Split Shipment
A Split Shipment is a single booked consignment that has to be divided and carried across more than one flight, vessel or vehicle because it cannot all travel together as planned — most often in air cargo when the full shipment does not fit the available capacity, weight limit or ULD space on one flight.
Splitting keeps at least part of the cargo moving rather than holding everything back, but it means the pieces of one air waybill arrive at different times, which must be tracked, reconciled and communicated so the consignee knows what has arrived and what is still to come. It can complicate customs clearance (which may need the full consignment) and delivery. Managing split shipments — flagging them, tracking each part, and reuniting the consignment — is a routine but important part of keeping air-cargo shipments moving and customers informed when capacity is tight.
When a shipment won't all fit one flight, splitting it keeps cargo moving instead of stranding it — but now one air waybill lands in pieces at different times, which has to be tracked and reconciled or customers and customs get confused. Handling split shipments cleanly is what keeps service intact when capacity is tight.
Why does a shipment get split?
Usually because the full consignment exceeds the capacity, weight or space available on a single flight or vehicle.
What is the challenge with split shipments?
Parts of one consignment arrive at different times and must be tracked, reconciled and communicated, and can complicate customs clearance and delivery.