GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 27, 2026
Transit time
Forwarders and carriers measure transit time as the total duration from cargo collection at the shipper to final delivery at the consignee.
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Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/transit-time.asp
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Check transit time: city-to-city index
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Definition & Explanation
Forwarders and carriers measure transit time as the total duration from cargo collection at the shipper to final delivery at the consignee. Beyond the actual transport legs, it encompasses cargo handling, customs clearance, storage, and equipment waiting times – which is why transit time consistently exceeds pure driving or sailing time. As a key performance indicator, it directly shapes customer expectations, inventory holding costs, and the working capital tied up in goods in transit. Extended vessel round voyage times – for example due to Cape Route diversions – feed directly into transit times. It should not be confused with the customs transit time limit, which is a legally prescribed and enforceable deadline; transit time, by contrast, is an operational planning and service quality metric with no regulatory obligation attached.
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Transit index
Check transit time: city-to-city index
P50/P80 transit times for sea, air and road — sourced and confidence-rated, not a carrier quote.
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