Break bulk cargo

The rule is pretty simple: in logistics, all goods that can be transported in one piece fall into the category of “break bulk cargo”. There are certain criteria that apply: the shape of the goods must not change during transport – this is what sets it apart from loose or liquid goods. In addition, it must be a separate unit that can be handled as a pallet, package, barrel or roll.

There is no fixed limit for size or weight. Parcel services usually transport shipments weighing up to around 50 kilograms, while heavier or bulkier goods (goods exceeding the belt size) are considered break bulk cargo. The decisive factor is that they can be clearly delineated and transported individually – usually up to an upper limit of around six pallets.

In logistics, there are a lot of terms that sometimes refer to the same thing. Here is a brief overview in terms of break bulk cargo: Once packaged, the goods become packaged goods, also known as a collo – this name is reminiscent of the French word for parcel, “colis”. During transport, a package or parcel then becomes general cargo. And since general cargo is never transported alone, but together with many others, this is referred to as a lorry full of groupage freight.

1. Pre-leg: The individual shipments are first collected at their respective pick-up locations in the region of origin and then transported to the transhipment warehouse. There they are sorted – not only by destination, but also by size, weight and urgency. This ensures that all shipments are forwarded on time and that the lorries are utilised to their full capacity.
2. Main leg: The pre-sorted shipments are now transported to their respective destination regions. Depending on the distance, the main leg can take a few hours or even a whole day.
3. Final leg: Once the goods have arrived at the delivery carrier's warehouse, they are sorted again – this time according to their final delivery locations. They are then delivered to the recipients in small transport groups.

In order to offer nationwide delivery services, freight forwarders often join forces to form groupage networks. This allows them to pool regional capacities, benefit from the exchange of experience and deliver shipments reliably throughout the Germany or even Europe. Efficient data exchange between all partners and their respective transport management systems (TMS) is crucial for this.

To improve planning, fixed scheduled services are set up – regular, predefined routes, similar to regular bus services. These enable standard transit times of 24 to 48 hours and make break bulk transport predictable and economical.

• Cost-efficient: Individual goods are bundled with other shipments. With break bulk transport, customers only pay for the space and weight their shipment takes up in the lorry. This allows logistics costs to be controlled and planned in the best way possible.
• CO2-efficient: In general cargo transport, shipments are repeatedly sorted and bundled according to their destination. This avoids empty runs, which is good for the carbon footprint.
• Reliable: When freight forwarders join forces in groupage networks, they can reliably cover as large and dense a network as possible. Regular scheduled services ensure predictable standard transit times in general cargo transport.

Summary: Break bulk transport is one of the core tasks of logistics

Transporting individual shipments from A to B – that sounds simple at first. However, general cargo transport involves highly complex logistics processes based on a comprehensive network. Thanks to the right combination of pre-leg, main leg and post-leg, interrupted by several transhipment processes, all consignments are transported from their point of origin to their destination in the most efficient and cost-effective way.