These are essential logistics and shipping terms used in the industry:
POL: Port of Loading – The port where cargo is loaded onto a vessel.
POD: Port of Discharge – The port where cargo is unloaded from a vessel.
Port Pairs – A combination of ports at the origin and destination of a shipment.
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival – The expected time when a vessel or shipment will arrive at its destination.
ETD: Estimated Time of Departure – The expected time when a vessel or shipment will depart from its origin.
ATA: Actual Time of Arrival – The actual time when a vessel or shipment arrives at its destination.
ATD: Actual Time of Departure – The actual time when a vessel or shipment departs from its origin.
MLB: Mini Land Bridge – A shorter land route used to transport cargo from one port to another.
Rotation – The order in which ships call at various ports during a voyage.
Transit Time – The duration it takes for cargo to travel from one port to another.
Direct Service – When a container leaves and arrives on the same ship, without transshipment.
Transshipment Service – When a container leaves on one ship and arrives on a different ship during its journey.
Pre-carriage – Transportation between the point of origin and the Port of Loading (POL).
On-carriage – Transportation between the Port of Discharge (POD) and the final inland destination.
AWB: Air Waybill – An international air freight shipping document that covers cargo transport from one airport to another.
B/L: Bill of Lading – A shipping document used in the transport of goods by sea, serving several purposes in international trade.
CAF: Currency Adjustment Factor – A fee added to freight charges, accounting for fluctuations in exchange rates between currencies.
CMR: International Road Freight Waybill – A standardized document for cross-border transport of cargo by road.
FCL: Full Container Load – A container loaded and unloaded under the risk and account of one shipper and one consignee.
FSC: Fuel Surcharge – A fee, often used in air freight, that accounts for fluctuations in fuel costs.
FTL: Full Truckload – Transporting goods that fill an entire truck trailer.
LCL: Less Than Container Load – A shipment that is not large enough to fill a standard cargo container.
LTL: Less Than Truckload – Transporting relatively small freight that does not fill a full truck trailer.
SSC: Security Surcharge – A fee, primarily used in air freight, for security-related costs.
TEU: Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit – A measure of cargo capacity, representing the capacity of a standard 20-foot container.
ULD: Unit Load Device – A pallet or container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on aircraft.
These terms are crucial for efficient and effective communication within the logistics and shipping industry.
DOCUMENTATION TERMS:
- Owner: whoever owns the goods
- Shipper: whoever ships the goods (can be either “proprietary shipper” or NVOCC)
- Consignee: whoever receives the goods
- Notify: whoever is to be notified when cargo arrives
- Beneficial Cargo Owner: BCO (Shippers with direct contract with Carriers)
- NVOCC: Non-Vessel Operator Common Carriers.
- Freight Forwarder: Intermediary between Shipper and Carrier
- Broker: Intermediary at destination (usually notify) to clear Customs
