bbcp is a handy cp (copy) command that works across the network. It runs about 3x faster than Finder for large binary files on my home wired LAN.

bbcp -P 10 filespec filespec2

• -P 10 says to give status every 10 seconds
• filespec = user@host:filepath

See handy tips at http://pcbunn.cithep.caltech.edu/bbcp/using_bbcp.htm