Stückgut
Also: Stückgüter, Stückgutsendung, Stückgutsendungen, Piece Goods, General Cargo
AI-generated
General cargo refers to individually handleable shipment units – such as cartons, crates or pallets – that are transported neither as bulk goods nor as liquids. The term is fundamental in intralogistics and freight transport for planning packaging, handling and storage.
Key facts
- General cargo consists of individually handleable, countable shipment units such as cartons, pallets or crates – as opposed to bulk goods or liquids.
- General cargo networks consolidate consignments from multiple shippers at transhipment points, reducing costs but extending transit times.
- Package dimensions, weights and packaging quality determine whether surcharges apply and how high the damage rate in transport will be.
- The carrier's liability for general cargo damage is limited by law; cargo insurance provides broader protection.
- In intralogistics, the specific form of the package determines which conveying technology, storage equipment and picking method is appropriate.
What is general cargo?
General cargo encompasses all goods that are transported and stored as clearly defined, individually handleable units. Typical packaging forms include cartons, crates, sacks, drums, pallets and mesh boxes. The defining characteristic is individual identifiability: each unit can be counted, weighed, labelled and recorded separately. This clearly distinguishes general cargo from bulk goods (e.g. grain, sand) and liquid goods, which are captured only as a quantity rather than as discrete units.
General cargo in transport practice
In road transport, general cargo is frequently carried via so-called general cargo networks. Freight forwarders collect consignments from various shippers, consolidate them at transhipment points (depots) and distribute them bundled to the recipient addresses. This consolidation – also known as groupage – reduces the transport cost per consignment but typically extends transit times compared with a direct load. Consignments that fill an entire vehicle, by contrast, are transported as a full truck load (FTL) and are not treated as conventional general cargo.
In intralogistics, the form of the general cargo determines which conveying technology, storage equipment and picking method is appropriate. Palletised general cargo requires different racking systems and industrial trucks than carton goods or individual containers. Anyone planning warehouses and conveying technology must therefore know the specific range of packaging dimensions, weights and forms.
What matters when selecting and planning
For logistics managers, the following aspects are particularly relevant for general cargo:
- Packaging dimensions and weights: If consignments exceed defined threshold values, freight forwarders may apply surcharges or refuse carriage. Common thresholds vary by network in terms of length, volumetric weight or individual weight – these are vendor-dependent and should be clarified contractually.
- Load securing: General cargo must be packaged and secured in such a way that it survives handling operations and transport movements without damage. Responsibility for appropriate packaging lies in principle with the shipper.
- Liability and damage processing: In domestic road freight transport in Germany, the HGB applies; in international transport, the CMR applies. Both limit the carrier's liability per kilogram of gross weight; broader protection requires separate cargo insurance.
- Transit times and cut-off times: General cargo networks operate with fixed collection times. Missing these delays delivery by at least one working day. For time-critical consignments, express options or direct haulage should be considered.
- Handling capability: Packages must be handleable mechanically or manually. Unusual shapes, fragile goods or insufficient stability complicate handling and increase the damage rate.
The choice between general cargo shipping, groupage and full truck load depends not only on shipment volume but also on delivery frequency, recipient structure and cost targets. There is no universally superior option; the optimal solution depends on the specific consignment mix and the agreed service levels.
Related terms
- Avisierung
Pre-advice refers to the advance notification of a delivery by the supplier to the recipient before the goods arrive. It enables the warehouse to plan staffing, dock capacity, and put-away processes in a timely manner.
- Break Bulk Point
A break bulk point is a transshipment node in a logistics network where large shipments or full loads are split into smaller units and sorted for regional onward distribution. It sits between the entry node of a transport network and the final recipients.
- Carrier
A carrier is a transport service provider that physically moves goods from a point of origin to a destination. It assumes operational responsibility for the actual transport – as opposed to freight forwarders or logistics service providers, who often only coordinate.
- Colli
Colli refers to a single package within a shipment – such as a carton, a crate, or a bundle. The number of colli represents the package count in shipping documents and serves as the basis for labeling, loading, and freight billing.
- Corlette
Corlette refers to an industry-specific metal load carrier or carrier frame used in goods handling and warehouse logistics. As the term is not governed by a uniform standard, dimensions, load capacity and handling rules must be defined as binding specifications within each respective network.
- Corletten
Corletten is the plural of Corlette and refers to specialized, often industry-specific metal carriers or frames used as load carriers in the goods cycle. Since no uniform standard exists, individual specifications regarding dimensions, load capacity, and stackability are essential.
- Cross-Docking
Cross-docking is a logistics method in which goods are transferred directly from inbound to outbound transport at a transshipment point, without going through conventional put-away and storage.
- Cross-Docking
Cross-docking refers to a goods handling process in which items are transferred directly from inbound receiving to outbound shipping without interim storage. The goal is to reduce throughput times and avoid warehousing costs.
- Cut-off-Zeit
The cut-off time is the latest point by which an order must be received in order to be processed, picked, or shipped on the same day. Orders arriving after this time are generally not considered until the next processing cycle.
- Distributionslager
A distribution center is a type of warehouse that consolidates goods and prepares them for targeted delivery to customers, branches, or downstream locations.
- Distributionslogistik
Distribution logistics encompasses all processes that move goods from the manufacturer or warehouse to the end customer – from network planning through storage and transportation to order fulfillment.