Cross-docking is best described as:

• A. Products move directly from inbound to outbound trucks without long-term storage.
• B. Products are stored for several days before shipping.
• C. Goods are sorted and repackaged at the dock.
• D. Inventory is rotated between multiple warehouses before distribution.

Answer: (A)

Cross-docking focuses on moving goods directly from inbound transportation to outbound shipments with little or no storage time. This speeds up the flow, reduces handling, and lowers inventory carrying costs, which is why it’s described as transferring items straight to the next leg of their journey.

If goods are stored for days before shipping, that contradicts cross-docking, which aims to minimize storage. Sorting or repackaging at the dock can occur in some operations, but it isn’t the defining feature—the key idea is the direct transfer with minimal storage. Rotating inventory between multiple warehouses describes a different distribution network approach, not the direct transfer between inbound and outbound shipments that cross-docking embodies.