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International freight words explained

Understand the freight terms used in quotations, documents and shipment updates.

Search common international shipping abbreviations, documents, Incoterms, charges, timing words and cargo measurements before approving a shipment scope.

Browse the Directory
Glossary entries36 core terms
Topics10 freight categories
Primary useQuotes · Documents · Updates
Important noteContext determines meaning
Search the glossary

Find a term by abbreviation, full name or freight topic.

36terms shown
ACICustoms

Advance Commercial Information

Canada’s pre-arrival cargo-information program used by carriers and other reporting parties before goods reach the border.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm who files the required data and which carrier reference is used.
AMSCustoms

Automated Manifest System

A United States electronic manifest system used to submit specified cargo data before arrival or loading, depending on the transport mode.

USE IT CAREFULLYDo not confuse manifest filing with final customs entry and duty payment.
ATATiming

Actual Time of Arrival

The recorded time when a vessel, aircraft or shipment actually reaches the stated location.

USE IT CAREFULLYCompare ATA with ETA rather than treating an estimate as an actual event.
ATDTiming

Actual Time of Departure

The recorded time when the relevant vessel, aircraft or shipment actually departs.

USE IT CAREFULLYUse ATD for confirmed movement and ETD for the planned departure.
AWBDocuments

Air Waybill

The transport document and cargo reference used for an air-freight shipment.

USE IT CAREFULLYAirline tracking normally uses the master AWB rather than every house AWB.
B/LDocuments

Bill of Lading

An ocean or multimodal transport document that records shipment parties, cargo and carriage terms.

USE IT CAREFULLYCheck whether the document is a master or house bill of lading.
CBMMeasurement

Cubic Meter

A volume unit calculated from the final packed length, width and height of the cargo.

USE IT CAREFULLYUse final packed dimensions, not product-only dimensions, for freight comparison.
CFSFacilities

Container Freight Station

A facility where less-than-container-load cargo may be received, consolidated, stripped or released.

USE IT CAREFULLYLCL availability at the port does not always mean the cargo is ready at the CFS.
CIFTrade Terms

Cost, Insurance and Freight

An Incoterm for sea and inland-waterway transport in which the seller arranges freight and specified insurance to the named destination port while risk transfers earlier.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm destination charges and risk transfer separately from the seller’s freight payment.
CIPTrade Terms

Carriage and Insurance Paid To

An Incoterm in which the seller arranges carriage and specified insurance to the named place while risk transfers when goods are handed to the first carrier.

USE IT CAREFULLYDo not assume seller-paid carriage means the seller retains risk until final delivery.
ConsigneeParties

Consignee

The party identified to receive the shipment or transport document at destination.

USE IT CAREFULLYThe consignee is not automatically the same as the Importer of Record.
ConsignorParties

Consignor / Shipper

The party shown as sending or tendering the goods for transport.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm whether the supplier, exporter or forwarder should appear on each document.
DAPTrade Terms

Delivered at Place

An Incoterm in which the seller delivers goods ready for unloading at the named place, while import clearance and import charges remain with the buyer.

USE IT CAREFULLYCheck unloading, customs, duty, tax and accessorial responsibility in the quotation.
DDPTrade Terms

Delivered Duty Paid

An Incoterm in which the seller assumes broad delivery and import-charge responsibility to the named place, subject to legal ability and the agreed scope.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm the lawful importer, tax treatment and exclusions before using DDP.
DemurrageCharges

Demurrage

A charge commonly associated with cargo or equipment remaining at a terminal beyond the allowed free period.

USE IT CAREFULLYFree-time rules and charge names vary by carrier, terminal and country.
DetentionCharges

Detention

A charge commonly associated with carrier equipment kept outside the terminal beyond the allowed time.

USE IT CAREFULLYTrack gate-out, delivery, unloading and empty-return responsibility.
ETATiming

Estimated Time of Arrival

The current estimated arrival time for a vessel, aircraft, cargo or delivery milestone.

USE IT CAREFULLYETA can change and should not be presented as a guaranteed delivery date.
ETDTiming

Estimated Time of Departure

The planned or estimated departure time for a transport movement.

USE IT CAREFULLYCheck carrier cutoff and actual departure separately.
EXWTrade Terms

Ex Works

An Incoterm placing limited delivery responsibility on the seller at the named premises, while the buyer assumes most transport and export tasks.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm whether the buyer can lawfully and practically manage export clearance in the origin country.
FCLModes

Full Container Load

An ocean-freight structure in which a container is booked for one shipment or customer scope.

USE IT CAREFULLYFCL does not mean the container must be physically full.
FOBTrade Terms

Free on Board

An Incoterm for sea and inland-waterway transport where risk transfers when goods are loaded on board the nominated vessel at the named port.

USE IT CAREFULLYSpecify the named port and do not use FOB as a vague synonym for all freight terms.
Freight ForwarderParties

Freight Forwarder

A company that coordinates transport, documents, carriers and related logistics services for a shipment.

USE IT CAREFULLYThe forwarder may arrange the movement without physically operating the vessel, aircraft or truck.
GRICharges

General Rate Increase

A carrier-announced increase applied to specified freight rates, trades or effective periods.

USE IT CAREFULLYAsk whether a quotation is subject to a pending GRI and what validity period applies.
HAWBDocuments

House Air Waybill

An air-freight document issued by a forwarder for one customer shipment moving under a master AWB.

USE IT CAREFULLYAirline websites may not recognize the HAWB.
HS CodeCustoms

Harmonized System Code

The international product-classification structure used as the basis for national tariff codes.

USE IT CAREFULLYThe importer and qualified customs professional should confirm the destination-country classification.
IncotermsTrade Terms

International Commercial Terms

ICC rules used in sales contracts to allocate specified delivery, cost and risk responsibilities between seller and buyer.

USE IT CAREFULLYIncoterms do not replace the transport quotation, customs law or payment contract.
LCLModes

Less than Container Load

An ocean-freight structure in which cargo from multiple shipments shares container space.

USE IT CAREFULLYCompare origin, CFS, destination minimums and handling—not only the per-CBM ocean line.
MAWBDocuments

Master Air Waybill

The airline transport document for the main air-cargo movement.

USE IT CAREFULLYUse the MAWB and airline prefix for official airline tracking.
MBLDocuments

Master Bill of Lading

The carrier bill of lading covering the main ocean movement.

USE IT CAREFULLYA house B/L issued by a forwarder may move under an MBL.
NVOCCParties

Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier

An ocean-transport intermediary that may issue its own bills of lading without operating the vessel.

USE IT CAREFULLYCheck licensing, tariff and document responsibility for the relevant trade.
OOGEquipment

Out of Gauge

Cargo whose packed dimensions extend beyond the standard internal limits of the selected container equipment.

USE IT CAREFULLYProvide final dimensions, weight, center of gravity and lifting information before booking.
Packing ListDocuments

Packing List

A commercial document showing packages, contents, weights and dimensions for the shipment.

USE IT CAREFULLYThe packing list should match the physical cargo and invoice descriptions.
PODDocuments

Proof of Delivery / Port of Discharge

An abbreviation that can mean proof of delivery or port of discharge depending on context.

USE IT CAREFULLYWrite the full meaning when the context is not obvious.
THCCharges

Terminal Handling Charge

A charge related to terminal handling activities at origin or destination.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm whether origin THC, destination THC or both are included.
VGMMeasurement

Verified Gross Mass

The verified total mass of a packed container required before loading under SOLAS rules.

USE IT CAREFULLYConfirm who submits the VGM and the carrier cutoff.
Volumetric WeightMeasurement

Volumetric / Dimensional Weight

A calculated weight based on package dimensions, used when cargo occupies more space than its actual weight suggests.

USE IT CAREFULLYAirlines and couriers may use different divisors and measurement rules.
No glossary term matches this search.

Try the full phrase, a shorter abbreviation or another topic.

Use terms in a real shipment

Translate the abbreviation into a responsibility, charge or physical milestone.

Terms become useful when the customer knows who acts, what is included, when risk changes and which document controls the movement.

01

Find the full term

Do not approve an unfamiliar abbreviation based on assumption.

02

Check the mode and document

POD, B/L and release wording can carry different meanings by context.

03

Locate the responsibility

Identify the seller, buyer, importer, carrier, broker or forwarder action.

04

Confirm the quotation wording

The definition does not prove that a charge or service is included.

Still unsure about a term in your quotation?

Send the exact line, document or shipment status for context.

Include the route, transport mode and the wording you need explained.

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