SHIPPING TERMINOLOGY

BILL OF LADING - The document that acts as a contract of carriage between the shipper and carrier. It can also provide a receipt for the goods.

COFC - Container on a flatcar; intermodal container that ships without chassis on rail flat cars.

CONSIGNEE - The receiver of a freight shipment

CONSIGNOR - The sender of a shipment - also known as the shipper.

CWT - Hundredweight (per hundred pounds)

DEMURRAGE – Charges that are assessed when loading or unloading is not completed within specified time limits. Also known as detention.

DENSITY - The physical characteristic measuring mass in pounds per cubic foot. Used to determine equipment utilization.

DETENTION - See Demurrage

EXPEDITED SHIPMENT - Shipments that require delivery faster than standard - usually at a premium rate.

FAK - Freight All Kinds - Refers to a non-homogenous group of commodities shipping together. This term also applies to specialized rate structures.

FLATBEDS – Trailers that are free of walls or ceiling constraints (see Trailer Specifications)

FUEL SURCHARGE - Accessorial charges imposed by carriers to accommodate highly volatile fuel cost variances.

HEAVY HAUL – Also known as over-dimensional shipments. Shipments that are over standard legal length, width, height, or weight - generally requiring permits and frequently requiring specific routes. Escorts may be required.

INTERMODAL - Shipments moving on more than one mode of transportation, eg. Rail and ground.

LTL - Less than truckload.

NMFC - National Motor Freight Classification. This is a publication that contains commodity descriptions with their corresponding freight classification. This is used to determine the rate structure.

PALLET - A small platform - commonly made of wood, plastic, or metal, on which goods are placed to facilitate movement of the merchandise by forklift.

PIGGYBACK - Rail/Truck service. See intermodal.

SLC - Shipper's Load and Count - this is a notation on the bill of lading - generally for truckload shipments where the piece count is not readily verifiable by the driver. This, for example, would be used when a trailer is "dropped" at the shipper's location for loading in the driver's absence.

TOFC - Trailer on Flatcar

TEAM SERVICE - Two drivers in a sleeper cab alternating driving and sleeping to assure the continued movement of the vehicle.

TRUCKLOAD - Full truckload (FTL or TL)

VANS - Enclosed trailer (see Trailer Specifications)