The origin of the operation is the location at which goods are loaded, and the destination is the location at which all or part of the goods are unloaded. Each different loading or unloading destination entails a different operation.

Depending on the relationship between the places of origin and destination, the operations are classified as:

1. Intermunicipial
2. Intramunicipal
3. Intrarregional
4. Interregional
5. International

The places of origin and destination are classified at the level of the Autonomous Region, which is the maximum level of territorial breakdown represented in the survey. For international operations the most relevant countries are used.