays. Loss, damage, or theft can occur, so some shipments carry transit insurance and require tracking updates.

Practical considerations: Tracking data helps buyers and sellers plan receipts, manage cash flow, and coordinate warehousing. Businesses may set service level agreements and alert thresholds based on transit status and ETA. Understanding in-transit status supports better logistics planning and inventory control.