diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/Shipment.java b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/Shipment.java
index 4b8dc755..171f6e98 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/Shipment.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/Shipment.java
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public class Shipment extends AbstractJob {
 
         private double pickupServiceTime = 0.0;
 
+        private double pickupLoadingTime = 0.0;
+
         private double deliveryServiceTime = 0.0;
 
         private Capacity.Builder capacityBuilder = Capacity.Builder.newInstance();
@@ -156,6 +158,22 @@ public class Shipment extends AbstractJob {
             return this;
         }
 
+        /**
+         * Sets pickupLoadingTime.
+         * <p>
+         * <p>ServiceTime is intended to be the time the implied activity takes at the pickup-location.
+         *
+         * @param loadingTime the loading time / loading duration the pickup of the associated shipment takes
+         * @return builder
+         * @throws IllegalArgumentException if loadingTime < 0.0
+         */
+        public Builder setPickupLoadingTime(double loadingTime) {
+            if (loadingTime < 0.0)
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("The loading time of a shipment must not be < 0.0.");
+            this.pickupLoadingTime = loadingTime;
+            return this;
+        }
+
         /**
          * Sets the timeWindow for the pickup, i.e. the time-period in which a pickup operation is
          * allowed to START.
@@ -354,6 +372,8 @@ public class Shipment extends AbstractJob {
 
     private final double pickupServiceTime;
 
+    private final double pickupLoadingTime;
+
     private final double deliveryServiceTime;
 
     private final Capacity capacity;
@@ -380,6 +400,7 @@ public class Shipment extends AbstractJob {
         setUserData(builder.userData);
         this.id = builder.id;
         this.pickupServiceTime = builder.pickupServiceTime;
+        this.pickupLoadingTime = builder.pickupLoadingTime;
         this.deliveryServiceTime = builder.deliveryServiceTime;
         this.capacity = builder.capacity;
         this.skills = builder.skills;
@@ -413,6 +434,17 @@ public class Shipment extends AbstractJob {
         return pickupServiceTime;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the pickup service-time.
+     * <p>
+     * <p>By default service-time is 0.0.
+     *
+     * @return service-time
+     */
+    public double getPickupLoadingTime() {
+        return pickupLoadingTime;
+    }
+
     public Location getDeliveryLocation() {
         return deliveryLocation_;
     }
diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/solution/route/activity/PickupShipment.java b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/solution/route/activity/PickupShipment.java
index d1f32c3a..6f79fb73 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/solution/route/activity/PickupShipment.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/solution/route/activity/PickupShipment.java
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import com.graphhopper.jsprit.core.problem.Location;
 import com.graphhopper.jsprit.core.problem.job.Job;
 import com.graphhopper.jsprit.core.problem.job.Shipment;
 
-public final class PickupShipment extends AbstractActivity implements PickupActivity{
+public class PickupShipment extends AbstractActivity implements PickupActivity{
 
     private Shipment shipment;
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public final class PickupShipment extends AbstractActivity implements PickupActi
         this.shipment = shipment;
     }
 
-    private PickupShipment(PickupShipment pickupShipmentActivity) {
+    protected PickupShipment(PickupShipment pickupShipmentActivity) {
         this.shipment = (Shipment) pickupShipmentActivity.getJob();
         this.arrTime = pickupShipmentActivity.getArrTime();
         this.endTime = pickupShipmentActivity.getEndTime();
diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/test/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/ShipmentTest.java b/jsprit-core/src/test/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/ShipmentTest.java
index 7e271092..164689c8 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/test/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/ShipmentTest.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/test/java/com/graphhopper/jsprit/core/problem/job/ShipmentTest.java
@@ -458,10 +458,22 @@ public class ShipmentTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void whenNotAddingMaxTimeInVehicle_itShouldBeDefault(){
+    public void whenNotAddingMaxTimeInVehicle_itShouldBeDefault() {
         Shipment s = Shipment.Builder.newInstance("s").setPickupLocation(Location.newInstance("loc")).setDeliveryLocation(Location.newInstance("loc"))
             .build();
         Assert.assertEquals(Double.MAX_VALUE, s.getMaxTimeInVehicle(),0.001);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testLoadingTime() {
+        Shipment s = Shipment.Builder.newInstance("s").setPickupLocation(Location.newInstance("loc")).setDeliveryLocation(Location.newInstance("loc"))
+            .setPickupLoadingTime(10.546).build();
+        Assert.assertEquals(10.546, s.getPickupLoadingTime(),0.001);
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = IllegalArgumentException.class)
+    public void testNegativeLoadingTime() {
+        Shipment.Builder.newInstance("s").setPickupLocation(Location.newInstance("loc")).setDeliveryLocation(Location.newInstance("loc"))
+            .setPickupLoadingTime(-5).build();
+    }
 }