Based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Orbit International Moving Logistics ltd, is an International moving company providing a wide range of services such as: pre move survey, free estimates, moving guide, International and overseas moving and relocation, commercial moving, office setup and relocation, hotel setup, long term storage, short term storage, Storage, In bond storage, long distance and local moving. We also provide packing and wrapping for your furniture, Insurance, shipping containers door to door, door to port and port to Port, help with customs regulation, information about custom formalities, rules, custom clearance and brokerage. We always cherish the customers need for excellent customer service.
This page will help you to find any useful term in the moving and shipping industry. You will find terms such as “Bill of Lading, “LCL”, “Door to Door”, Lift vans”, Crates” and many more.
A
AA
Always Afloat (In some ports the ship aground when approaching, or at berth.)
AAR
Abbreviation for:
- Against All Risks (insurance clause).
- Association of American Railroads.
Abaft
A point beyond the midpoint of a ships length, towards the rear or stern.
Abandon
A proceeding wherein a shipper/consignee seeks authority to abandon all or parts of their cargo.
Abatement
A discount allowed for damage or overcharge in the payment of a bill.
ABI
U.S. Customs' "Automated Broker Interface," by which brokers file importers' entries electronically.
Aboard
Referring to cargo being put, or laden, onto a means of conveyance.
Absorption
One carrier assumes the charges of another without any increase in charges to the shipper.
Acceptance
- A time draft (or bill of exchange) that the drawee (payer) has accepted and is unconditionally obligated to pay at maturity.
- Broadly speaking, any agreement to purchase goods under specified terms.
Accessorial Charges
Charges that are applied to the base tariff rate or base contract rate, e.g., bunkers, container, currency, destination/delivery.
Acquiescence
When a bill of lading is accepted or signed by a shipper or shipper's agent without protest, the shipper is said to acquiesce to the terms, giving a silent form of consent.
Acquittance
A written receipt in full, in discharge from all claims.
ACS (A.C.S.)
U.S. Customs' master computer system, "Automated Commercial Systems."
Act of God
An act beyond human control, such as lightning, flood or earthquake.
Ad Valorem
A term from Latin meaning, "according to value."
Administrative Law Judge
A representative of a government commission or agency vested with power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, take testimony, and conduct hearings of cases submitted to, or initiated by, that agency. Also called Hearing Examiner.
Admiralty (Adm.)
Refers to marine matters such as an Admiralty Court.
Advance
To move cargo up line to a vessel leaving sooner than the one booked. (See "Roll.")
Advanced Charge
Transportation charge advanced by one carrier to another to be collected by the later carrier from the consignor or consignee.
Adventure
Shipment of goods on shipper's own account. A bill of adventure is a document signed by the master of the ship that carries goods at owner' risk.
Advice of Shipment
A notice sent to a local or foreign buyer advising that shipment has gone forward and containing details of packing, routing, etc. A copy of the invoice is often enclosed and, if desired, a copy of the bill of lading.
Advising Bank
A bank operating in the seller's country, that handles letters of credit in behalf of a foreign bank.
Affreightment, Contract of
An agreement by an ocean carrier to provide cargo space on a vessel at a specified time and for a specified price to accommodate an exporter or importer.
Aft
Movement toward the stern (back end) of a ship.
Agency Tariff
A tariff published by an agent on behalf of several carriers.
Agent (Agt.)
A person authorized to transact business for and in the name of another person or company. Types of agent are:
(1) brokers,
(2) commission merchants,
(3) resident buyers,
(4) sales agents,
5) manufacturer's representatives.
Aggregate Shipment
Numerous shipments from different shippers to one consignee that are consolidated and treated as a single consignment.
Agreed valuation
The value of a shipment agreed upon in order to secure a specific freight rate.
Agreed Weight
The weight prescribed by agreement between carrier and shipper for goods shipped in certain packages or in a certain number.
A.I.D.
Agency for International Development.
Air Waybill
The forwarding agreement or carrying agreement between shipper and air carrier and is issued only in nonnegotiable form.
All In
The total price to move cargo from origin to destination, inclusive of all charges.
Alongside
A phrase referring to the side of a ship. Goods delivered "alongside" are to be placed on the dock or barge within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded.
Alternative Rates
Privilege to use the rate producing the lowest charge.
Ambient Temperature
The temperature of a surrounding body. The ambient temperature of a container is the atmospheric temperature to which it is exposed.
American Bureau of Shipping
U.S. classification society which certifies seagoing vessels for compliance to standardized rules regarding construction and maintenance.
AMS
The U.S. Customs' "Automated Manifest System."
Anti-Dumping Duty
A tariff imposed to discourage sale of foreign goods, subsidized to sell at low prices detrimental to local manufacturers.
Any Quantity (A.Q.)
Usually refers to a rating that applies to an article regardless of size or quantity.
Apparent Good Order
When freight appears to be free of damage so far as a general survey can determine.
Appraisement
Determination of the dutiable value of imported merchandise by a Customs official who follows procedures outlined in their country's tariff, such as the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930.
Appraiser's Stores
The warehouse or public stores to which samples of imported goods are taken to be inspected, analyzed, weighed, etc. by examiners or appraisers.
Arbitrary
A stated amount over a fixed rate to one point to make a rate to another point.
Average
See insurance.
Arrival Notice
A notification by carrier of ship's arrival to the consignee, the "Notify Party," and - when applicable - the "Also Notify Party." These parties in interest are listed in blocks 3, 4 and 10, respectively, of the Bill of Lading.
ASC X12
American Standards Committee X12 responsible for developing EDI standards for the United States.
Assignment
A term commonly used in connection with a bill of lading. It involves the transfer of rights, title and interest in order to assign goods by endorsing the bill of lading.
Astern
- Behind a vessel
- Move in a reverse direction.
A.T.A.
American Trucking Association.
ATDNSHINC
Any time Day or Night Sundays & Holidays Included.
Athwartships
A direction across the width of a vessel.
Avoirdupois Pound
Same as 0.4535924277 kilograms.
AWWL
Always within Institute Warranties Limits (Insurance purpose).
B
B/L
Abbreviation for "Bill of Lading."
Backhaul
To haul a shipment back over part of a route it has traveled.
BAF
Abbreviation for "Bunker Adjustment Factor." Used to compensate steamship lines for fluctuating fuel costs. Sometimes called "Fuel Adjustment Factor" or FAF.
Balloon Freight
Light, bulky articles.
Bank Guarantee
Guarantee issued by a bank to a carrier to be used in lieu of lost or misplaced original negotiable bill of lading.
Barratry
An act committed by the master or mariners of a vessel, for some unlawful or fraudulent purpose, contrary to their duty to the owners, whereby the latter sustain injury. It may include negligence, if so gross as to evidence fraud.
Barrel (BBL)
A term of measure referring to 42 gallons of liquid at 60o F.
Base Rate
A tariff term referring to ocean rate less accessorial charges, or simply the base tariff rate.
BCO
Abbreviation for "Beneficial Cargo Owner." Refers to the importer of record, who physically takes possession of cargo at destination and does not act as a third party in the movement of such goods.
Beneficiary
- Entity to whom money is payable.
- The entity for whom a letter of credit is issued.
- The seller and the drawer of a draft.
Berth Terms
Shipped under rate that includes cost from end of ship's tackle at load port to end of ship's tackle at discharge port.
Beyond
Used with reference to charges assessed for cargo movement past a line-haul terminating point.
Bilateral
A contract term meaning both parties agree to provide something for the other.
Bill of Exchange
In the United States, commonly known as a "Draft." However, bill of exchange is the correct term.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage and a receipt for goods.
- Amended B/L: B/L requiring updates that do not change financial status; this is slightly different from corrected B/L.
- B/L Terms & Conditions: the fine print on B/L; defines what the carrier can and cannot do, including the carrier's liabilities and contractual agreements.
- B/L's Status: represents whether the bill of lading has been input, rated, reconciled, printed, or released to the customer.
- B/L's Type: refers to the type of B/L being issued. Some examples are: a Memo (ME), Original (OBL), Nonnegotiable, Corrected (CBL) or Amended (AM) B/L.
- Canceled B/L: B/L status; used to cancel a processed B/L; usually per shipper's request; different from voided B/L.
- Clean B/L: A B/L which bears no superimposed clause or notation which declares a defective condition of the goods and/or the packaging.
- Combined B/L: B/L that covers cargo moving over various transports.
- Consolidated B/L: B/L combined or consolidated from two or more B/L's.
- Corrected B/L: B/L requiring any update which results in money or other financially related changes.
- Domestic B/L: Non-negotiable B/L primarily containing routing details; usually used by truckers and freight forwarders.
- Duplicate B/L: Another original Bill of Lading set if first set is lost. also known as reissued B/L.
- Express B/L: Non-negotiable B/L where there are no hard copies of originals printed.
- Freight B/L: A contract of carriage between a shipper and forwarder (who is usually a NVOCC); a non-negotiable document.
- Government B/L (GBL): A bill of lading issued by the U.S. government.
- Hitchment B/L: B/L covering parts of a shipment which are loaded at more than one location. Hitchment B/L usually consists of two parts, hitchment and hitchment memo. The hitchment portion usually covers the majority of a divided shipment and carries the entire revenue.
- House B/L: B/L issued by a freight forwarder or consolidator covering a single shipment containing the names, addresses and specific description of the goods shipped.
- Intermodal B/L: B/L covering cargo moving via multimodal means. Also known as Combined Transport B/L, or Multimodal B/L.
- Long Form B/L: B/L form with all Terms & Conditions written on it. Most B/L's are short form which incorporate the long form clauses by reference.
- Memo B/L: Unfreighted B/L with no charges listed.
- Military B/L: B/L issued by the U.S. military; also known as GBL, or Form DD1252.
- B/L Numbers: U.S. Customs' standardized B/L numbering format to facilitate electronic communications and to make each B/L number unique.
- Negotiable B/L: The B/L is a title document to the goods, issued "to the order of" a party, usually the shipper, whose endorsement is required to effect is negotiation. Thus, a shipper's order (negotiable) B/L can be bought, sold, or traded while goods are in transit and is commonly used for letter-of-credit transactions. The buyer must submit the original B/L to the carrier in order to take possession of the goods.
- Non-Negotiable B/L: See Straight B/L. Sometimes means a file copy of a B/L.
- "Onboard" B/L: B/L validated at the time of loading to transport. Onboard Air, Boxcar, Container, Rail, Truck and Vessel are the most common types.
- Optional Discharge B/L: B/L covering cargo with more than one discharge point option possibility.
- "Order" B/L: See Negotiable B/L.
- Original B/L: The part of the B/L set that has value, especially when negotiable; rest of set are only informational file copies. Abbreviated as OBL.
- Received for Shipment B/L: Validated at time cargo is received by ocean carrier to commence movement but before being validated as "Onboard".
- Reconciled B/L: B/L set which has completed a prescribed number of edits between the shippers instructions and the actual shipment received. This produces a very accurate B/L.
- Short Term B/L: Opposite of Long Form B/L, a B/L without the Terms & Conditions written on it. Also known as a Short Form B/L. The terms are incorporated by reference to the long form B/L.
- Split B/L: One of two or more B/L's which have been split from a single B/L.
- Stale B/L: A late B/L; in banking, a B/L which has passed the time deadline of the L/C and is void.
- Straight (Consignment) B/L: Indicates the shipper will deliver the goods to the consignee. It does not convey title (non-negotiable). Most often used when the goods have been pre-paid.
- "To Order" B/L: See Negotiable B/L.
- Unique B/L Identifier: U.S. Customs' standardization: four-alpha code unique to each carrier placed in front of nine digit B/L number; APL's unique B/L Identifier is "APLU". Sea-land uses "SEAU". These prefixes are also used as the container identification.
- Voided B/L: Related to Consolidated B/L; those B/L's absorbed in the combining process. Different from Canceled B/L.
Bill of Lading Port of Discharge
Port where cargo is discharged from means of transport.
Bill of Sale
Confirms the transfer of ownership of certain goods to another person in return for money paid or loaned.
Bill to Party
Customer designated as party paying for services.
Billed Weight
The weight shown in a waybill and freight bill, i.e, the invoiced weight.
Blanket Bond
A bond covering a group of persons, articles or properties.
Blanket Rate
- A rate applicable to or from a group of points.
- A special rate applicable to several different articles in a single shipment.
Blanket Waybill
A waybill covering two or more consignments of freight.
Blind Shipment
A B/L wherein the paying customer has contracted with the carrier that shipper or consignee information is not given.
Block Stowage
Stowing cargo destined for a specific location close together to avoid unnecessary cargo movement.
Blocked Trains
Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction.
Blocking or Bracing
Wood or metal supports (Dunnage) to keep shipments in place to prevent cargo shifting.
Bls.
Abbreviation for "Bales."
Board
To gain access to a vessel.
Board Feet
The basic unit of measurement for lumber. One board foot is equal to a oneinch board, 12 inches wide and one foot long. Thus, a board ten feet long, 12 inches wide, and one inch thick contains ten board feet.
Bobtail
Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway.
Bogie
A set of wheels built specifically as rear wheels under the container.
Bolster
A device fitted on a chassis or railcar to hold and secure the container.
Bond Port
Port of initial Customs entry of a vessel to any country. Also known as First Port of Call.
Bonded Freight
Freight moving under a bond to U.S. Customs or to the Internal Revenue Service, and to be delivered only under stated conditions.
Bonded Warehouse
A warehouse authorized by Customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.
Booking
Arrangements with a carrier for the acceptance and carriage of freight; i.e., a space reservation.
Booking Number
Reservation number used to secure equipment and act as a control number prior to completion of a B/L.
Bottom Side Rails
Structural members on the longitudinal sides of the base of the container.
Bottom-Air Delivery
A type of air circulation in a temperature control container. Air is pulled by a fan from the top of the container, passed through the evaporator coil for cooling, and then forced through the space under the load and up through the cargo. This type of airflow provides even temperatures.
Bow
The front of a vessel.
Boxcar
A closed rail freight car.
Break Bulk
- To unload and distribute a portion or all of the contents of a rail car, container, or trailer.
- Loose, non-containerized cargo.
Broken Stowage
- The loss of space caused by irregularity in the shape of packages.
- Any void or empty space in a vessel or container not occupied by cargo.
Broker
A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.
Brokerage
Freight forwarder/broker compensation as specified by ocean tariff or contract.
Bulk Cargo
Not in packages or containers; shipped loose in the hold of a ship without mark and count." Grain, coal and sulfur are usually bulk freight.
Bulk-Freight Container
A container with a discharge hatch in the front wall; allows bulk commodities to be carried.
Bulkhead
- A partition separating one part of a ship, freight car, aircraft or truck from another part.
Bull Rings
Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo.
Bunker Charge
An extra charge sometimes added to steamship freight rates; justified by higher fuel costs. (Also known as Fuel Adjustment Factor or FAF.)
Bunkers
A Maritime term referring to Fuel used aboard the ship. Coal stowage areas aboard a vessel in the past were in bins or bunkers.
Bridge Point
An inland location where cargo is received by the ocean carrier and then moved to a coastal port for loading.
Bridge Port
A port where cargo is received by the ocean carrier and stuffed into containers but then moved to another coastal port to be waded on a vessel.
C
C&F Terms of Sale, or INCOTERMS.
Obsolete, albeit heavily used, term of sale meaning "cargo and freight" whereby Seller pays for cost of goods and freight charges up to destination port. In July, 1990 the International Chamber of Commerce replaced C&F with CFR.
Cabotage
Water transportation term applicable to shipments between ports of a nation; commonly refers to coast-wise or inter-coastal navigation or trade. Many nations, including the United States, have cabotage laws which require national flag vessels to provide domestic interport service.
CAF
Abbreviation for "Currency Adjustment Factor." A charge, expressed as a percentage of a base rate, that is applied to compensate ocean carriers of currency fluctuations.
Carnet
A Customs document permitting the holder to temporarily carry or send merchandise into certain foreign countries (for display, demonstration or similar purposes) without paying duties or posting bonds. Any of various Customs documents required for crossing some international borders.
Captain's Protest
A document prepared by the captain of a vessel on arriving at port; shows conditions encountered during voyage, generally for the purpose of relieving ship owner of any loss to cargo and shifting responsibility for reimbursement to the insurance company.
Carfloat
A barge equipped with tracks on which up to about 12 railroad cars are moved in harbors or inland waterways.
Car Pooling
Use of individual carrier/rail equipment through a central agency for the benefit of carriers and shippers.
Car Seal
Metal strip and lead fastener used for locking freight car or truck doors. Seals are numbered for record purposes.
Cargo
Freight loaded into a ship.
Cargo Manifest
A manifest that lists all cargo carried on a specific vessel voyage.
Cargo NOS
Cargo Not Otherwise Specified. Usually the rate entry in a tariff that can apply to commodities not covered under a specific item or subitem in the applicable tariff.
