# Cargo Cut Off

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> The cargo cut-off is the hard deadline by which physical cargo must be checked in at the terminal to be loaded onto a booked sailing or flight.

The cargo cut-off is the hard deadline by which physical cargo must be checked in at the terminal to be loaded onto a booked sailing or flight. Once the cut-off passes, the terminal closes the load list for that departure; any shipment arriving afterward is rolled to the next available service, with rebooking fees and potential delivery delays as a consequence. In ocean freight, the cut-off typically falls 24 to 48 hours before vessel departure; in air freight the window is considerably shorter. Shippers and forwarders track this date as a firm planning milestone—missing it by even a few hours can mean a week's delay on weekly liner services. The cargo cut-off should not be confused with the documentation cut-off, which governs the submission of shipping papers and usually falls slightly earlier.

**Source:** [https://www.freightos.com/glossary/cut-off-time/](https://www.freightos.com/glossary/cut-off-time/)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Cargo Cut Off |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 132 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.freightos.com/glossary/cut-off-time/ |

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