Lead Time

Logistics Terms

Definition

The total elapsed time from placing an order to receiving the goods. In conventional logistics, lead time includes order processing, manufacturing, packing, shipping, and delivery — often measured in days or weeks. In time-critical logistics, lead time is compressed to hours: order confirmation (minutes), courier dispatch (30-90 minutes), flight booking (concurrent), transit (4-24 hours), last-mile delivery (1-3 hours). FlashGL quotes guaranteed lead times for each service tier and route.

Related Terms

Transit Time

The total elapsed time from shipment pickup at origin to delivery at destination. In time-critical logistics, transit time...

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Service Level Agreement SLA

A formal contract defining the expected service performance metrics between a logistics provider and a client. In time-critical...

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On-Time Delivery OTD

The percentage of shipments delivered within the agreed transit time window. OTD is the primary performance metric for...

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