shipment

Shipment refers to the process of transporting goods from a sender to a recipient. It encompasses all activities from packing and labeling to loading, transit, and delivery. A shipment may consist of a single package or multiple items grouped as a consignment, and it can be domestic or international. The term is used in logistics to describe both the goods being moved and the act of moving them. Shipments can move by road, rail, sea, air, or a combination (multimodal).

Key elements include the origin and destination, description of goods, quantity, weight or volume, value, and handling requirements. Documentation typically includes a packing list, commercial invoice, and a transportation document such as a bill of lading (sea), a waybill (air), or a multimodal transport document. For international shipments, customs clearance and duties are required, and insurers may provide coverage against loss or damage.

Common processes involve order processing, picking, packing, labeling and palletization, handover to a carrier, tracking and transit management, and final delivery confirmation. Modern shipping relies on tracking numbers and systems such as transportation management systems (TMS) and warehouse management systems (WMS) to provide visibility.

Regulatory considerations include safety, security, packaging standards, and compliance with incoterms that define responsibilities and costs between buyer and seller.

Challenges include delays, damage, and regulatory changes; solutions include proper packaging, documentation, and real-time tracking.