Transit time is the duration of transport from the point of loading to the point of delivery, excluding order preparation, and directly affects shelf-life budgeting, stock planning and reefer operating costs for perishable and frozen goods.
In trade practice
Freight forwarders quote transit times per route and mode; road transit from Ukraine to Central Europe differs significantly from sea freight to Western European ports. For frozen goods, buyers use transit time to calculate the remaining shelf life on arrival and to plan intake scheduling. Suppliers should quote realistic transit times that include typical border-crossing delays rather than best-case figures. Discrepancies between quoted and actual transit times are a frequent source of disputes over shelf life on delivery.
In a specification
Contracts for frozen or perishable goods should state the maximum permitted transit time and specify that the seller must notify the buyer if a delay is anticipated, allowing the buyer to adjust intake planning.