Words and phrases

Filter by category
Abbrevation Full designation Description
3PL Third Party Logistics A company's use of a third-party to outsource its distribution, warehousing or other services
4PL Fourth Party Logistics A company outsources its logistics organisation and management. 4PL providers often manage the complete supply chain on behalf of the manufacturer or service provider. B2B2C
ADR Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) Goods that can do harm to people or the environment
AGS Aden Gulf Surcharge Surcharge due to security measures when sailing through the Gulf of Aden (Pirates)
AGV Automated Guided Vehicle A materials handling robot/vehicle that uses automated vehicles such as carts, pallets or trays which are programmed to move between different manufacturing and warehouse stations without a driver. These systems are used to increase efficiency, decrease damage to goods and reduce overhead by limiting the number of employees required to complete the job.
AS-RS Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems Consists of a variety of computer-controlled systems for automatically placing and retrieving loads from defined storage locations
ATA Actual Time of Arrival Actual time of arrival
ATA-Carnet An international customs and temporary export-import document ATA carnet simplifies the customs clearance and replaces all export, import and transit documents. Read more about ATA-carnet here
ATD Actual Time of Departure Actual time of departure
AWB AirWayBill Freight document for air
B-L Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping
B100 Bio Diesel Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning fuel that is produced from different oils. It can be blended with petroleum diesel or used as a complete replacement in diesel engines. Biodiesel emits fewer greenhouse gases, has lower levels of harmful emissions, and can help reduce dependence on foreign oil.
B2B Business to Business Trade between companies
B2C Business to Consumer Trade between companies and consumers of the goods
BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor Oil/Fuel Surcharge
Barcode Barcode Identification of the goods
Blank sailing Skip harbours Shipping lines decide to skip a harbour or more due to delays and container deficit
Breakbulk Goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain Ships that carry this sort of cargo are called general cargo ships
Bulk Commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities It refers to material in either liquid or granular, particulate form, as a mass of relatively small solids, such as petroleum/crude oil, grain, coal, or gravel.
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor Currency surcharge
Carbon Neutral Carbon Neutral Carbon neutrality is the state of achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere through reducing emissions and offsetting them with activities that remove carbon dioxide. By being carbon neutral, an organization or individual does not contribute to the overall increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, which are a key contributor to climate change.
Cbm Cubic meter A volume that is made by a cube that is 1 meter on each side
Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin of the goods
CFR Cost and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named.
Chargeable weight Freight measurement Weight converted out of volume
Chassis Chassis/Semi hanger Trailer for transporting containers
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named. Consigner is responsible for insurance
CIP Carrige and Insurance Paid to Delivered when goods is passed onto 1.carrier or terminal, consignor is responsible for insurance
CMR International shipping letter International freight for road document which is legally binding
CO2 Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is naturally present in the Earth's atmosphere and is produced by both natural processes and human activities. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, as it traps heat in the atmosphere and causes the planet's temperature to rise.
CO2e Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Carbon dioxide equivalent is a measure used to express the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted in terms of the equivalent warming effect of carbon dioxide. CO2e is a standard measure used to track and compare greenhouse gas emissions from different sources, sectors, and countries.
COC Carrier`s own container A COC, or carrier-owned container, is a cargo container that is owned by a carrier company and is rented out to various consignees.
COD Cash on Delivery Payment by cash, also called collect on delivery, no invoice possible
COD Change of Destination Change of agreed delivery address
Consignee Consignee Receiver of the goods
Consignor Sender/shipper The sender/shipper of the goods is where the goods is sent/shipped from
Control Tower Control Tower An expert group that seamlessly manages, drives and further develops the supply chain and product flow for your business
Conversion key Conversion key Conversion factor from cbm/LM to weight
CPT Carrige Paid To Delivered when goods is passed onto 1.carrier or terminal
Cross docking Cross docking A practice in logistics of unloading materials from an incoming semi-trailer truck or railroad car and loading these materials directly into outbound trucks, trailers, or rail cars, with little or no storage in between
CRS Cost Recovery Surcharge We will charge Cost Recovery Surcharge (CRS) as feeder carrier’s rate have been increased. This additional is charged per TEU and will appear as a separate post on the invoice. Adjustment of the CRS will be informed one month before implementation.
DAP Delivered at Place Delivered when goods is ready to be unloaded by the buyer at a named destination. Consignee responsible for cost of importing the goods
DAT Delivered at Terminal Delivered when goods is unloaded to a named terminal. Consignee responsible for cost of importing the goods
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery
Deep sea Deep sea Cargo shipped between continents
Demurrage Demurrage Harbour rental fee in regards to containers
Detention Detention Container rental fee
DGR Dangerous Goods Regulations Dangerous goods regulations - rules for handling dangerous goods during transport
Dry bulk cargo Dry bulk cargo Dry cargo shipped without being packed. For example sand and cereals
EAN European Article Numbering Gives the product an unique number readable by a scanner
EcoVadis EcoVadis EcoVadis is a platform that rates the environmental and social performance of companies and their supply chains based on a range of criteria, including labor practices, human rights, ethics, and environmental impacts. The ratings are used by businesses to benchmark their sustainability performance, identify areas for improvement, and communicate their progress to stakeholders.
EDI Electronic Data Interchange Electronic Data Interchange between computer systems
eMethanol eMethanol eMethanol, also known as electro-methanol, is a form of methanol produced from renewable energy sources and captured carbon dioxide from industrial sources. It can be used as a low-carbon fuel for transportation, heating, or industrial applications, and has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional methanol production methods.
Emission Calculations Emission Calculations Emission calculations are a method of estimating greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities by measuring the amount of fuel used or electricity consumed, and using emission factors to estimate the total amount of emissions. They are used to track and report greenhouse gas emissions from individual sources, such as factories or transportation, as well as from entire organizations, such as businesses or governments.
ERP Enterprise Resource Planning The integrated management of main business processes, often in real-time and mediated by software and technology
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival Estimated time of arrival of goods and cargo
ETD Estimated Time of Departure Estimated time of departure of goods and cargo
EUR-1 certificate EUR-1 certificate EUR-1 - needed to custom clear goods from within the EU
EXW Ex Works An international trade term that describes when a seller makes a product available at a designated location, and the buyer of the product must cover the transport costs.
FAS Free Alongside Ship Delivered when goods is placed along side vessel
FCA Free Carrier Delivered when goods is loaded onto transport of the consignee
FCL Full Container Load Full container load
Feeder Feeder Feeders collect shipping containers from different ports and transport them to central container terminals where they are loaded to bigger vessels or further transport by truck or rail
FEU -/FFU Forty Equivalent Unit/Forty Foot Unit Forty foot equivalent unit/container
FOB Free On Board Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel
FSC Fuel surcharge Additional cost for transport according to cost of fuel in the period the goods are transported
FTL Full Truck Load Truck fully loaded with goods
GHG Calculations Greenhouse Gas Calculations Greenhouse gas calculations quantify the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. These calculations estimate emissions from various sectors, such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry, and convert them into standardized units, such as carbon dioxide equivalents, for comparison and tracking over time. Greenhouse gas calculations are used to assess the impact of human activities on climate change, identify areas for emissions reduction, and develop strategies to mitigate climate change.
GHG emissions Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to climate change. They are primarily composed of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases that are released as a result of human activities.
GSP Certificate General System of Preference Certificate Preferential treatment is given in the form of reduced or zero rates of customs duties for access to the markets of the European Union. The GSP scheme is specifically designed to benefit certain developing countries and integrate them into the world economy
HAWB House AirWayBill Freight document for air transport, issued by an air freight forwarder
HAZMAT Hazardous Material Goods that are of a concern that may include danger, flammable, corrosive, explosion hazard etc
HBL House Bill of Lading Freight document issued by a shipping forwarder to their customers
IATA International Air Transport Association International Air Transport Association
IOD Information on delivery Information on delivery
LCL Less than Container Load Less than container load. 1 TEU equals a 20 feet container
Lm Loading meter One loading meter is 1 meter of the loading length, and 2,40meter of the loading width. Height not included
Lo-Lo Lift on/Lift off Lift on/lift off vessel using a crane
MAWB Master Air WayBill Freight document for air transport issued by an airline carrier
MBL Master Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping, issued by the shipping line
Missing IOD Missing IOD Missing IOD, no information on delivery of the goods
NMHC Non-Methane Hydrocarbons Non-methane hydrocarbons are organic compounds found in the atmosphere as a result of natural and human activities, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant that affects human health and the environment.
Notify party Notify party Notify party regarding the arrival of goods
NOx Nitric Oxide Nitric oxide is a colorless gas that is naturally found in the atmosphere. It is also a byproduct of human activities like fossil fuel combustion, which can contribute to air pollution and the formation of harmful pollutants like ground-level ozone.
NVOCC Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier Do not own a vessel, but can issue B/L
PDA Scanner Handheld scanner for reading the barcode on the labels
POD (road freight) Proof of Delivery Signature confirmation from the receiver of delivery of the goods
POD (sea freight) Port Of Discharge Port the gods are delivered
POL Port Of Loading Port the goods are loaded
Project Cargo Project Cargo A term used to broadly describe the national or international transportation of large, heavy, high value or a critical (to the project they are intended for) pieces of equipment. Also commonly referred to as heavy lift
Reefer A refrigerated container A temperature regulated container
Ro-Ro Roll on/Roll off Roll on/Roll off the vessel with a truck
SBTi Science Based Target initiative The Science Based Target initiative is a collaborative effort aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. It provides companies with a framework to set ambitious, science-based targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in a way that aligns with limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
SCM Supply Chain Management The management of the flow of goods and services, involves the movement and storage of raw materials, of work-in-process inventory, and of finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. Interconnected, interrelated or interlinked networks, channels and node businesses combine in the provision of products and services required by end customers in a supply chain
SECA Sulphur Emissions Control Area Emission control areas for shipping. There are specific emission limitations for shipping within these geographical areas. Shipping companies in these areas are required to use fuel that produces lower sulfur emissions than traditional fuel. The cost of this fuel is charged to the freight purchaser as a SECA supplement on the invoice
Shipper Shipper of cargo Sender of the goods
Short sea Short sea Loads shipped within a continent
SLA Service Level Agreement Service Level Agreement regarding delivery times
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, pungent gas emitted by natural and human activities, mainly by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. SO2 can form fine particulate matter that poses health risks to humans and contributes to environmental problems like acid rain.
SOC Shipper`s owned container SOC stands for 'shipper-owned container' and is a metal freight shipping container that is owned by an individual or business and used to ship cargo across long distances.
SSC Security SurCharge Additional cost according to safety risks involved
Stevedore Stevedore Company that loads and unloads vessels and containers in a harbour
Stripping Stripping of container Emptying a container
Stuffing Stuffing of container Loading a container
Sustainability rating Sustainability rating A sustainability rating is a tool for evaluating and communicating the social, environmental, and economic performance of a company. It uses metrics and indicators to help investors, consumers, and stakeholders make informed decisions based on sustainability performance.
TEU Twenty foot Equivalent Unit Twenty foot Equivalent Unit/ Container
THC Terminal Handling Charge Terminal and handling costs
TMS-TA Transportation management system A subset of supply chain management concerning transportation operations and may be part of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Tonnkilometer Tonnkilometer Cargo weight transported in distance. 10 tonn cargo shipped 2km equals 20 tonnkilometer
Transit harbour Transit harbour A harbour where cargo is passing through
ULD Unit Load Device Container, specially adapted for aircraft and air freight
VAL Valuable Cargo High value shipments need special care to ensure a safe and secure transport
VGM Verified Gross Mass The Verified Gross Mass (VGM) is the weight of the cargo including dunnage and bracing plus the tare weight of the container carrying this cargo.
W-M Weight/Measurement Weight and measurement of shipment
Wet bulk cargo Wet bulk cargo Wet cargo shipped without being packed, for example oil
WMS Warehouse Management System This is a software application designed to support and optimise warehouse functionality and distribution center management
Zero Emissions Zero Emissions Zero emissions refers to the absence of harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases emitted from a source or activity. It is an important goal for mitigating climate change and reducing air pollution, achieved through emission-free technologies, processes, or offsetting methods.

Useful words & expressions?

Any words or terms you miss on this page? Feel free to contact us, we would like to hear from you.