Freight Basics - Glossary - Abbreviations
Air and Ocean Freight Abbreviations
Dimensions
CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres
Height×Width×Length to work out the cubic metre of a shipment
KG - Kilograms
LB - Pounds
CF - Cubic Feet
LF - Linear Feet
R/T - Revenue tonnes
A billing unit used in the international freight industry.
W/M - Weight or Measure
Billing will be based on whichever is greater based on the converstion factor
Document
AWB / HAWB - Air Waybill / House Air Waybill
A waybill is a document issued by a carrier or forwarder giving details and instructions relating to the shipment
B/L or BOL - Bill of Lading
A document issued by the carrier to the shipper as a contract of carriage, it must be presented at destination in order for the goods to be released it is a document of title for the goods
D.O. or D/O - Delivery Order
A document which orders the release of freight to another party. Unless in North America, do not mistake this for delivery instructions or a document of title for the goods. In North America a delivery order IS a delivery instruction.
Freight Release
Referred to in North America as a document that orders the release of freight to another party.
L/C - Letter of Credit
This is a document issued by a bank to another bank to serve as guarantee for payments made to a specified person under specified conditions
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet
Provides procedures for handling Dangerous Goods (DG) in a safe manner. It will confirm how the goods can travel and if they can be loaded with other Dangerous Goods
SLI - Shippers Letter of Instruction
A document filled in by the shipper providing all the details related to the shipment - Shipper and Consignee, dimensions and weight, description of the goods and shipping terms
INCO Terms
People and Places
ATF - Approved Transtional Facility
Has site approval and an accredited MAF person to received and inspect import containers
AQIS - Australian Quaratine Inspection Serive
Boarder control in Australia
CFS - Container Freight Station
Container freight handling depot
CNOR/CNEE - Consignor/Consignee
Seller / Buyer, Sender/Recevier
CY - Container Yard
Refering to the shipping lines container storage yards, they are likely to be inland ports
ETD/ETA - Estimated time of Departure / Estimated Time of Arrival
IATA - International Air transport Association
An international organisation of airlines that regulate conditions of operation, safety, schedules and pricing for international air transport - We are ranked No. 1 in New Zealand
NVOCC - Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier
Acts like a shipping line but doesn't own it's own vessels
POL/POD - Port of Loading / Port of Discharge
Surcharges
Compliance costs associated with USA border security laws and procedures
BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor
Fuel Surcharge on a shipping vessel
CAF - Currency Adjustment Factor
Charged to cover currency fluctuation
CABAF - CAF and BAF charges combined
FAF - Fuel Adjustment Factor
Fuel charges on road units or on airfreight
GRI - General Rate Increase
Used by shipping lines to label general increase in ocean freight rates on particular trade routes
ISPS - International Ship & Port Facility Security
To cover security handling at the origin and destination ports/depots
SCA - Sea Cargo Automation Fee
Applied by Australian Customs to the computer system that coordinates and controls the reporting and delivery of import sea-cargo in Australia
Transport Modes
20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container
40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container
FR - Flat Racks
HC - High Cube container
OT - Open top container
RF/Reefer - Refrigerated Container
For further information on shipping containers please click here
B/B, B/Bulk - Break-Bulk
A large shipment, usually too big for a shipping container, that can be loaded directly onto a ship
DG - Dangerous Goods
Goods that could be harmfully to people and the enviroment and may require special handling
FAK - Freight All Kind
Full container load with a combination of freight from different shippers
FCL - Full Container Load
For higher volume shipments at least over 20 cubic metres total
LCL - Less than Container Load
For smaller sea freight shipments that do not require a full container. Minimum shipment size is 1 cubic metre (CBM/M³) to 1 tonne
LSE - Loose Airfreight
Goods travelling by airfreight on its own and not in a consolidation with other freight
LO LO - Lift on Lift off
Term used by carriers when shipping containers are lifed off the vessel (import) or forwarders truck (export) onto the forwarders truck (import) or vessel (export)
GP - General Purpose Container
Otherwise known as a standard container
OOG - Out Of Gauge
When your shipment over hangs the dimensions of a shipping container
RO RO - Roll On Roll Off
When a shipment can either be driven or towed on and off a vessel
SOC - Shipper Owned Container
Shipping container owned by the shipper rather than the shippng line
U.L.D - Unit Load Device
Spealised containers or pallet bases used in cargo aircraft
Domestic Freight Abbreviations
Documents
This is used as proof that the goods have been delivered to the consignee fully and undamaged. The POD is signed by the driver when the goods are picked up from the depot and then signed by the consignee when the goods are delivered
Dimensions
CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres
Height×Width×Length to work out the cubic metre of a shipment
KG - Kilograms
LB - Pounds
CF - Cubic Feet
LF - Linear Feet
Insurance
LCR - Limited Carriers Risk
OR - Owners Risk
People and Places
Sender / Receiver
ETD/ETA - Estimated Time of Departure / Estimated Time of Arrival
Surcharges
Fuel charges on road & rail units
Transport Modes
20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container
40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container
FR - Flat Racks
HC - High Cube container
OT - Open top container
For further information on shipping containers please click here
DG - Dangerous Goods
Goods that could be harmfully to people and the enviroment and may require special handling
FCL - Full Container Load
For higher volume shipments at least over 20 cubic metres total
FTL - Full Truck Load
For higher volume shipments that can fit the capacit of a truck
LCL - Less than Container Load
For smaller sea freight shipments that do not require a full container.
GP - General Purpose Container
Otherwise known as a standard container
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