Glossary

This glossary brings together key terms commonly used in delivery operations, logistics, and route planning.


A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
Actual Arrival Time
The real time when a delivery vehicle arrives at a customer’s location, used to measure punctuality.
Actual Departure Time
The real time when a vehicle leaves a stop or depot, important for tracking route efficiency.
AI Route Optimization
Using artificial intelligence to calculate the most efficient delivery routes based on traffic, stops, and constraints.
API
Application Programming Interface; allows software systems to communicate and exchange delivery or route data seamlessly.
B
Backhaul
Returning a vehicle to its origin point with cargo, ideally to reduce empty miles and increase efficiency.
C
Capacity Planning
Assessing vehicle and workforce capacity to ensure all deliveries can be completed efficiently.
Capacity Utilization
The percentage of a vehicle’s available space or weight capacity that is actually used during deliveries.
Carbon Neutral Shipping
Delivery practices that offset or eliminate carbon emissions, often through green logistics initiatives.
Carrier
A person or company responsible for transporting goods from one location to another.
Cold Chain Delivery
Transportation of temperature-sensitive goods, such as food or pharmaceuticals, under controlled conditions.
Contactless Delivery
A delivery method where the driver leaves the package at the customer’s location without direct interaction.
Cost per Delivery
The total expense associated with completing a single delivery, including fuel, labor, and overhead.
Customer Experience
The overall satisfaction and perception a customer has with the delivery service, including timeliness and communication.
D
Deadhead Miles
Distance traveled by a vehicle without carrying any cargo, often considered waste in logistics.
Delivery Accuracy
Measure of how correctly deliveries match order details, including items, quantities, and destinations.
Delivery Confirmation
Verification that a delivery has been completed, often via signature, photo, or electronic acknowledgment.
Delivery Constraints
Specific requirements for deliveries, such as time windows, vehicle capacity, or handling instructions.
Delivery Density
A measure of how many deliveries are concentrated within a specific area, used to optimize routing and reduce travel time.
Delivery Expectations
The agreed or perceived level of service, timing, and quality that customers anticipate for their deliveries.
Delivery Forecasting
Predicting the number of deliveries expected over a period to optimize staffing, routing, and inventory.
Delivery Hub
A central location where goods are stored, sorted, and dispatched to final delivery points.
Delivery KPI
Key performance indicators used to measure delivery efficiency, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.
Delivery Management
Overseeing all aspects of delivery operations, including planning, execution, and monitoring.
Delivery Notification
Communication sent to customers to update them on the status or expected arrival of their delivery.
Delivery Performance
Measurement of delivery efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, and overall service quality.
Delivery Route Planner
A tool or software that creates optimal delivery routes based on stops, traffic, vehicle capacity, and delivery windows.
Delivery Window
The specific time frame during which a delivery is scheduled to arrive at the customer’s location.
Demand Forecasting
Predicting future delivery volumes to plan resources, routes, and staffing.
Depot
A central location where delivery vehicles are stored, loaded, or maintained before starting routes.
Direct-to-Consumer Delivery (D2C)
Shipping goods directly from the manufacturer or seller to the customer, bypassing intermediaries.
Dispatch
The process of assigning delivery tasks to drivers or vehicles and coordinating the movement of goods.
Dispatch Optimization
The process of efficiently assigning deliveries to drivers or vehicles to reduce travel time, costs, and delays.
Driver App
Mobile application used by drivers to receive routes, capture POD, and communicate with dispatchers.
Driver Tracking
Monitoring driver location, movement, and performance in real time for operational oversight.
Dynamic Routing
Adjusting delivery routes in real time based on traffic, delays, or other operational changes to maintain efficiency.
E
Empty Miles
Distance traveled by a vehicle without carrying cargo, representing inefficiency and cost.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
The projected time a delivery is expected to reach its destination, often used for customer notifications.
ETA Accuracy
The degree to which estimated arrival times match actual delivery times, important for customer satisfaction.
F
First Attempt Delivery Rate
Percentage of deliveries successfully completed on the first attempt without needing a re-delivery.
First Mile Delivery
The initial stage of the delivery process, moving goods from the supplier to a warehouse or distribution hub.
Fleet Management
The administration of a company’s delivery vehicles, including maintenance, scheduling, and performance tracking.
Fleet Trackers
Devices or software used to monitor vehicle location, performance, and route adherence.
G
Geofencing
A technology that creates virtual geographic boundaries to trigger notifications or actions when vehicles enter or exit a zone.
Green Logistics
Sustainable delivery practices aimed at reducing environmental impact, such as low-emission vehicles and route efficiency.
H
Hyperlocal Delivery
Deliveries made within a very small, defined geographic area, often within the same city or neighborhood.
I
In-House Delivery
Delivery operations managed and executed directly by the company’s own staff and fleet.
L
Last Mile Delivery
The final stage of the delivery process, where goods are transported from a distribution hub to the customer’s location. Efficient last mile delivery is critical for customer satisfaction and cost control.
Last Mile Technology
Software or tools designed to optimize the efficiency and visibility of last mile delivery operations.
Load Balancing
Distributing deliveries across vehicles or routes to optimize efficiency and prevent overloading.
Load Planning
The process of organizing deliveries to maximize vehicle capacity and efficiency.
Local Delivery
Deliveries that are completed within a local region or city, typically same-day or next-day.
M
Multi Depot
A logistics setup where deliveries are managed from multiple depots to improve coverage and efficiency.
Multi-Drop Delivery
Deliveries that involve dropping off goods at multiple addresses during a single route.
Multi-Stop Route
A delivery route that includes multiple stops, often optimized for efficiency and minimal travel time.
O
Omnichannel Logistics
Coordinating deliveries across multiple sales channels, such as online, in-store, and mobile.
On-Demand Deliveries
Delivery services fulfilled immediately or within a short time frame after order placement.
On-Time Delivery
A key performance metric that measures the percentage of deliveries completed within the scheduled window.
Order Fulfillment
The complete process of preparing, packing, and delivering customer orders.
Order Management
Tracking and managing orders from placement to final delivery.
Out for Delivery
Status indicating a package has left the depot and is en route to the customer.
Outsourced Delivery
Delivery operations handled by an external provider rather than in-house staff.
P
POD Capture
The process of digitally collecting proof of delivery using mobile devices or apps.
POD Verification
Ensuring proof of delivery is valid and meets company or regulatory standards.
Priority Delivery
A delivery service that ensures faster fulfillment for high-urgency orders.
Proof of Attempt
Documentation or evidence showing a driver attempted a delivery but could not complete it, e.g., due to absence.
Proof of Delivery (POD)
Documentation confirming that a delivery has been completed, often including a signature, photo, or electronic confirmation.
R
Real-Time Dispatch
Assigning deliveries to drivers dynamically as new orders come in or conditions change.
Real-Time Tracking
Technology that allows monitoring of vehicles and deliveries as they happen, providing visibility to both dispatchers and customers.
Reverse Logistics
The process of returning goods from customers back to warehouses or manufacturers for returns, repairs, or recycling.
Route Deviation
When a delivery driver moves off the planned route, potentially causing delays or inefficiency.
Route Optimization
The process of planning the most efficient delivery routes to minimize travel time, distance, or costs while meeting delivery requirements.
Route Planning
The process of designing delivery routes to efficiently cover all stops while meeting time windows and constraints.
S
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
A contractual commitment defining the expected performance, delivery times, or quality standards for service providers.
Smart Routing
Using AI or algorithms to automatically create the most efficient delivery routes.
Stop Consolidation
Combining multiple deliveries or pickups in the same location or area to improve efficiency.
Stop Sequencing
The order in which delivery stops are scheduled to minimize travel distance and time for a route.
Stop Type
Classification of a stop as either a delivery or a collection/pickup point.
T
Territory
A designated geographic area assigned to a driver, depot, or team for delivery operations.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Outsourcing logistics and delivery operations to external service providers.
Threshold Delivery
Deliveries that meet or exceed a minimum volume, distance, or value threshold for efficiency calculations.
TMS (Transportation Management System)
Software that helps plan, execute, and optimize the movement of goods, including routing, carrier selection, and tracking.
U
Unnecessary Mileage
Extra distance traveled by vehicles that does not contribute to completing deliveries efficiently.
W
White Glove Delivery
Premium delivery service that includes unpacking, assembly, or installation of goods at the customer’s location.
Z
Zone-Based Planning
Organizing deliveries by geographic zones to improve efficiency and reduce travel time.