Logistics terms · Logistics terms

What does Consolidation mean in logistics?

Short answer

Combining several small shipments from one or many shippers into a single larger load or container so that each pays only for its share of a full-load cost.

The basis of Indian PTL networks, LCL sea freight and air consolidations run by forwarders. The trade-off is extra handling and some added transit time at hubs. Ask our desk how this applies to your consignment.

Period: General definition. Data as of 29 Sep 2026. How we count

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The numbers behind this answer

Also called
groupage
Category
Operations & tech
Related terms
PTL / LTL (part truckload), LCL (less than container load), Hub-and-spoke, Cross-docking

Sources

  1. SSL logistics glossary

Period: General definition. Data as of 29 Sep 2026.

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