GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Cargo Cut Off

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.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.freightos.com/glossary/cut-off-time/

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Definition & Explanation

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.

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Cargo Cut Off

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Related Terms

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