Common Shipping Terms & Glossary

Terms Description
Accessorial charges(also called assessorial charges) Fees for performing services beyond standard pickup and delivery. Examples would be: inside delivery, storage charges, lift gate, residential pickup or delivery.
Air freight forwarder An air freight forwarder or "indirect air carriers" provides pickup and delivery service under their own tariff, and consolidates shipments into larger units. They prepare shipping documentation and tenders shipments to the airlines. Typically, they don't operate their own aircraft. Since the forwarder tenders the shipment, the airlines consider the forwarder to be the shipper.
Air Waybill An air waybill is a shipping document that an airlines uses which is very similar to a bill of lading. Air waybill is really an agreement between the shipper and airline that states the terms and conditions of transportation. It will also contains shipping instructions, product descriptions, and relevant transportation charges.
A Waybill Non-negotiable document prepared by or on behalf of the carrier at origin. The document specifies the origin point, the destination points, the route, shipper, consignee, cargo description and charges for the transportation service.
Articles of Extraordinary Value Carriers are not liable for"documents, coin money, or articles of extraordinary value" unless the items are specifically rated in published classifications or tariffs. Exceptions may be made by special contracts. Any agreement has to stipulate the value of the articles and it must be endorsed on the bill of lading. Articles can include precious stones, jewels and currency, however, many include restrictions on goods with values in excess of a specified amount. In many cases where the value is not defined, the carriers have valuation based on the NMFC classification of the item.
Bill of lading(BOL or B/L) Bill of Lading servers as a receipt for the goods delivered to the transportation provider for shipment; a definition or description of the goods; evidence of title to the relative goods, if"negotiable". It is probably the most important legal document in any movement of freight.
Bill of lading exceptions The exceptions that typically are defined in a bill of lading. "They release the transportation provider from liability for loss or damaged arising from special circumstances like: Act of God, a Public Enemy, the Authority of Law, Negligence or act of the shipper, Lack of capacity of Highway, bridge, or ferry/vessel, a defect or vice in the cargo, riots and strikes"
Bonded carrier Transportation provider that is granted by the U.S Customs to carry customs-controlled cargo between various customs points.
Break bulk Separating parts of a load to be routed to various destinations.
Break bulk terminal Basically a consolidation or distribution centers. Freight coming from various locations to a centralized location to be loaded together in a trailer/container going to a similar destination. Or, inbound freight that has to be distributed to local customers.
Broker Independent contractor that arranges the transportation. A typical broker has access to multitude of transportation companies that could assist a client in providing cost comparisons or service related requirements.
Carmack Industry terms for loss or damages to the cargo that was tendered to a transportation company. It basically states that a motor carrier must issue a bill of lading and pay the actual loss or injury to the property. It also specifies limits that a carrier can be liable for. Carriers can limit their damages to $25 per pound or $100,000 a shipment.
Cartage agent Carriers who perform the pickup and delivery for the other trucking companies and air lines. Cartage agents typical use their own paperwork.
Claim A cargo claim is filled by either the shipper or the consignee for damages caused by the transportation company for payment towards the goods that were allegedly lost or damaged while the cargo was in the transportation provider's possession. Pursuant to the National Motor Freight Classifications Uniform Bill of Lading, all claims must be filed within nine months of the initial transaction.
COD Cash on Delivery-This could mean that either the freight charges are to be paid when the cargo is being delivered or the transportation provider is instructed to collect the sales price of the goods declared by the shipper.
Commodity The content(s) description of the shipment.
Common carrier For Hire transportation provider. These are transportation providers that can be hired to transport goods that do not belong to them for compensation. They are like the Taxis of cargo/shipment.
Concealed loss Shortage of cargo/shipment or damages that were not noticed during the delivery.
Consignee The last stop or the last transfer of the cargo/shipment. This is usually the individual or an organization that the goods are addressed to.
Deck trailers Trailers that have rows of tracking on each sidewall. Load bars are placed into the tracks to form a"deck" which the goods and be loaded. They allow more goods to be loaded in a trailer and reduce the possibility of damage to the cargo.
Delivery receipt Signed receipt or document by the consignee or agent that states the condition and package count of the cargo at each step of the cargo transfer to unrelated party.
Dispatch To send a driver with instructions and required paperwork for pickup or delivery of cargo.
Dock A platform that is the same height as the trailer/container used to load and unload without an assistance of lift gate. The most common dock height is between 48-52 inches.
Dolly Converter that provides an extra axle and fifth wheel and is used to connect multiple trailers.
Doubles Vehicle configuration in which a tractor pulls two trailers connected by a dolly.
Drayage Typically, a drayage applies to rail and ocean containers that are being pulled from a port or a railway terminal. This is transporting an empty container to a location where goods will be shipped from. It could also be hauling a load by a cart with detachable sides.
Electronic data interchange(EDI) Digital transmission between various parties. These could also be purchase orders, invoices, bills of ladings, dispatch for pickup, and tracking.
Exceptions Anytime a delivery in which the recipient or driver notes a problem on the delivery receipt before signing it.
Exclusive use Sole use of a trailer or container. The container or trailer is sealed at loading and the seal number is recorded on a the manifest. The seal number is verified at the destination where the cargo is to be unloaded. When and exclusive use of an equipment is requested, no other freight can be added to the equipment. Exclusive use requests are priced higher.