A short shipment can best be described as?

A short shipment refers specifically to cargo that is noted on the shipment manifest but fails to arrive at the destination air terminal. This term is used in logistics and airlift operations to identify discrepancies between the declared shipments and what is physically received. In this context, it highlights problems with inventory control or transportation logistics where a specific quantity of cargo was anticipated but is missing upon arrival.

In contrast, cargo lost during transport relates to items that may have been completely unaccounted for, perhaps due to theft or an accident, which is a different situation than simply being short. Damage to cargo during shipment pertains to items that arrive but are not in the expected condition, while delays involve timing issues rather than issues of missing items altogether. The definition of a short shipment specifically focuses on the absence of expected cargo as per the manifest, making it key for identifying logistical concerns in air freight operations.