GLOSSARY
Need a refresh? New to the industry? Our freight forwarding glossaty is your handy guide. Bookmark it for quick reference. Freight forwarding is fraught with jargon, so we created this glossary of terms to clarify the industry's ABC's.
B
Think of this as the core three freight documents. They outline the terms between a shipper and a transportation company. It's your title, carriage contract and receipt for goods all into one.
Cargo that doesn't fit neatly into a container. It's stowed loose in the ships hold and includes items like machinery or steel beams.
C
Ocean freight charges based on weight or volume. Tons come in many flavors: short tons (2,000 lbs), long tons (2,240 lbs) and metric tons (1,000 kg or 2,204.62 lbs). For volume, think 40 cubic feet (1.12 m³) or 1 m³ (35.3 ft³).
The people or companies responsible for moving goods--whether by sea, air, road, rail or a mix of each.
Short-haul cargo transportation via trucks or drays. Think of it as the last miles of the freight journey.
A wheeled frame designed to secure and move containers. Essential for trucking freight from point A to point B.
The maximum size vehicles and cargo can be to pass safely through bridges, tunnels and highways.
A transportation company offering services to anyone at established rates.
Combining shipments from multiple shippers into one load for efficiency.
Where cargo stays for safe shipping during its journey. Typically made from steel or aluminum frames, containers come in various styles and sizes--ventilated, refrgerated, flat racks and more. Standard lengths range from 10 to 53 feet, with widths of 8 to 8.5 feet and heights up to 9.5 feet.
A warehouse where cargo gets loaded or "stuffed" into containers or unloaded or "stripped" out of them. Temporary storage is usually available too.
A containership designed to carry stacked containers in its holds, either fully or partially equipped with container cells.
The logistical heart of container handling. It's the designated area where cargo moves between ships, trucks, trains or barges.
Goods that are prohibited from transport.
The government office where import duties are paid and shipping documents get filed.
A licensed expert in navigating customs. They help clear goods into new ports of entry and manage the paperwork for imports and exports.
The last chance to deliver a container to the terminal for loading onto its scheduled transport.
D
E
Technology that transmits transactional data electronically between computer systems.
F
A clause that excuses contractural obligations due to events beyond control--think earthquakes, floods or wars.
A government-controlled special area, often near ports, not subject to customs authority where goods can be stored or processed (except contraband) free of import duties until they're moved into the country.
A standard unit for measuring cargo capacity. Two twenty-foot containers equal one FEU.
A government-designated zone where nonprohibited goods can enter a country duty-free. Shippers can store them, display them or put them to use.
Insurance coverage for shipowners to cover legal costs related to operational claims.
A person or company that arranges transportation, books cargo space, prepares documentation and handles customs clearance.
G
Typically used in contracts, it refers to the best practices qualified professionals would apply to meet internationally accepted performance standards inluding the level of skill, dilligence and prudence.
I
The seamless movement of cargo using different transport modes without unloading the container.
L
M
N
A company that buys ocean cargo space in bulk and resells it to smalled shippers. They issue their own bills of lading and publishes tariffs, but don't operate the ships themselves.
O
The party responsible for moving cargo from the port to its final destination using additional modes of transportation.
P
R
A shipping method where cargo is driven onto and off ships via ramps.
S
The full logistics management system from raw materials to delivering finished goods to the customer.
T
The weight of the container or packing added to the weight of the cargo determines the gross weight.
Transferring cargo between vesssels to optimize shipping routes and costs.
A hub where cargo is consolidated onto larger vessels for efficiency.
The standard measurement for containers, equivalent to a twenty-foot container. Two TEU's equal one FEU.
V
A declaration document listing every bill of lading for a vessel, including all of a ship's contents and crew for customs at departure and arrival ports.