nontransport

Nontransport is a term used in logistics, planning, and economics to describe activities, services, or costs that do not involve moving goods or people from one location to another. The concept emphasizes the stationary aspects of operations that support movement or production without displacement.

In practice, nontransport encompasses storage, handling, packaging, labeling, inventory management, administrative tasks, insurance, financing, and information processing conducted at fixed facilities. It also includes planning and design activities that influence efficiency without physical movement, such as facility layout, warehouse automation, scheduling, and demand forecasting. Distinctions between nontransport and transport help analysts categorize costs and processes in supply chains and urban systems.

Usage of the term varies by discipline, and it is not universally standardized. Some sources refer to nontransport costs or non-movement activities to emphasize the separation from actual shipping or travel. Because of this variability, the term is often defined locally within specific studies or organizational contexts rather than as a formal, universally adopted category.

See also: transportation, logistics, supply chain management, urban planning, cost accounting.