crosshaul

C3R1O1S1S1H4A1U1L1
/ˈkrɒs.hɔːl/

noun

The transportation of goods away from a locality while similar goods are simultaneously transported into the same locality, often resulting in inefficiencies.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

nouncrosshaul (countable and uncountable, plural crosshauls)

plural crosshauls

  1. countableuncountablelogisticsThe transportation of goods away from a locality while similar goods are simultaneously transported into the same locality, often resulting in inefficiencies.

    It was explained that the report indicated that a total saving of 98 T-2's would be available if the identified crosshauls had been or were eliminated for the 3rd Quarter.

    1969, United States. Oil and Gas Office, Middle East Petroleum Emergency of 1967, volume 2, page 51
    3 more examples

    In attempting both to define the nature of the crosshaul and to arrive at a quantitative measurement of its effects, comparison may be made of the freights actually paid with those that would be paid were the movement from mills freightwise nearest.

    1932, United States. Federal Trade Commission, Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Price Bases Inquiry: The Basing-point Formula and Cement Prices., U.S. Government Printing Office, page 135

    Since June 1, 1935, however, applicant has curtailed his cross-haul operation, as indicated by the fact that during a similar 5-month period in 1936 he transported only about 35 cross-haul shipments out of a total of approximately 1,400 shipments, and during similar periods in 1937 and 1938 he transported only 7 cross-haul shipments out of approximately 1,100 shipments, and only 6 out of approximately 1,325 shipments respectively.

    1941 May - November, “Darling (Dallas L.) Common Carrier Application”, in DECISIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES, page 613

    Because the reverse was true with respect to the small proportion of large mills in these regions, the average degree of crosshaul would tend to decline sharply as the size of crush increased.

    1954 February, COMPARATIVE ECONOMIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF COTTONSEED OIL MILLS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON OIL SUPPLIES PRICES AND RETURNS TO GROWERS (Marketing Research Report; No 54), US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Agricultural Marketing Service Marketing, Research Division
  2. countableuncountablenauticalA method of shifting cargo or rigging by moving it across rather than along the length of a vessel.

    A crosshaul connects to the sheet or clew and pulls the lead inboard.

    1996 December, “Changing the Lead for Speed”, in Yachting, volume 180, number 6, page 26
    2 more examples

    If you don't have a second track for your headsail's lead, a second line, like a Barberhauler or crosshaul, can redirect a lead ourboard or inboard, respectively.

    1995 August, Tom Whidden, “The Magic of Black Magic”, in Yachting, volume 178, number 2, page 28

    Mainsheet control is through a mainsheet traveller with roller bearing car and crosshaul tackle recessed into the bridge deck.

    2024 June 2, Wikipedia contributors, “C&C 37/40”, in English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation
verbcrosshaul (third-person singular simple present crosshauls, present participle crosshauling, simple past and past participle crosshauled)

present singular third person crosshauls · participle present crosshauling · participle past crosshauled · past crosshauled

  1. logisticsTo transport goods away from a locality while similar goods are simultaneously transported into the same locality, often resulting in inefficiencies.

    The resulting shipments have been called by critics of the basing point practice “cross-hauling”.

    1940, UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION T.N.E.C. PAPERS, VOLUME III THE BASING POINT METHOD, United States Steel Corporation, page 5
    1 more example

    The example that I have used of crosshauling between Pittsburgh and Chicago is an extreme case which, in actual practice, probably seldom occurs, but is illustrative of crosshauling which does occur in very large quantities from various districts.

    1932, United States. Federal Trade Commission, Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Price Bases Inquiry: The Basing-point Formula and Cement Prices., U.S. Government Printing Office, page 134

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

crosshaul. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosshaul

MLA

“crosshaul.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosshaul. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “crosshaul,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosshaul.

Source: crosshaul on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.