# Cross dock

Operations · `Cross dock` · verification: source checked

A cross dock is a facility that sorts and recombines inbound items from many suppliers for outbound shipment to many customers, such as assembly plants, distributors, or retailers. Goods are unloaded from inbound vehicles and moved to shipping lanes for outbound vehicles in one step rather than being stored. If outbound vehicles leave frequently, the cross-dock floor may be cleared every 24 hours.

## Specification

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Kind | system |

## Study notes

- A cross dock is not a warehouse because it does not store goods.
- Pallets arriving from suppliers can be unloaded and taken directly to several shipping lanes for outbound trucks bound for different facilities.
- A manufacturer with many plants may operate a cross dock to gather materials from many suppliers.
- Clearing the cross-dock floor every 24 hours depends on frequent outbound vehicle departures.

## Sources

1. [Cross-Dock - Lean Enterprise Institute](https://www.lean.org/lexicon-terms/cross-dock/) (accessed 2026-10-25)

---

Source page: https://machineschema.com/operational/cross-dock  
JSON: https://machineschema.com/operational/cross-dock.json  
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite Machine Schema and the original sources.