Breakbulk cargo is defined as general cargo or goods that do not fit in or utilize standard shipping containers or cargo bins. Breakbulk is also different from bulk shipping, which is used for cargo such as petroleum products or grain. Instead, breakbulk cargo is transported individually, oftentimes on a skid or pallet or in a crate. Examples of breakbulk cargo include:construction equipment, manufacturing materials, oversized vehicles, boats, cranes, turbine blades, ship propellers, generators, large engines and more.

In the early days of shipping, ocean-going cargo was most commonly breakbulk; however, with the increased use of more efficient and secure shipping containers in the late 1960s, it is now generally reserved for cargo that is too heavy or large to fit in a container, though an effective method of shipping oversized cargo. Breakbulk shipping is more time-intensive than container shipping because each piece must be loaded and unloaded individually, oftentimes with special equipment.

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