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International transport

Transit time: what it measures and from when it counts

Transit time is the time a shipment takes between an agreed reference point (usually manifest closure at origin) and delivery to the buyer, measured in business or calendar days depending on the agreement.

It is the central service indicator and the one marketplaces use to set delivery promises to the buyer and penalties for the seller. That is why it matters to define precisely when it starts and which events pause it.

A typical transit time has three legs: international transport, customs clearance and last mile. The first two are fairly stable; the third varies by delivery zone.

Shipping with MailAmericas

How Transit time works in our operation

MailAmericas publishes transit times by destination and, in marketplace agreements, defines the start point (manifest closure) and the events that stop the clock, such as a customs hold for buyer data. In the Cross-Border service the average delivery time is 5 days.

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Frequently asked question

Which events pause the transit time?

Those outside the operator's control: a buyer who does not provide their ID, an extraordinary customs inspection, a national holiday at destination. Which ones apply is defined in the service agreement.

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