breaking bulk

Verb

break bulk (third-person singular simple present breaks bulk, present participle breaking bulk, simple past broke bulk, past participle broken bulk)

1. To remove one or more items from the packaging, container, vehicle, or vessel in which shipped with other items.
   • a plan is under advisement for the extension of the present newly installed method by the utilization of breaking bulk at a transfer, transferring the freight to containers which will be moved by special container floats to a centrally located pier and then by trucks to destination or to inland...1922, “Erie Adopts Direct Freight Delivery at New York: Plan Involves Breaking Bulk at Jersey City, N. J., and Use of Auto Trucks, Tractors and Trailers and Ferries”, in Railway age, volume 72