GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 24, 2026
dwell time
The purpose of tracking dwell time is to quantify how long a shipment, container, or vehicle sits at a given location – from arrival through to onward dispatch – and to identify where costly delays accumulate.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwell_time
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
The purpose of tracking dwell time is to quantify how long a shipment, container, or vehicle sits at a given location – from arrival through to onward dispatch – and to identify where costly delays accumulate. The metric applies across the supply chain: seaport terminals, inland depots, customs warehouses, and distribution centres all use it. Most operators grant a free period before storage or demurrage charges kick in, making dwell time a direct cost driver for shippers and consignees alike. Excessive dwell time often signals document delays, port congestion, or mismatched pick-up schedules. Unlike demurrage or detention, dwell time is a neutral, location-agnostic measure – it captures elapsed time without attributing responsibility for the delay. For a ship's complete port stay from arrival at anchorage to departure, the related performance metric is the vessel turnaround time.
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