# Shipment

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> A shipment is the operative unit of freight transport: goods moved from one consignor to one consignee under a single transport contract and covered by a single transport document—whether that means one carton or a full truckload.

A shipment is the operative unit of freight transport: goods moved from one consignor to one consignee under a single transport contract and covered by a single transport document—whether that means one carton or a full truckload. In forwarding practice, a unique reference such as an Air Waybill (AWB) or bill of lading identifies the entire shipment; all accompanying paperwork, customs entries, and freight invoices refer to this same entity. Customs authorities assess duties, declared value, and origin at shipment level. A shipment differs from an order, which may be fulfilled across multiple shipments, and from a consignment—a term used interchangeably in many markets but carrying subtly different legal weight in certain jurisdictions.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipment)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Shipment |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 113 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipment |

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