GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Allotment System
A shipper books an allotment system with a carrier to secure guaranteed capacity over an agreed period – a fixed number of container slots on a weekly liner service, for example, or pallet spaces in a warehouse.
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Source: https://www.supplychaindictionary.com/definition/allotment-system
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Logistics concept
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Definition & Explanation
A shipper books an allotment system with a carrier to secure guaranteed capacity over an agreed period – a fixed number of container slots on a weekly liner service, for example, or pallet spaces in a warehouse. Against this block, the shipper nominates shipments before defined cut-off times and releases any unused portion back to the carrier, who can then offer it to other customers. Allotment systems are standard practice in ocean and air freight. The arrangement gives shippers supply-chain certainty and carriers a more reliable load forecast – a balance that proves especially valuable when capacity is tight.
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