# Distribution logistics

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Freight forwarders, contract logistics providers, and trading companies rely on distribution logistics to move finished and commercial goods reliably from the point of dispatch to the end customer.

Freight forwarders, contract logistics providers, and trading companies rely on distribution logistics to move finished and commercial goods reliably from the point of dispatch to the end customer. The discipline covers network planning – warehouse locations, catchment areas, capacity sizing – as well as day-to-day operations: warehousing, order picking, packaging, shipment execution, and delivery monitoring. It differs from procurement logistics, which organises inbound flows of raw materials and components, and from production logistics, which governs internal material movements within a facility. As the final, customer-facing stage of the supply chain, distribution logistics directly influences delivery reliability, return rates, and customer satisfaction.

**Source:** [https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/distributionslogistik-36278](https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/distributionslogistik-36278)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Distribution logistics |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 101 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/distributionslogistik-36278 |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/distribution-logistics-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/distribution-logistics-2)*

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