Terminals are facilities where load units are shifted between links in a
transportation network. Examples of terminals are ports, crossing points of
transport modes (e.g. between road and rail), and facilities specialized in fast
throughput of load units which makes cross-docking possible. Examples of terminal
activities are transshipments, coordination and cross-docking (Lumsden, 2006). The
terminal activities can take place in a warehouse or a DC. The terminal function may
then be carried out as any other consolidation activity – the only difference is that the
arriving good has a known receiver prior to arrival at the warehouse or DC and is not
stored there.