What does Colli mean in logistics?
The term “Colli” is the plural of “Collo”, and refers to the smallest unit of shipment in transport and logistics. In some German contexts, it is alternatively spelled “Kolli” or “Kollo”, but the internationally recognized spelling is “Colli” — derived from Italian and French, where “collo” or “colis” translate to freight item or package.
Definition and Use
In the logistics industry, a “collo” represents a single package or handling unit — such as a box, crate, sack, pallet, or barrel — that is treated as one item for transportation purposes. Even when multiple goods are stacked or shrink-wrapped together (e.g., on a Euro pallet), the entire bundle is referred to as one collo.
This bundling is especially important in commercial freight, where large volumes are shipped. Consolidating goods into manageable units allows for easier handling, tracking, and documentation.
Practical Example
On freight documents, the term “Colli” is used to indicate the number of individual packages in a shipment.
For instance: “The shipment consists of 50 colli.”
Where the Term is Used
You will encounter “colli” on various types of shipping documents — especially in national and international freight transport, including:
- Freight documents:
- CMR (Road Waybill)
- Air Waybill (AWB)
- Bill of Lading (B/L)
- Railway consignment note (CIM Consignment Note)
- Delivery note
- Packing list / Packing item list
- Customs declaration / Commercial invoice
- Pallet labels / Shipping labels
Images:
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