Feed the network
Move products between production sites, terminals, major depots or distribution facilities. Think volumes, loading slots, receiving capacity and planned handovers.
Transport flows / practical guide
Primary vs. Secondary Logistics.
Know the flow before you plan.
A practical comparison of upstream or inter-facility movements and downstream distribution — including Oil & Gas, manufacturing and retail examples.
Transport flowsOil & GasRoute planning
Knowledge / in practiceConcept diagram
From supply to delivery
Same product. Two different planning contexts.
SourceRefinery / plant
DepotHandover
DestinationStations / sites
Flow 01Primary / trunk
Flow 02Secondary / distribution
ⓘ Illustrative model · No live transport or customer data
01 / The short answer
Two flow types.
Different planning questions.
Primary logistics commonly describes the upstream, trunk or inter-facility movement that supplies a distribution network. Secondary logistics commonly describes distribution from that network toward stores, commercial delivery points or final customers. The handover between the two is defined by the operating network, not simply by the number of kilometres driven.
Serve delivery locations
Move products from distribution locations to stations, shops, customer facilities or other endpoints. Think stops, delivery windows, vehicle suitability and proof of delivery.
The essential distinction
Primary and secondary describe where a movement sits within a specific logistics network. They do not describe who owns the truck. That is a separate question addressed by 1PL, 2PL, 3PL and 4PL.
In oil product distribution, the terminology is especially useful: refined product flows from refineries or supply terminals to storage depots are commonly primary; onward depot-to-service-station and customer deliveries are secondary. Other sectors use the terms less consistently, which makes a written definition important.
02 / Interactive example
Where does the boundary sit?
Explore three sectors. The physical network can look similar, but the terms assigned to individual transport legs depend on the scope being managed.
Flow classification explorerIllustrative operating patterns
Oil & Gas — define the network boundary
Primary can describe upstream or trunk movements into the distribution network. Secondary commonly describes distribution from depots to stations or other customer sites.
Refinery / supply
Terminal / depot
Delivery point
Loading slots · Vehicle suitability · Delivery windows
The same depot can be a receiving point in one flow and a dispatch origin in another.
Manufacturing — from production to the customer
A plant-to-distribution-centre movement can be primary for one network. Hub-to-customer distribution may be classified as secondary. The chosen boundary depends on how the manufacturer defines its network.
Production plant
Regional hub / depot
Customer
Production release · Transfer constraints · Delivery service
Primary does not necessarily mean long distance; secondary does not necessarily mean short distance.
Retail — distribution centre to store network
Some retailers describe inbound replenishment to distribution centres as primary and store deliveries as secondary. Others use different naming conventions.
Supplier / inbound
Distribution centre
Retail locations
Inbound schedule · DC availability · Store delivery windows
Document your definition before creating dashboards, rate models or KPIs.
Why this matters in a TMS
Separate the flows when they have different planning horizons, shipment sizes, equipment profiles, cost drivers or execution milestones. Keep shared master data — locations, vehicles, carriers and products — consistent across both. The result is one logistics network with several operational models, rather than disconnected definitions.
03 / The operational differences
What changes in planning?
| Planning dimension | Primary / trunk flows | Secondary / delivery flows |
|---|---|---|
| Typical demand | Facility replenishment or bulk movement requests | Store, station or customer delivery orders |
| Route shape | Frequently inter-site or fewer stops | Often multi-stop, with delivery sequencing |
| Key constraints | Loading slots, capacity, terminal access, receiving windows | Delivery windows, mix rules, site access, service priorities |
| Execution signals | Loading, departure, transfer and receipt milestones | Dispatch, ETA changes, delivery, POD and exceptions |
| Financial questions | Transfer cost, load efficiency, line-haul settlement | Cost per route or stop, service charges, delivery variances |
These are patterns, not strict rules: some primary routes are multi-stop, some secondary movements are long-distance, and both may require specialist vehicles or quantity reconciliation.
Define the network before reporting on it
Write down the source and destination roles that distinguish primary and secondary moves. Decide how direct plant-to-customer deliveries should be classified; they may bypass a depot entirely. Then connect this model to order types, routing constraints, charge rules and dashboard dimensions. A classification that exists only in a presentation will not help dispatchers or analysts.
04 / Applied to iBisTMS
One platform. More than one transport pattern.
An enterprise TMS can coordinate multiple transport patterns while letting operational requirements differ by customer or network. With iBisTMS, the relevant capabilities include Route Scheduling & Optimization, Carrier Management, Shipment Execution & Tracking and Enterprise Integration.
- Capture movement requirements from connected source systems or operational users.
- Apply the load, location, time and resource constraints appropriate to each flow.
- Review planning alternatives before releasing an executable trip.
- Track handovers and exceptions, then reconcile the movement against its delivery and commercial context.
Example
A refinery-to-depot transfer and a depot-to-service-station route can share location and carrier records without sharing the same planning assumptions. A system should handle the differences explicitly rather than forcing both into one route template.
05 / Frequent questions
Common questions.
Does primary always mean long distance?
No. It usually refers to a movement's role in supplying the network. Distance alone is not a reliable classification criterion.
Is secondary logistics the same as last mile?
Not necessarily. Secondary distribution can serve commercial sites over substantial distances and may involve several transport legs. Last mile describes the final delivery leg in a particular service model.
Can a 3PL operate primary and secondary transport?
Yes. A 3PL describes the provider's responsibility and service scope. It may plan or execute either or both transport flows.
What about direct deliveries from production to customers?
Define them explicitly. A direct delivery may bypass an intermediate depot, so a simple primary-versus-secondary distinction may need a separate direct-delivery category.
For sector-specific usage, terminology can vary. The examples above describe common operating practices rather than a universal standard.
Keep exploring
Related knowledge and solutions.
Connect this concept to practical operations and capabilities.
Turn the concept into an operation.
Discuss your planning constraints, logistics model or TMS implementation requirements with the iBisTMS team.