Glossary

Bonded Warehouse - a warehouse established by the state, or by private enterprise, in which goods liable to duty are lodged until the duty upon them has been paid

Bill of Lading - a document issued by a carrier, e.g. a ship's master or by a company's shipping department, acknowledging that specified goods have been received on board as cargo for conveyance to a named place for delivery to the consignee who is usually identified. A through bill of lading involves the use of at least two different modes of transport from road, rail, air, and sea. The term derives from the noun "bill", a schedule of costs for services supplied or to be supplied, and from the verb "to lade" which means to load a cargo onto a ship or other form of transport.

Consignee - In a contract of carriage, the consignee is the person to whom the shipment is to be delivered whether by land, sea or air.

Consignor - The consignor, in a contract of carriage, is the person sending a shipment to be delivered whether by land, sea or air. Some carriers, such as national postal entities, use the term "sender" but in the event of a legal dispute the proper and technical term "consignor" will generally be used.

Demurrage - In the law of merchant shipping, is the sum payable to the shipowner for detention of the vessel in port beyond the number of days allowed for the purpose of loading or unloading.

FAK - Freight all kinds

Fuel Surcharge - Surcharge imposed by carriers when fuel prices reach over certain levels.

Intermodal - Shipments transported either by rail or ground.

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) - is the transportation of relatively small freight. The alternatives to LTL carriers are parcel carriers or full truckload carriers. Parcel carriers usually handle small packages and freight that can be broken down in to units less than 150 US pounds. Full truckload carriers move freight that is loaded into a semi trailer. Semi trailers are typically between 26 and 53 US feet and thereby require a substantial amount of freight to make such transportation economical.

Pallet - is a flat transport structure made of wood or plastic (and in a few cases metal and paper) which can support a variety of goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by any mobile forklift device. The goods are placed on top of the pallet, and can be secured to it by straps or stretch-wrapped plastic film. A pallet is sometimes colloquially called a skid, by back-formation from skid loader.

Rail Shipments - refers to the land transport of and goods along railways or railroads.

Truckload - an entire trailer-load to a single customer.