Vehicle terminal

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Last updated: 20 September 2026

Source: https://www.blg-logistics.com/newsroom/blg-investiert-in-standortentwicklung-im-hamburger-hafen

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Logistics Concept

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1 min

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5 articles

Definition & Explanation

A vehicle terminal (car terminal) is a port facility designed for the handling, interim storage and technical processing of finished vehicles. Alongside extensive parking areas it typically offers a workshop, a wash facility, a paint shop and, increasingly, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles: cars are prepared for delivery there rather than merely parked. Unlike a ro-ro terminal, which is defined by the handling method (driving on and off via ramps), the term vehicle terminal describes specialisation in vehicles as a cargo type — a vehicle terminal normally works by the ro-ro method, whereas a ro-ro terminal does not necessarily handle vehicles. For vehicle forwarders, the decisive question is how many processing steps are performed at the terminal itself, since this saves pre- and on-carriage.