Glossary of popular terms for Expedited Freight Shipping

• Accessorial charges (also called assessorial charges)
Charges made for performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery, such as interior delivery or storage charges.
• Air freight forwarder
An air freight forwarder provides pickup and delivery service under its own tariff, may consolidate shipments into larger units, may prepare shipping documentation and tenders shipments to the air carriers. Air freight forwarders do not typically operate their own aircraft and may be called “indirect air carriers.” As the air freight forwarder tenders the shipment, the airlines consider the forwarder to be the shipper.
• Air Waybill
An air waybill is a document that airlines must use. Consistent to a bill of lading, the air waybill is a contract between the airline and shipper that states the terms & conditions of transportation. The air waybill also contains shipping instructions, transport charges and product descriptions.

• Bill of lading (BOL or B/L)
A bill of lading is a binding contract that serves three main purposes:
o a receipt for the goods delivered to the transportation provider for shipment;
o a definition or description of the goods; and
o evidence of title to the relative goods, if “negotiable”.
• Bill of lading exceptions
The terms and conditions of most bills of lading release transportation providers from liability for loss or damage arising from:
o an act of God,
o a public enemy,
o the authority of law or
o the act or default of the shipper.
In addition, except in the case of negligence, a transportation provider will not be liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by:
o the property being stopped and held in transit at the request of the shipper, owner or party entitled to make such request;
o lack of capacity of a highway, bridge or ferry;
o a defect or vice in the property; or
o riots or strikes.
• Bonded carrier
A transportation provider U.S. Customs allows carrying customs-controlled merchandise between customs points.
• Breakbulk
To separate parts of a load into individual shipments for routing to various different destinations.
• Broker
A broker is an independent contractor paid to arrange motor-carrier transportation. A broker may work on the carrier’s or shipper’s behalf.

• Cartage agent
A carrier who performs pickup or delivery in areas that we do not serve.
o Cartage agents use their own paperwork while transporting the shipment.
o We do not track the shipment while it is in the cartage agent’s possession.
o When we give a shipment to a cartage agent for delivery, the shipment is considered to be “delivered”.
• Claim
o Cargo: A cargo claim is a demand made on a transportation company for payment for goods allegedly damaged or lost while the shipment was in the transportation provider’s possession.
o Overcharge/Undercharge: These claims on a transportation company for a refund of an overcharge from the erroneous application of rates, weights or assessment of freight charges.
• COD
A shipment for which the transportation provider is responsible for collecting the sale price of the goods shipped before delivery. We do not handle COD shipments.
• Commodity
Any article of commerce. Goods shipped.
• Concealed loss
Any shortage or damage that was not evident at delivery.
• Consignee
The person or place where a shipment will be transferred for the last time (destination); the individual or organization to whom the goods are addressed.

•Consolidator/Consolidated Freight
Freight shipping that combines your freight with other customer’s freight. Also known as a linehaul. This is typically a slower service and freight is shipped from a terminal to another terminal with the local pickup and delivery legs being conducted separately. This is the opposite of our primary services which are via a dedicated (exclusive-use) truck or van which naturally is much quicker.

•Cross-Docking
Cross-docking is the practice of unloading goods from inbound delivery vehicles and loading them directly onto outbound vehicles. Essentially a transfer from one truck/van to another truck/van typically in a warehouse. While a common supply chain practice we do not practice this with your dedicated/expedited freight shipments as it causes additional delays and increases the chance for loss or damage of/to your freight.

• Dedicated Freight/Dedicated Trucking

An exclusive use vehicle (truck or van) that ships only the freight of an individual shipper. Vehicle will not share freight or cross-dock at any point and provides the fastest ground shipping possible. All of our ground services are via dedicated services providing the quickest point to point shipping available in the market.

• Delivery receipt
Document a consignee or its agent dates and signs at delivery, stating the condition of the goods at delivery. The driver takes the signed receipt to the terminal for retention. The customer retains the remaining copy.

• Dimensional Weight
Dimensional weight is often referred to within the industry as DIM weight. This is a pricing formula that is used for calculating the space ‘occupied’ by commercial freight on a vehicle. This is computed by multiplying length times width times height.

• Direct Freight / Direct Shipping

Direct freight shipment is the method to delivering goods directly (and on a dedicated vehicle) from supplier to customer. This method reduces transit time, eliminates storage fees and allows customers to reach the tightest deadlines.

• Dispatch
The act of sending a driver on the assigned route with instructions and required shipping papers.
• Dock
A platform, typically the same height as the trailer floor, where trucks are loaded and unloaded.
• Dolly
The converter that provides an extra axle and fifth wheel and is used to connect multiple trailers.

• Drayage
Also known as connecting road haulage.
o The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides (dray).
o Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the stuffing place.

• Exceptions
An exception is any delivery in which the driver or recipient notes a problem on the delivery receipt before signing it. Typically, exceptions concern shortage and/or damage (see above).
• Exclusive use
A shipper pays a premium rate for the sole use of a vehicle. When a shipper requests an exclusive-use vehicle, no other freight may be added to the unit even if space permits.

• FOB destination
Under this arrangement, title and risk remain with the seller until it has delivered the goods to the location specified in the contract.
• FOB origin
Title and risk pass to the buyer at the moment the seller delivers the goods to the carrier. The parties may agree to have title and risk pass at a different time or to allocate shipping charges by a written agreement.
• Freight
Any product being transported.
• Freight broker
Any person that sells transportation without actually providing it. The term usually refers to an agent for truckload shipments, matching small shippers with carriers. Freight brokers often do not accept any responsibility for their shipments.

• Gross vehicle weight (GVW)
The combined weight of the vehicle and its goods.

• Hazardous material
Hazardous materials are defined by the USDOT. Material may be designated as hazardous if the transportation of the material in a particular amount and form poses an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property. Hazardous material may include: an explosive, radioactive material; etiologic agent; flammable or combustible liquid or solid; poison; oxidizing or corrosive material; and compressed gas.

• In bond
Shipments move under bond from point of entry to an interior U.S. destination for clearance or to another border location for clearance.
• Intermodal
Shipment moves by more than one mode of transportation (ground, air, rail or ocean).

• Lane
The actual route that your expedited freight will be transported to and from. “Chicago to Detroit is a very active lane”.

• Less-than-truckload (LTL)
Goods weighing less than 10,000 pounds from several shippers loaded onto one trailer.
• Linehaul
Movement of goods between cities or between freight terminals, particularly between origin terminal and destination terminal, excluding pickup and delivery service.

• Minimum charge
The lowest charge for which a shipment will be handled after discount and/or adjustment.

• National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)
Industry-standard tariff published by motor carriers containing rules, descriptions and ratings on all products moving in commerce; used to classify goods to rate the freight bill.
• Non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC)
A type of ocean freight forwarder. NVOCCs book space in large quantities for a reduced rate, then sell space to shippers in lesser amounts. NVOCCs consolidate smaller shipments into a container load that ships under one bill of lading.

• Origin
The site where the shipment first enters our freight system.
• Overage
The number of units received is in excess of the quantity shown on shipping documents. Overages should not be delivered to a customer. They’re returned to the terminal unless the terminal receives more information while the driver is making pickups and deliveries.
• Overcharge claims
The payor of the shipping charges files an overcharge claim to dispute a discrepancy in charges that can stem from an overpayment, weight or description corrections, etc.

• Payment terms
Generally, the shipper is responsible for payment for prepaid shipments, and the consignee is responsible for payment for collect shipments unless a third party is indicated as payor on the shipping papers.
• Pickup and delivery (P&D)
Local movement of goods between the shipper (or pickup point) and the origin terminal or between the destination terminal and the consignee (or delivery point).
• PRO
An acronym for progressive rotating order. This number will be used to identify your expedited freight shipment.

• Revenue
Shipping charges the transportation provider receives for transporting goods.

• Shipper’s agent
A shipper’s agent is not a carrier, freight forwarder or broker. Shipper’s agents generally arrange for truckload or container load shipment transportation.
• Shipping documents
Papers accompanying a shipment as it moves through the freight system.
• Shortage
The number of units received is less than the quantity shown on shipping documents. The outstanding units may be delivered later.

• Skid
Another industry term for a pallet of freight. A wooden or plastic pallet that the freight is attached to for stability and ease of transfer.

• Tariff
A Tariff is a document setting forth applicable rules, rates, and charges to move goods. A tariff sets forth a contract for the shipper, the consignee, and the carrier. Since Jan. 1, 1996, motor carriers are not required to publish tariffs.
• Terminal
Any freight building and grounds where shipments are prepared for local delivery or transportation to other terminals.
• Third party
A party other than the shipper or consignee that is ultimately responsible for paying the shipment charges.
• Tote
In shipping, a tote typically refers to an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC). Custom designed containers for the industry allow for transport/ storage of bulk liquid , granulated substances for commodities like liquids, chemicals, food, etc
• Tracking
Satellite tracking allows us to monitor the real-time progress of all expedited to ensure that your freight is professionally managed from pickup through to delivery. If there are ever any unexpected delays or issues with expedited sprinter van or truck we can quickly recover the freight and transfer to a new vehicles if needed. .
• Truck tonnage
The weight (in tons) of a shipment transported by truck.
• Truckload (TL)
Large-volume shipment from a single customer that weighs more than 10,000 pounds or takes up all the trailer space so no other shipment can be loaded.

• UN number
An internationally accepted four-digit number used to identify hazardous material.

W
• Waybill
A “Waybill” is a non-negotiable document prepared by or on behalf of the carrier at the origin. The document shows origin point, destination, route, consignor, consignee, shipment description and the amount charged for the transportation service.

Glossary with thanks to YRC Freight