Shipments of tons managed before rests (8)

I believe the answer is:

transits

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'shipments' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'tons managed before rests' is the wordplay.
'tons' becomes 't'.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this before).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'rests' becomes 'sits' (I've seen this in another clue).
't'+'ran'+'sits'='TRANSITS'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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