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Glite Dictionary
tonne-kilometer

tonne-kilometer

6.5
A measure of transport equal to moving 1000 kilograms of goods one kilometer
  • noun
  • /ˈtʌn.kɪˌlɪ.mɚ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tonelada-kilómetro
  • The shipment was measured in tonne-kilometers.

Examples

  • By combining weight and distance, the tonne-kilometer offers a clear measure of transport efficiency.

  • The total freight transported last year was reported as 500 million tonne-kilometers.

  • A short journey of heavy cargo can amount to the same number of tonne-kilometers as a long haul of lighter goods.

  • A truck can carry up to 20 tonne-kilometers in one trip.

  • A tonne-kilometer measures the movement of one tonne of goods over a distance of one kilometer in transport logistics.

  • The freight company reported an increase in tonne-kilometers driven this year, indicating higher demand for shipping services.

  • To assess the efficiency of their transport operations, the manager analyzed the tonne-kilometers to optimize routes.

Synonyms

tkm
vstonne-kilometer
  • Specialized
9.9

A measure of moving one tonne of goods one kilometre

is the full written term rather than the abbreviation

Surface Forms

tonne-kilometer singular
tonne-kilometers plural

Morphology

tonne-kilometer = tonne + kilometer (transparent) = tonne + kilometer

The compound directly combines two standard measurement units; the meaning is a straightforward product of 'tonne' and 'kilometer'.

Etymology

Tonne-kilometer joins tonne ('a large weight') and kilometer ('one thousand meters' of distance), so a helpful way to remember it is to imagine taking one heavy box one kilometer — that is one tonne-kilometer, a simple measure that combines weight and distance to show how much freight has been moved.