Middle Mile

The middle mile is the segment of the supply chain that moves goods between major facilities—typically from fulfillment centers or warehouses to regional distribution hubs, sort facilities, or retail stores. It bridges the gap between first mile (origin pickup) and last mile (final delivery).

Middle Mile in the Delivery Journey

Seller → [First Mile] → Fulfillment Center
                              ↓
                        [Middle Mile]
                              ↓
                     Regional Sort Hub → [Last Mile] → Customer

Middle Mile Characteristics

Who Handles Middle Mile

• Carrier networks - FedEx, UPS, USPS internal movements
• Truckload carriers - Contract trucking companies
• Rail - Intermodal for long distances
• Amazon - Their own middle-mile network
• Regional carriers - Connect to national networks

Middle Mile Optimization

Challenges

• Long distances increase fuel costs
• Weather and traffic delays
• Capacity constraints during peak
• Coordinating timing across facilities

Solutions

• Route optimization - Minimize total miles
• Load consolidation - Full trucks cost less per unit
• Intermodal - Rail for long hauls is cheaper
• Network design - Strategic facility locations
• Predictive scheduling - Anticipate demand patterns

Middle Mile vs. Last Mile Costs

While last mile typically costs $10-20 per package, middle mile is often $1-3 per package due to economies of scale. However, middle mile is where significant distances are covered.