Estimate how long a returned item takes to move from pickup through inspection and final disposition. The result separates travel time from the warehouse work and waiting that often dominate a reverse flow. Use it to compare carrier routes, set an internal turnaround target, or spot which handoff deserves attention before promising a customer a return-processing date.
Total hours = pickup + (distance ÷ average speed) + transfer delays + inspection + disposition
Calendar days are total hours divided by 24. This is an elapsed-time estimate, so every entered stage is treated as calendar time.
The main result is the elapsed turnaround from pickup readiness to completion of the selected disposition step. The supporting figures show whether motion or internal handling consumes more time.
If a facility only works certain shifts, enter the expected elapsed queue and processing hours rather than labor hours alone.
With 8 pickup hours, 600 km at 60 km/h, 12 hours of transfer delay, 6 inspection hours, and 4 disposition hours, travel takes 10 hours. Total time is 40 hours, or 1.67 days.
Yes. This estimate includes inspection when you enter it, along with pickup, travel, transfer delays, and disposition processing.
Enter the full elapsed wait in the relevant pickup, transfer, inspection, or disposition field.
A door-to-door average is better because it can reflect stops and route conditions; scheduled dwell should still go in transfer delays.
The total also includes pickup consolidation, queues, inspection, and disposition work.
It can support an estimate, but add any approval or payment-processing time that occurs after disposition.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Consolidation before departure | hours |
| Distance | Return route length | km |
| Speed | Door-to-door line-haul average | km/h |
| Transfer | Handoff and queue delays | hours |
| Inspection / disposition | Facility processing stages | hours |