What does rehandling mean?
Rehandling means handling or moving something again, especially when goods have to be redirected, resorted, or processed a second time. In freight and warehouse operations, the term can refer either to the extra movement itself or to a charge imposed because of it. For example, a carrier may levy a rehandling fee when a parcel is delivered to an incorrect depot, sent to the wrong sorting centre, or otherwise requires additional processing. The word is more common in commercial and logistical contexts than in everyday speech. It is related to the verb rehandle, meaning to handle again, and derives from the prefix re-, indicating repetition, combined with handling. Although the basic meaning is straightforward, rehandling is useful in business, transport, and supply-chain discussions because it identifies a specific kind of extra work and cost affecting a shipment.
The act of handling or moving goods again, especially within a warehouse, sorting, or transport system.
"The carrier applied a rehandling charge after the parcel was sent to the wrong depot."
Chiefly used in freight, transport, and warehousing contexts.
Present participle of rehandle: to handle or move something again.
"The warehouse crew spent the afternoon rehandling the delayed shipments."
Used as the present participle of the verb rehandle, especially in logistics contexts.
Plural is uncommon; the term is normally used in the singular or in compound phrases such as rehandling fees.
"The incident generated several rehandlings and additional documentation."
In logistics, rehandling is the extra journey a shipment takes through a warehouse when it cannot proceed directly to its destination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rehandling come from?
The word is formed by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with handling, which derives from handle. Handle comes from Old English forms related to hand, reflecting the original idea of taking hold of something by hand. The prefix re- indicates that the handling is being repeated rather than performed for the first time.
Related word forms
How rehandling is actually used
This is chiefly a logistics and freight-forwarding term. It is formal and relatively uncommon in general conversation.