# Cargo handling

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Cargo handling occurs at every transition point in the transport chain where goods change mode or location: at a seaport moving from vessel to truck, at a rail terminal being loaded onto wagons, at a distribution centre being sorted for last-mile delivery.

Cargo handling occurs at every transition point in the transport chain where goods change mode or location: at a seaport moving from vessel to truck, at a rail terminal being loaded onto wagons, at a distribution centre being sorted for last-mile delivery. The term covers both the physical acts of loading and unloading and the operational process of transshipment between services. Handling costs – comprising labour, equipment deployment, and dwell time – represent a significant expense in international freight and are frequently billed separately at ports as a Terminal Handling Charge (THC). Poor handling coordination causes delays, raises the risk of cargo damage, and creates bottlenecks throughout the supply chain. Unlike warehousing, cargo handling is a flow process: goods remain only as long as the transfer operation itself requires.

**Source:** [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warenumschlag](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warenumschlag)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Cargo handling |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 129 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warenumschlag |

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