What counts as transit time – and what does not
Transit time includes the period from collection at the consignor to delivery at the consignee, including transhipment at depots and hubs. It does not include booking time, packing time, the lead time before collection, delays caused by customs clearance (external factors), or waiting for collection. Note: forwarders' websites often quote times "from collection", not "from receipt of order".
Typical transit times at a glance
Domestic groupage (Germany): 1–2 business days. EU groupage (Germany–France, Germany–Netherlands): 2–4 business days. EU groupage to distant destinations (Germany–Spain, Germany–Greece): 4–8 business days. Domestic direct run: 1 day. Intercontinental air freight: 1–3 days. Sea freight China–Europe: 25–40 days.
How to secure transit times contractually
For time-critical goods, transit times should be agreed contractually as a delivery deadline guarantee – with defined contractual penalties for lateness. Standard groupage terms include no guarantee. Direct runs offer a time guarantee. Just-in-time deliveries require binding time window agreements and frequently direct transport.
