Freight glossaryFreightInternational ShippingWarehousing
Break Bulk
Definition
Break bulk has two meanings in freight: cargo that is not in containers and is handled piece by piece, and the act of splitting one large inbound shipment into smaller outbound loads.
What it means
As a cargo type, the FHWA glossary describes breakbulk cargo as "cargo of non-uniform sizes, often transported on pallets, sacks, drums, or bags" that requires "labor-intensive loading and unloading processes."[1] Ocean carriers use it for pieces that vastly exceed a standard container's size or weight and are handled as non-unitised cargo.[2]
As an activity, breaking bulk means splitting a consolidated shipment. U.S. customs rules, for example, let containerized cargo move to a container station "for the purpose of breaking bulk and redelivery."[3] A cross-dock often breaks bulk this way.
Example
A single trailer of mixed pallets for eight stores arrives at a cross-dock. The load is broken down by store and reloaded onto three local delivery trucks, which is breaking bulk in the warehouse sense.
Related
Related terms
- Freight ConsolidationFreight consolidation is combining several smaller shipments into one larger load, such as several LTL...Glossary
- Cross-DockingCross-docking is moving freight from inbound trucks or containers straight onto outbound trucks at a dock...Glossary
- Out-of-Gauge CargoOut-of-gauge (OOG) cargo is freight too long, wide or tall to fit inside a standard container, so it travels...Glossary
- Container Freight StationA container freight station (CFS) is a facility where cargo is loaded into or unloaded from containers...Glossary
Related questions
Related guides
Sources
- Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, “Freight Glossary,” Government glossary. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Maersk, “Special cargo,” Carrier service page. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “19 CFR § 19.41, Movement of cargo to a container station,” Federal regulation. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.