GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Last-Mile Delivery
Unlike trunk haulage, which moves consolidated loads between hubs, last-mile delivery is the final, recipient-specific handover of individual parcels or shipments at a residential or commercial address.
Quick Answer
Last updated: Published:
Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/last-mile-delivery.asp
Category
Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
Reading time
1 min
Words
135
Mentioned in
–
Definition & Explanation
Unlike trunk haulage, which moves consolidated loads between hubs, last-mile delivery is the final, recipient-specific handover of individual parcels or shipments at a residential or commercial address. For courier, express, and parcel (CEP) operators and e-commerce fulfillment providers, it forms the core operational process: drivers run fixed or dynamically calculated routes each day, scan every parcel at the point of handover, and record proof of delivery or a safe-place authorization. Key cost drivers include repeated delivery attempts when recipients are absent, tight customer time windows, returns management, and the contrast between high-density urban stops and widely spread suburban or rural addresses. Last-mile delivery refers specifically to the physical handover moment—when the shipment actually reaches the recipient—and is therefore narrower in scope than last-mile logistics, which covers the broader network design and planning system behind it.
Next steps
Matching tools and partners
Related Terms
You might also be interested in these terms
⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020
Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
Analyze all 11 Incoterms 2020: cost matrix, risk timeline, insurance gap detector and customs responsibility – free, no login required.
Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox
Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.
Community Questions & Answers
Share your knowledge, ask follow-up questions, or add practical insights to this page. Every contribution is moderated before publication.
No community answers yet. Be the first.