Cross Dock

A cross dock is a shipment that is temporarily stored at a warehouse facility before reaching its final destination. Freight forwarding shipments will be cross docked at carrier terminals while they are switched from one carrier to another. Freight shipping from or to Canada will be cross docked while the shipments await proper paperwork or are switched onto a different carrier.

Cross docks can have quick turnarounds or last for weeks or months. Whatever their timeline, they are always dropped off and picked up intact without any alterations (product being removed or added).

Warehousing companies will often facilitate cross docks in which they have little or nothing to do with the inbound or outbound freight. These warehouses simply act as a temporary storage facility for the shipment.