Freight Terms Explained

Common Freight Terms Explained

A contract between the shipper and the carrier, which also functions as a receipt of goods of carriage, a dispatch note, an invoice of the transportation charges, an insurance certificate – if such is effected through the airline – a document used by customs authorities as evidence of shipment and transit, and a delivery receipt.

The widest form of transportation insurance coverage available. However, contrary to the term itself, it does not cover every risk. The loss or damage must be accidental in nature.

 Automated Manifest System of US customs introduced in 2004. This system requires airlines and shipping lines to submit within prescribed time limits, precise details of cargo arriving at USA ports and airports.

Airline Terminal Fee. A charge for the physical processing of cargo at the bond store.

In sea freight insurance, it means damage.

The specific location in a port at which a ship is moored.

A document that usually evidences the contract of carriage between shipper and charter. It serves not only as the primary transport document and as a required document for customs clearance, but also as a ‘title’ or ‘deed’ to the cargo. Only relevant to sea freight.

Products on which customs have not yet been paid. Kept in a specific warehouse.

To unload or unpack a container or ship.

Currency Adjustment Factor. An adjustment to a carrier’s rates to account for fluctuating value of currency.

An international customs document used for the temporary duty/tax free entry of goods under international conventions. It is effectively a passport for eligible goods in the countries that subscribe to the relevant conventions.

Companies that physically transport the freight – airliners, cargo liners, trucks, etc. In most cases they are not also freight forwarders, but some NVOCCs are kind of a combination.

A carrier’s right to hold on to cargo until they have received payment for transporting the goods.

Cargo Agents Settlement System. Responsible for settling the accounting between cargo agents and IATA, or Non-IATA, airlines that use the CASS services.

 A ship designed to stack containers.

Trade document confirming that exported goods have been manufactured/ produced in a particular country. Each is marked a unique number, and states the full legal name and tax info of the exporter, the address of the consignee, relevant markings or numbers on the packages, the number and kind of packages, and a description of each good.

A group of carriers that pool their regular service under common rules and tariffs.

 The international carriage of goods is conducted under conventions established for the purposes of ensuring uniformity in the application of rules and laws, the setting of minimum standards for the liabilities and responsibilities of carriers who contract to transport cargo, and the rights and responsibilities of merchants, (shippers) their agents and contractors.

The total capacity of a ship – crew and all.

Customs duties paid on exports previously imported.

 Full Container Load.

Companies that arrange the logistics of shipping. Unlike the shippers and carriers, the forwarders are asset-light. Shippers have goods, and carriers have transportation. Forwarders have contracts with shippers and arrange for your stuff to be shipped from one place to another, start to finish. They are service companies.

Full Truck Load.

 Commercial standards for purchasing and shipping. Incoterms show which charges the seller and buyer are responsible for. They eliminate any confusion should have about when you should pay for what. Want to know who has to pay for customs levied on air freight? Check the Incoterms.

The forwarder’s bill of lading.

International Chambers of Commerce.

International Chamber of Shipping.

A container shaped to fit in an aircraft’s cargo hold.

cargo overboard to save the ship.

Maritime Organization. UN body responsible for anti-pollution conventions and shipping.

 The process of transporting materials or goods to a manufacturer, supplier, warehouse, or retail store. On the supply side.

of goods or packaging that risks damage, without any outside forces. E.g. – steel can rust.

Shipping freight by more than one mode of transportation. The reason that the shipping container is called an intermodal shipping container.

 Less than container load.

Charge from a carrier for moving an FCL from the truck to somewhere else.

A freight ship with a regular schedule and regular ports of loading and unloading.

Less than truck load. This is LCL in trucking. LTL is suitable for small shipments. There is often a 100 pound weight limit. Because LTL shipments contain multiple items going to multiple destinations, they take longer.

List of cargo carried on the ship.

 The lowest a carrier will charge for transport between two ports.

The different types of transportation for freight. The main ones are air, sea, truck, and rail.

 The weight of a shipment excluding the weight of packaging.

The process of transporting goods to the customer or final user.

 Cargo that doesn’t fit in even open top containers, flat racks, or on platforms.

A shipping line that isn’t part of a conference.

An additional charge from carriers during popular shipping seasons.

Signed receipt of delivery.

Immediate cause of damage.

A refrigerated container. Not what you thought, huh?

The unit of weight that the freight payment is calculated against. Usually one cubic meter or 1000 kg.

Standard Carrier Alpha Code. A two to four letter code to identify the carrier.

The actual weight of a shipment, including packaging.

A coded/numbered metal rod used to seal shipping containers. Their levels of security vary with the type of seal.

A charge from air and sea carriers. For air it’s usually based on kilos of cargo. Ocean carriers charge on container, revenue ton, or bill of lading.

Receipt after the cargo has been loaded on to the ship.

A person who wants to send freight to a buyer.

When part or all of a shipment that has been shipped hasn’t arrived.

Freight shipped on the wrong vessel.

A document for some areas of the world (includes EU, China) for all customs charges.

Legal right of insurance companies to make counter claims on carriers for loss or damage.

Inspection of a container loaded on a truck, from the back with doors open.

A container made for the bulk shipment of liquids, gases, and powders.

A bill of lading for multiple modes of transportation. The carrier that issues it is responsible for forwarding.

The special containers and pallets used for air cargo.

Freight with a value of $1,000+ per gross kg. Or contains precious metals, banknotes, pearls, or precious stones.

Confirms where freight insurance ends. There may be a period of time after the goods arrive at their destination for which the insurance continues.

Charge for transporting a container around the port. Charged by metric tonne or cubic meter. Nothing to do with Star Trek Next Generation!

Ocean liner charges for carting of LCL or FCL cargo.

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