First Mile
First Mile is the leg from the brand's or 3PL's warehouse to the carrier's first sorting facility.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Missed pickups or late first-mile scans make shipments look late even when the warehouse shipped on time.
Common questions
- What is first-mile delivery in ecommerce?
- First mile is the movement of packages from your warehouse or store to the carrier's first sorting facility. It is usually handled by carrier pickup, a consolidator, or a drop-off.
Cite this entry
"First Mile." Fulfillment Lexicon, last reviewed October 16, 2026. https://fulfillment.wiki/glossary/first-mile/