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- Racking ComponentsThe structural and accessory parts of a warehouse storage rack. Core elements include uprights or frames, load beams, bracing, base plates, and connectors or locking pins. Load surfaces and spacers include pallet supports, wire decking, and row spacers, with safety items such as back stops, column guards, end of aisle protectors, and shims. Components are specified by capacity, dimensions, and finish, and are matched to rack styles such as selective, drive in, push back, and pallet flow.
- Rate ShoppingThe process of comparing transportation options for a specific shipment across multiple carriers and service levels to select an option based on price and service terms. It evaluates base rates, discounts, fuel and accessorial surcharges, dimensional weight, zones or lanes, transit days, and contract rules. It can be done manually or by software in a transportation or multicarrier system using shipment details such as origin, destination, weight, dimensions, and package count. The result is a ranked list of carrier services with total landed shipping cost and expected transit time.
- Real Time Visibility PlatformSoftware that collects and unifies live shipment, order, and asset data from carriers, telematics, EDI feeds, and application programming interfaces. It normalizes events across modes and legs to show location, milestones, estimated times of arrival, and exceptions through maps, dashboards, alerts, and data feeds. Identifiers commonly supported include tracking numbers, purchase orders, bills of lading, container and trailer numbers, and vehicle identifiers. These platforms connect with transportation, warehouse, and enterprise systems through integrations such as APIs, webhooks, and file exchange.
- Redelivery FeeA charge assessed by a carrier when a shipment requires an additional delivery attempt after the original attempt was not completed. Applies to parcel, less than truckload, truckload, and final mile services. The amount is defined in the carrier tariff or contract and may be billed per shipment, per stop, or per hour based on service rules. It is commonly triggered by a missed appointment, an address correction with a new attempt, a refusal followed by later acceptance, or a request to reschedule.
- Reefer Refrigerated FreightShipments that must be kept within a specified temperature range during transport using insulated equipment with active cooling or heating. Equipment includes refrigerated trailers for road moves, refrigerated containers for rail or ocean, and temperature controlled air units. Standard practices include precooling, documented set points, continuous power during transfers, temperature monitoring or data logging, and seal control at doors for chain of custody.
- Regional CarriersTransportation companies that handle parcel, freight, or final mile deliveries within a defined geographic area rather than across a whole country. Coverage is limited to specific states or provinces and supported by regional hubs and line haul routes. Shipments are accepted when both pickup and delivery fall inside the carrier’s service map, or the carrier interlines with partners for moves beyond its area.
- Remote WarehousingThe practice of storing and handling inventory in off site facilities that are geographically separate from a company’s main distribution center or sales locations. These sites may be company owned or operated by third parties and can support storage, order processing, or forward stocking, with inventory tracked through a warehouse management system and coordinated inbound and outbound transportation.
- Reorder Point Formula Rop FormulaThe calculation used to set the inventory level that triggers a new order. Basic form ROP equals expected demand during lead time plus safety stock. Deterministic version ROP = d × L + SS, where d is average demand per time unit, L is lead time in the same units, and SS is safety stock. Probabilistic version ROP = expected demand during lead time + z × σDL, where z is the service level factor and σDL is the standard deviation of demand during lead time. Values are set per SKU and require consistent units.
- ReroutingThe change of a shipment’s planned path, carrier, or destination after scheduling, either before pickup or while in transit. It redirects freight to a different route, node, or address and may modify mode, service level, or delivery window. Rerouting is arranged through a transportation management system or carrier system using revised shipping instructions such as reconsignment orders or address corrections.
- ReslottingThe planned relocation of SKUs to new storage or pick locations within a warehouse. Item placement is determined by data such as velocity, cube, weight, handling requirements, and order profiles, assigning products to areas like pallet rack, carton flow, or forward pick faces. Objectives include shorter picker travel, balanced workload, and fewer replenishments while meeting constraints such as temperature zones and hazardous material rules. Reslotting may be run as a discrete project or on a recurring cycle, often supported by a warehouse management system WMS or slotting software.
- Retail LogisticsThe planning, movement, and control of goods from suppliers to retail selling points and end customers. It includes inbound transportation to distribution centers, storage, inventory replenishment, order picking and packing, store delivery, e commerce fulfillment such as ship from store and buy online pick up in store, last mile delivery, and returns. Activities coordinate carriers, warehouses, stores, and systems like WMS, TMS, and POS to maintain inventory accuracy and meet service level and routing guide requirements.
- RetailerA business that sells goods directly to end consumers through stores, websites, marketplaces, or other channels. Retailers buy from manufacturers, wholesalers, or distributors, set prices, choose assortments, and manage merchandising, inventory, payment, and returns. They may operate brick and mortar locations, e commerce sites, or combined models such as buy online pick up in store and ship from store.
- Retailer Routing GuideA document issued by a retailer that defines how vendors must ship purchase orders to that retailer. It specifies approved carriers and service levels, freight terms such as collect or prepaid, appointment booking, required documents including bill of lading, packing list, advance ship notice ASN, and UCC 128 label, and carton and pallet standards for sizing and labeling. It also states EDI expectations, accessorial approval, delivery windows, and chargeback rules for noncompliance. Vendors use it to prepare, book, label, and tender shipments so receipts align with the retailer’s receiving processes.
- Return Merchandise Authorization RmaPermission issued by a seller or manufacturer that assigns a unique identifier and instructions for a product return, exchange, or repair. The RMA records item and order details such as quantity, SKU or serial number, invoice or purchase order number, and reason codes, and may include routing or a prepaid label. It is used to control receipt, track the item through reverse logistics, and match refunds, replacements, or repairs to inventory and financial records.
- Returns ManagementThe policies and processes for handling goods moving from customers or stores back to a warehouse or supplier. It covers authorization, collection, transport, check in, inspection, and disposition such as restock, repair, refurbishment, return to vendor, recycling, or disposal. Activities include issuing return merchandise authorizations RMAs, updating inventory and financial records, coordinating reverse logistics, and recording reasons and data for quality and warranty control.
- Reverse Cross DockingA returns handling method where incoming goods from customers or stores are received, quickly sorted by disposition, and shipped out to designated destinations without long term storage. Items are inspected, scanned, relabeled if needed, and routed to restock, repair, refurbishment, return to vendor, recycling, or disposal. The process uses staged outbound lanes, consolidated loads, and return authorizations to move product and data back through the supply chain with minimal dwell time.
- Reverse LogisticsThe planning and control of product, part, packaging, and data flows from customers or downstream locations back to a seller, manufacturer, or recycler. Activities include return authorization, pickup or drop off, transport, receiving, identification, inspection, testing, grading, and disposition such as restock, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, recycle, or disposal. Processes also capture reason codes, update inventory and financial records, issue credits or exchanges, maintain chain of custody, and comply with applicable environmental and product regulations.
- Reverse Logistics SoftwareA set of digital tools that manage the movement of goods after delivery, including returns, exchanges, repairs, refurbishment, and recycling. Core functions include creating return merchandise authorizations, generating labels, routing and triage, inspection and grading, disposition decisions such as restock, repair, scrap, or resale, and updating inventory and accounting records. The software captures reason codes and serial or lot data, integrates with order management, warehouse management, and transportation systems, and maintains tracking and audit trails from initiation to final disposition. Reporting summarizes volumes, costs, and recovery value.
- Reverse PickA warehouse process that cancels a completed or in progress pick so items are removed from the order and returned to available stock. This step deallocates the inventory, updates pick documents and lot or serial records, and directs items back to their recorded location. It is used before shipment when an order changes or a picking error requires correction.
- Reverse Supply ChainThe processes that move products, parts, packaging, and related data from customers back to sellers, service centers, or manufacturers. It covers returns, warranty claims, repairs, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and disposal, as well as crediting, replacements, and restocking. Activities include authorization, pickup, consolidation, inspection, grading, disposition, and updates to inventory and financial records. It manages value recovery and proper handling of goods after sale or at end of life.
- RFID TagsLabels or hard tags with a microchip and antenna that store identifiers and communicate with readers by radio frequency. They enable item identification without line of sight and can be attached to products, cartons, pallets, or returnable assets. Types include passive tags powered by the reader field and active tags with an internal battery, operating at LF, HF, or UHF bands. Data formats often follow EPC standards and are captured at dock doors, on conveyors, or by handhelds for inventory control and shipment tracking.
- Rolling WarehouseAn inventory tactic that keeps goods in loaded trucks or containers as mobile storage rather than placing them in a fixed facility. Inventory remains in transit and is timed to arrive for cross docking, store delivery, or set appointment windows. The method relies on transportation capacity, tracking, and scheduling to control the location and availability of stock. It has implications for cost allocation, detention exposure, liability for goods in transit, and planning for dwell time and driver hours.
- Route Planning Softwareroute planning software is a term used in warehousing fulfillment or transportation that has a specific operational meaning. Its use is defined by documented procedures data elements and the systems that record each step. When applied it will reference known objects such as orders loads locations identifiers service levels or costs.