Shipping & Logistics Glossary

Storage type that runs on a specified cycle based on the day the product arrives and becomes billable. For example, 30 Day Anniversary means that the cargo will be billed every 30 days that it is on the floor. If it arrives on Jan. 5th, and has no free time, then if the cargo is still in inventory 30 days later (Feb. 4th) it will be billed again for another 30 days.

The amount of shippable product in the warehouse; does not include product designated as damaged, on hold, or pending shipment.

Storage type that calculates and bills the average volume that was on the floor for the previous month. This is billed as of the 1st of every month based on the average of the previous month.

Printed series of parallel bars of varying width used for storing data, typically for identifying the object or information on which the code appears such as the product or pallet. Information stored in a barcode can be read by an optical (laser) scanner. This code is used in many different areas of manufacturing and marketing, including inventory control and tracking systems.

Often a wireless hand-held devise with a screen, a keypad, and a scanner or “gun” that is used by warehouse personnel to scan a barcoded unit, load, or location and transmit the scanned data to a computer system.

A space typically the width of a standard pallet that is marked on the warehouse floor.

A legal document between the shipper of a particular good and the carrier detailing the type, quantity and destination of the good being carried. The bill of lading also serves as a receipt of shipment when the good is delivered to the predetermined destination. This document must accompany the shipped goods, no matter the form of transportation, and must be signed by an authorized representative from the carrier, shipper and receiver.

See also Master Bill of Lading and House Bill of Lading.

Reservation for set amount of containers of a specific size and type on a carrier (steamship line) vessel for transport from Port of Origin to Port of Discharge.

Export reference number for a Booking.

Loose material/product that must be loaded individually onto a vessel, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain.

A company that handles inbound documentation, releases, and often the booking of a steamship line and a trucking company.

A railroad, trucking company, airline, steamship line, or any other company that transports product or equipment.

A check digit is the 7th number of a container that calculates off of the prefix and 6 previous digits of the container number allowing for verification of the accuracy of the container number.

The maximum height that product can be stored in a particular building without encountering obstructions such as fire sprinkler heads, lights or structure.

A 40’ long chassis that can hold two 20’ containers simultaneously.

The party or location that is receiving product.

Also refered to as an intermodal container, freight container or shipping container it is a reusable transport and storage unit for moving products and raw materials between locations or countries via vessel, rail, or truck. The most common container sizes are 20’, 40’, and 45’. Common container types include Dry Van (Standard and Highcube), Flatrack, Opentop, and Reefer.

Reference number placed on a container. A container number is made up of 4 letters and 7 digits, the 7th digit is referred to as the check digit.

Receiving product and shipping it out the same day or overnight without putting it into storage.

Company who is purchasing or requesting the product from the shipper.

The company representative that is responsible for servicing customers through monitoring, tracking, and scheduling of their orders from receipt of an order to delivery of the product.

Also referred to as DO’s are documents given to a trucking company with all of the information required to move a container.

The fee for leaving a container at the terminal beyond the free days given

Provides transport information and instructions to drivers to facilitate the transportation of equipment from one location to another.

A metal plate that is placed between the warehouse dock door and a trailer/railcar to bridge the gap between the two allowing forklift access.

The act of transporting a container from one point to another.

A fully enclosed container. Dry Vans can come in Standard or Highcube.

Airbags and corrugated cardboard packing material used to separate, cushion, and secure unit loads during transport by truck, container or rail.

Electronic Data Interchange. Refers to a computerized exchange of information between two or more supply chain partners which replaces paper documents being manually keyed into computer systems.

Also refered to as an Interchange; receipt given to a driver for ingate or outgate of a container through a terminal or container yard.

A heavy metal device mounted atop the rear axles and wheels of a tractor which engages the kingpin underneath the nose of a trailer.

A trailer with no sides or top.

A container without sides or tops that has ends that fold up. Large equipment and pipe that cannot fit inside a container is often loaded on this type of equipment.

Refers to product stacked directly onto the floor of a transportation vehicle. Product may be placed by hand or using a lift truck, but is then palletized or otherwise removed from the vehicle manually.

A type of lift truck used for lifting, stacking, and transporting pallets of product by means of a set of blades, tines or forks mounted on the front. This term is sometimes used to refer to all lift trucks even if they have other types of attachments.

Hired by the shipper to set up bookings and process documentation for the export of containers or cargo overseas.

Short for hazardous material; refers to product that may pose a risk to personal health and safety, environment or property, if improperly transported, handled, stored or damaged. Examples include flammables, corrosives, explosives, and poisons. The handling and transportation of such products are strictly regulated by several governmental agencies.

A 9'6" high container.

Generated by the freight forwarder who negotiates the service agreement with the carrier; may have numerous House Bill of Ladings under one Master Bill of Lading.

A container/product that is moving outside the Port of Entry and has not been released by U.S. Customs for entry into the commerce of the United States.

When a driver enters a terminal or container yard with a container.

A transportation activity that involves more than one type (mode) of transportation in a move from origin to destination.

A transportation activity that involves more than one type (mode) of transportation in a move from origin to destination.

The arriving in and shipping out of cargo in a warehouse.

A broad, heavy metal bit or pin of steel located on the underside of the noise of a trailer or chassis. The kingpin engages the fifth wheel on a tractor and when locked in place enables the trailer to be towed by the tractor.

The care and movement of product from raw material, through the manufacturer, through the warehousing and distribution process, to the end customer, and on to the consumer.

Generated by the actual carrier (Steamship Line) who will move the freight from a pre-determined location of the exporter to the pre-determined location of the importer which consolidates various House Bill of Ladings.

Formal document containing important information about the characteristics and actual or potential hazards of a substance. See Also: Haz mat

A container that does not have a hard top, instead, it has a tarp that can be removed. This is for cargo that will fit in a container but cannot be loaded/unloaded through the doors of the container.

Cargo that is over legal dimensions on width, length, height, or weight.

When a driver leaves a terminal or container yard with a container. See also: Electronic Interchange Receipt

A fee that the steamship lines charge per day when a container stays out of their possession beyond the free days allowed.

Metal structure that holds product allowing none stackable cargo to be stored in one location vertically without being physically stacked on top of one another.

Stretch of railroad track that runs parallel to a warehouse with doors used for loading and unload directly with railcars.

A container that can be mounted with a genset (a refrigeration power unit) to keep the container cooled to a specific temperature.

When a driver hooks up to a dropped container and moves it from one location to another at that same facility. This is often done so that a driver can reach a specific container that is behind other containers or if a container is blocking a door that the driver needs to get into.

the rearranging of product in or on a piece of equipment such as a container or van. This is often done to redistribute weight due to an overweight axle.

Standard Carrier Alpha Code is a four letter code assigned to all carriers

Process of weighing a truck and piece of equipment such as a container, van or flatbed to verify legal gross and axle wieght.

The company that is shipping the product

Heavy clear plastic film that is tightly formed around a tray of product through a heating and shrinking process.

20' chassis that where the center slides out allowing for better weight distribution across the axles.

The receiving month is billed based on the date that the cargo arrives. If the cargo arrives on the 1st - 15th, then the cargo is billed at the full rate upon arrival. If the cargo arrives on the 16th or after, then the cargo is billed at half the rate. The cargo is then billed every 1st of the month that it is sitting in inventory for the full amount.

The process of positioning product in the warehouse either after receiving or prior to shipping. On inbound, staging is used to reduce vehicle unloading time and to permit checking and inspection of product prior to putting away in the warehouse. All outbound staging is used for checking and inspection prior to loading and also to smooth out work in the warehouse and to speed up loading once the vehicle arrives.

An 8'6" container

Clear plastic film that is wrapped around a unit load or partial load of product to secure it. The wrap is elastic.

To unload a piece of equipment.

To load a piece of equipment.

Process by which an organization creates and distributes its products from raw material through manufacturing and distribution to retail and the consumer.

The care and movement of product from the manufacturer, through the distribution and warehousing process, to the end consumer.

Managing and controlling the flow of goods through the supply chain.

A crane moving a container on or off of a chassis or from one chassis to another chassis

Third Party Logistics (3PL)

The providing of logistics services of certain supply chain functions by a company. Third Party logistics activities can be limited to one function such as warehousing or transportation or can involve many activities provided by one provider.

A company that performs all or part of its customer's supply chain logistics activities. These activities may include the care and control of the customer's products; distribution of products according to customer specifications; and special services such as repackaging and transportation.

Unloading and reshipping cargo from one form of transport to another such as from a container to a van.

A chassis used in hauling 20' containers with three axles and a center that slides out. This allows for better weight distribution and allows the hauling of heavier containers.

Lock that inserts into a container from the chassis to lock or hold the container in place

An enclosed trailer and wheel unit used to haul cargo domesticly.