| ATA | Actual Time of Arrival | This is the confirmed arrival date at the destination shipping point. This usually refers to the Port of Discharge not final delivery point |
| ATD | Actual Time of Departure | Confirmed departure date from original shipping point.Information only available once received Bills of Lading from carrier as shipped on board. |
| AEO | Authorized Economic Operator | Organisations accredited by the AEO scheme have shown their role in the international freight is secure and compliant with regulations |
| BOL | Bill of lading ( B/L) | Official shipping document containing details of the shipment and shows ownership of the goods. Only 'released' to owner/recipient of the goods |
| BAF | Bunker Adjustment Factor | Shipping Line calculates this factor, also known as the bunker surcharge, based on fluctuating oil prices |
| CAF | Currency Adjustment Factor | A percentage surcharge for Carriers / Agents, to offset possible financial losses for Carrier/Agent due to fluctuating exchange rates between currencies. |
| CBM | Cubic Meter | Cargo Volume in Cubic Meters (LWH in meters). Freight charges based on the greater of CBM or actual weight in Chargeable Weight. |
| CI | Commercial Invoice | Contains buyer & seller’s details plus type of goods, quantity, price per product & terms of sale & to declare goods to customs,determining duties and taxes |
| CNEE | Consignee | The Person or Company receiving the shipment, to whom it is Consigned. Shipper sends the goods to Consignee |
| COC | Carrier Owned Container | Refers to a shipping line owned container used in shipping goods (vs SOC, a shipper owned container) |
| COO | Certificate of Origin | Certifies the country where goods originated, issued by Chamber of Commerce or Embassy of the exporting country. Can be required by customs to determine lower duties due trade agreements |
| CSC | Convention for Safe Containers | Plate affixed to shipping container confirming it's been thoroughly inspected by competent professional & considered safe for use for a set period of time |
| CY | Container Yard | A Container Yard is a collection and distribution point for shipping containers (full & empty) |
| DRO | Depot release order | Document from a Consignee or Freight Carrier that orders the release of the cargo for transportation to another party |
| EDI | Electronic Data Interchange | Computerized data exchange protocol in submitting data mainly for customs clearances. |
| EORI | Economic Operator Registration and Identification | Issued once per entity, an EORI number lets customs keep a record of what’s being imported and exported. Prerequsite to import goods into UK. |
| ENS | Entry Summary Declaration | Provided by shipper or importer used to electronically submit information about impending import before its entry into Customs system for clearance. |
| ETA | Estimated time of Arrival | Used for the date that the ship or plane is due to arrive at it's destination (arrival) port |
| ETD | Estimated time of Departure | Used for the date that the ship or plane is due to depart its origin port and begin its journey. |
| FAK | Freight All Kinds | typically refers to a full container loaded with mixed cargo as a general discription of contents. Not for hazardous or regulated goods. |
| FCR | Forwarder's cargo receipt | Shipper's Freight Forwarder/Agent document when shipment & responsibility handed over to Consignee's Forwarder/Agent |
| FCL | Full Container Load | sufficiency of cargo to fill a shipping container; normally a 20' (6m), 40' (12m). Typically refers to one shipper's cargo (vs LCL -less than full container- cargo) |
| GWT | Gross weight | the actual weight of the cargo to be shipped, including packaging (nett weight excludes packaging) (not the CBM or Volumetric weight) |
| HAWB | House Airway Bill | issued by an Airfreight freight forwarder/consolidator, details supplier and Consignee, destination, carriage and weights, does not confer title of goods. Refer MAWB |
| HBL | House Bill of lading | issued by a Sefreight freight forwarder/consolidator, details supplier and Consignee, destination, carriage and weights, does not confer title of goods. Refer BOL |
| INCO | Incoterms | “Incoterms®” is an acronym standing for INternational COmmercial terms. “Incoterms®” is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. |
| ISO | International Std Organization | The ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations. |
| L/C | Letter of Credit | a contract, issued & facilitated by Banks, in which the terms of documentary credit transactions , for Export/Import Trade of goods, are detailed and agreed |
| LCL | Less than Container Load | where insufficient goods to make a Full Container Load (FCL) are shipped in a container by a consolidator/agent, ie a shared container. |
| LOI | Letter of Indemnity | A document protecting the cargo owner from losses due to loss, theft, destruction, or other harmful events impacting the shipment. |
| LOLO | Lift On/Lift Off | Refers to a charge for lifting a container on and off a conveyance (train, lorry) |
| NOA | Notice of Arrival | the Carrier of Agent sends a pre-advice or notice of impending arrival of goods detailing all relevant information |
| OTHC | Origin Terminal Handling Charge | Charges by Terminal Operator regarding container movement and handling |
| OWS | Overweight Surcharge | Surcharge levied by shipping lines for containers exceeding stated or acceptable weights, but within legal weight limitations for said container. |
| PKG | Packages | referring to the type of packaging used, eg pallet, carton, box, bag and reflected on Packing List. |
| PSS | Peak season Surcharge | Fee levied by shipping lines in High Season due space scarcity on vessels (normally August - October) |
| POD | Port of Discharge | The port at which the goods are discharged from vessel |
| POL | Port of Loading | The port at which goods are loaded onto vessel |
| PO | Purchase Order | Numbered Commercial document and official offer issued to Seller, indicating everything Seller requires, including type, quantity, price of goods or services. |
| RORO | Roll on Roll Off | Cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks etc by means of a ramp to portside dock or quay. |
| SOC | Shipper Owned Container | Shipper purchases and utilizes their own shipping container for transport (accepted eg, subject to valid CSC plates) |
| SI | Shipping Instructions | Confirms that space has been allocated on a vessel for shipment |
| SCM | Supply Chain Management | process of managing the flow of goods from raw material to finished product and all steps and transport in between |
| SKD | Semi Knocked Down | machines (eg vehicles) knocked down into a very limited number of parts to facilitate shipping (dimensions / weight criteria vs. CKD (Completely Knocked Down) |
| TEU | twenty foot equivalent unit | refers to a 20' or 6m shipping container (vs FEU a 40' or 12m container) |
| THC | Terminal Handling Charge | Cost of handling the goods or container at a port. In FCL is for moving actual container, in LCL it is the packing/unpacking of cargo |
| TLX | Telex Release | Telex release and express release refer to electronic hand over of Bills of Lading by carrier |
| ULD | Unit Loading Device | Airfreight terms for airline pallets or containers to convey cargo specifically made and configured to fit various aircraft types |
| VGM | Verified Gross Mass | verified weight of the loaded container before loading. Legally required, implemented by SOLAS (Safety of Lives at Sea) |
| WM | Weight or Measure | the freight cost will depend on whether the actual weight or the volumetric (CBM) weight will be used. In Seafreight 1 CBM = 1000kgs (ton) |
