Glossary of Terms

Accession - The process by which a country becomes a member of an international agreement, such as the "General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade" (GATT) or the European Community.
Accomplished Bill of Lading - Original bill of lading surrendered to the carrying ship at the discharge port in exchange for the goods.
Accessorial Charges - Charges made for performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery such as inside delivery or storage charges.
Air Freight Forwarder - A type of freight forwarder who specializes in air cargo. The Air Freight Forwarder usually consolidates the air shipments of various exporters, charging them for actual weight and deriving profit by paying the airline the lower consolidated rate.
Bill of Lading (B/L) - Bills of Lading are binding contracts between the owner of the goods and the carrier. There are two types: a straight bill of lading (nonnegotiable) and a negotiable or shipper's order bill of lading. They serve three purposes: 1. A receipt for the goods delivered to the carrier for shipment 2. A definition or description of the goods 3. Evidence of title to the relative goods, if negotiable.
Base Cargo - Relatively heavy cargo stowed at the bottom of a hold to provide a ship with stability when at sea or a minimum quantity of cargo required by a shipping line for calling at a port for loading.
Bulk Cargo - Bulk cargo is unbound as loaded and carried aboard ship; it is without mark or count, in a loose unpackaged form, and has homogeneous characteristics.
Cargo - Goods carried on a ship.
Cartage Agent - A carrier that performs a pickup or delivery in areas that the company does not service themselves.
Claim - A demand made upon a transportation company for payment, due to freight loss or damage alleged to have occurred while shipment was in the possession of the carrier.
Clean Bill of Lading - A receipt for goods issued by a carrier with an indication that the goods were received in "apparent good order and condition", without damages or other irregularities.
Collection Papers - All documents (invoices, bills of lading, etc.) submitted to a buyer for the purpose of receiving payment for a shipment.
Commodity - An article of commerce; goods shipped.
Consignee - The person to whom goods are to be delivered at a particular destination by carrier.
Consignment - Delivery of merchandise from an exporter to an agent under agreement that the agent sell the merchandise for the account of the exporter. The consignor retains title to the goods until sold. The consignee sells the goods for commission and remits the net proceeds to the consignor.
Consignor - Person who gives goods to a carrier for delivery to a consignee.
Container - A uniform, sealed, reusable metal box in which merchandise is shipped by vessel, truck or rail. Standard lengths include 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet. Containers of 45 and 48 feet are also used, as well as containers for shipment by air.
Delivery Receipt - A document that is dated and signed by the consignee or its agent at the time of delivery. This document states the condition of the goods at delivery. The signed receipt is returned to the driver as proof of delivery. The customer retains the remaining copy.
Distributor - A foreign agent who sells directly for a manufacturer or supplier and maintains an inventory on hand or of the supplier's products.
Duty - A tax imposed on imports by the customs authority of a country. Duties are generally based on the value of the goods, some other factors such as weight or quantity, or a combination of value and other factors.
Freight - Any commodity being transported.
Freight Bill - A document that gives a description of the freight, weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid.
Freight Forwarder - An agent whose functions are able to help expedite shipments by preparing the necessary documents and making other arrangements for the movement of merchandise.
Gross Weight - The full weight of a shipment, including goods and packaging.
Hazardous Material - Defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation in accorance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law. Designated as hazardous material if the transportation of the material poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety or property. Hazardous Materials include: compressed gases, flammable or combustible liquids or solids, poisons, explosives, radioactive materials, oxidizing or corrosive materials, and etiologic agents. For more information, visit http://hazmat.dot.gov.
Inland Carrier - A transportation line which hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland points.
LTL - Less-Than-Truckload - Freight from several shippers loaded onto one trailer, usually weighing less than 10,000 pounds.
National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) - Industry standard tariff published by motor carriers. Contains rules, descriptions and rating for all commodities. The NMFC is used to classify freight for the purpose of rating the freight bill. For more information, visit http://www.nmfta.org.
PRO - Acronym for "Progressive Rotating Order." A PRO number is assigned to each individual shipment and serves as a tracking number.
Shipment - A shipment is all of the cargo carried under the terms of a single bill of lading.
Shipping Weight - Shipping weight represents the gross weight in kilograms of shipments, including the weight of moisture content, wrappings, crates, boxes, and containers (other than cargo vans and similar substantial outer containers).