What is Cut-off time (closing time)?

Cut-off time (closing time) is the latest time a container may be delivered to a terminal for loading to a scheduled barge, vessel, train, or truck. Cut-off time (closing time) means the last possible time when containers/cargoes may be delivered to a ship or designated point.

Key takeaways:

In intralogistics, the cut-off time describes the time at which an order must leave the warehouse and be transferred to the carrier so that it can still be delivered within a predefined period of time.

This cut-off time, which in intralogistics describes the input of the order into the warehouse management system, plays an increasingly important role, especially in e-commerce (online trade).

The necessary time can generally only be gained by shorter throughput times in the warehouse between order entry and delivery. This allows the cut-off time to be shifted backward, thus avoiding the loss of a delivery day.