Glossary
Logistics & Freight Forwarding Glossary
Our comprehensive glossary explains important terms from the world of logistics, freight forwarding, air and sea freight. Here you will find definitions and explanations of the most common technical terms.
A
ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road)
European agreement on the international transport of dangerous goods by road. It regulates cross-border transport of dangerous goods and establishes safety standards.
Air Waybill (AWB)
Air freight bill that serves as a transport contract between shipper and air carrier. It contains all relevant information about the shipment and is non-transferable.
ATA Carnet
International customs document that allows temporary import of goods without payment of import duties. It is mainly used for exhibition goods, professional equipment and commercial samples.
ATLAS (Automated Tariff and Local Customs Clearance System)
IT procedure of the German customs administration for electronic processing of customs declarations and other customs-related procedures.
B
BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
Fuel surcharge in sea freight that compensates for fluctuations in fuel prices. It is calculated as a percentage of the basic freight or as a fixed amount per container.
Barcode
Machine-readable code consisting of parallel lines of different widths, used for identifying goods and shipments. It enables fast and error-free data capture.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
A freight document in sea freight that serves as cargo accompanying document, receipt and security. It certifies the right to release the goods and is transferable.
Break Bulk
General cargo that is not transported in containers but is loaded individually. This includes, for example, crates, bags, barrels or pallets.
C
Cabotage
Transport of goods or persons between two places within a country by a foreign transport company. In the EU, cabotage is permitted for transport companies from EU member states under certain conditions.
CMR (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road)
Agreement on the contract of carriage in international road freight transport. It regulates the liability of the carrier and the transport conditions in cross-border road freight transport.
Container
Standardized transport container for freight transport, available in various sizes (mainly 20 and 40 feet). Containers enable efficient multimodal transport and protect goods from weather influences.
Cross-Docking
Logistics procedure where goods are transported directly from goods receipt to goods issue without intermediate storage. It minimizes storage costs and shortens delivery time.
D
Demurrage
Detention charge incurred when a container remains in the port or terminal beyond the agreed free time. It serves as an incentive for quick loading and unloading.
Detention
Fee incurred when a container remains outside the port or terminal (e.g., at the consignee) beyond the agreed free time.
DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations)
IATA regulations for the transport of dangerous goods in air traffic. It contains detailed regulations for the classification, packaging, marking and documentation of dangerous goods.
Direct Transport
Transport of goods without transshipment from sender to receiver. It offers advantages such as shorter transport times, lower risk of damage and lower costs.
E
EORI Number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification)
Identification number for economic operators in customs traffic with the EU. It is required for all companies that submit customs declarations or apply for customs authorizations.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
Estimated arrival time of a means of transport (ship, aircraft, truck) at the destination. It serves to plan follow-up activities such as unloading, onward transport or customs clearance.
ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)
Estimated departure time of a means of transport from the point of origin. It is important for planning the entire transport chain.
Express Service
Fast transport service with guaranteed transit times, often used for time-critical shipments. Express services usually offer additional services such as shipment tracking and proof of delivery.
F
FCL (Full Container Load)
Full container load where an entire container is used by one shipper, regardless of whether it is completely filled. The shipper has exclusive use of the container.
FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations)
International association of freight forwarder organizations that represents the interests of the freight forwarding industry worldwide and develops international standards for freight forwarding services.
Freight Bill
Transport document that serves as a transport contract between sender and carrier. It contains all relevant information about the shipment such as sender, consignee, goods description and transport conditions.
Free Zone
Customs-specific area where goods can be stored, processed or refined without payment of import duties. Customs and taxes are only due when transferred to free circulation.
G
Dangerous Goods
Substances and articles that may pose dangers to public safety or order due to their properties. Their transport is subject to special regulations (ADR, IMDG Code, DGR).
General Average
Legal institution in maritime law where extraordinary sacrifices or expenditures for the rescue of ship and cargo from a common danger are distributed among all parties involved in the sea voyage.
GPS (Global Positioning System)
Satellite-based navigation system used for positioning and tracking vehicles and shipments. It enables precise location and route planning.
Groupage (Consolidated Cargo)
Bundling of several smaller shipments from different shippers into a larger transport unit. This enables better utilization of means of transport and lower costs per shipment.
H
Port Charges
Costs incurred for the use of port facilities and services. These include berth fees, pilot fees, tugboat assistance and handling costs.
Handling
Transshipment and treatment of goods during transport, including loading and unloading, transshipment, sorting and order picking.
Piggyback Transport
Combined transport where complete road vehicles or parts thereof (trailers, swap bodies) are transported by rail. It combines the flexibility of road transport with the advantages of rail transport.
Hub
Central transshipment center in a transport network where goods are collected, sorted and distributed to various destinations. Hubs optimize transport routes and increase network efficiency.
I
IATA (International Air Transport Association)
International association of airlines that develops standards for air transport and represents the interests of the aviation industry. It regulates, among other things, transport conditions and tariff structures.
IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code)
International regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by sea. It contains regulations for the classification, packaging, marking and stowage of dangerous goods.
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms)
International trade clauses that regulate the rights and obligations of buyer and seller in international trade. They define in particular the assumption of costs and risks during transport.
Intermodal Transport
Transport of goods in the same loading unit with different modes of transport (road, rail, water, air) without the transported goods themselves being transshipped. It combines the advantages of the various modes of transport.
J
Just-in-Time (JIT)
Logistics concept where materials and components are delivered exactly when needed. It minimizes inventory and storage costs but requires precise planning and reliable transport chains.
Jumbo Container
Oversized container with a capacity of more than 40 feet. It is used for transporting particularly voluminous or heavy goods.
K
Cabotage
Transport of goods or persons between two places within a country by a foreign transport company. In the EU, cabotage is permitted for transport companies from EU member states under certain conditions.
Order Picking
Compilation of articles from a total range according to customer orders. It is an important process in warehouse logistics and significantly influences delivery quality and speed.
Consolidation
Combination of several smaller shipments into a larger transport unit. It enables better utilization of means of transport and lower costs per shipment.
Cold Chain
Uninterrupted sequence of cooling and freezing processes from manufacturer to consumer. It is particularly important for perishable goods such as food and pharmaceuticals.
L
Load Securing
Measures to secure goods during transport against slipping, falling over or falling down. It is legally required and serves traffic safety as well as protection of goods.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
General cargo shipment where the shipper only uses part of a container. The shipment is transported with other shipments in one container.
Supply Chain
Network of organizations involved in the production and delivery of a product, from raw material supplier to end customer. It includes all value creation processes, including procurement, production, storage and distribution.
Air Freight
Transport of goods by aircraft. It is characterized by high speed, long range and high security, but is usually more expensive than other types of transport.
M
Manifest
Document that lists all shipments on board a means of transport. It serves for customs clearance and control of the cargo.
Multimodal Transport
Transport of goods with at least two different modes of transport under a single transport contract. The carrier assumes full responsibility for the entire transport.
Toll
Fee for the use of certain traffic routes, especially highways, bridges or tunnels. In many countries, a distance-based toll is levied for trucks.
N
Cash on Delivery
Payment method where the recipient pays the purchase price to the delivery person upon receipt of the goods. It offers security to the seller as the goods are only handed over against payment.
On-carriage
Transport of goods from the last transshipment point (e.g., port, airport, railway station) to the final consignee. It is part of combined transport and is usually carried out by truck.
NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier)
Sea freight forwarder who acts as a carrier without operating own ships. He buys container slots from shipping lines and resells them to shippers.
O
Outsourcing
Outsourcing of company tasks and structures to third-party companies. In logistics, transport, storage or order picking are often outsourced to specialized service providers.
Overpack
Outer packaging that combines several packages into one handling unit. It facilitates handling and provides additional protection for the goods.
P
Pallet
Standardized loading unit made of wood, plastic or metal that enables the handling of goods with forklifts or pallet trucks. The most common formats are the Euro pallet (1200 x 800 mm) and the industrial pallet (1200 x 1000 mm).
Parcel Service
Specialized transport service provider for parcels and smaller shipments. Parcel services offer standardized services with fixed transit times and prices.
Port of Discharge (POD)
Port of discharge where goods are unloaded from a seagoing vessel. It is an important point in the sea freight transport chain.
Port of Loading (POL)
Port of loading where goods are loaded onto a seagoing vessel. It is the starting point of the sea freight route.
Q
Quality Management
Systematic measures to ensure and improve the quality of products and services. In logistics, it includes monitoring and optimizing all processes from procurement to distribution.
Quarantine
Temporary isolation of goods that may contain pathogens or pests. It serves to protect against the introduction of plant diseases, animal diseases or human medical infections.
R
Reefer Container
Refrigerated container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods such as food, pharmaceuticals or chemicals. It has its own refrigeration units and can maintain a constant temperature.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
Technology for automatic and contactless identification and localization of objects using electromagnetic waves. In logistics, it is used for shipment tracking and inventory management.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
Ship type where cargo drives on and off board on its own wheels via ramps. RoRo ships are mainly used for transporting vehicles, trailers and rolling cargo.
S
Consolidated Cargo
Combination of several smaller shipments from different shippers into a larger transport unit. This enables better utilization of means of transport and lower costs per shipment.
Sea Freight
Transport of goods by ship over seas and oceans. It is particularly economical for large quantities and non-time-critical shipments over long distances.
Shipment Tracking (Tracking & Tracing)
Monitoring and documentation of the current status and location of a shipment during transport. It enables transparency in the supply chain and early response to delays.
Freight Forwarding
Company that organizes freight transport without necessarily being a carrier itself. Freight forwarders plan and coordinate transports and often offer additional services such as storage, customs clearance or packaging.
T
TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)
Standard measure for containers equivalent to a 20-foot container. It serves as a unit for measuring container capacities on ships or in terminals.
Transit
Passage of goods through a country without being released for free circulation there. Transit goods are subject to special customs regulations.
Transport Insurance
Insurance that covers damage to transported goods during transport. It protects against financial losses due to damage, loss or theft of goods.
U
Transshipment
Loading and unloading as well as transshipment of goods between different means of transport. Transshipment points are important nodes in transport networks.
Certificate of Origin
Document that certifies the origin of goods. It is often required for customs clearance in the importing country and can be a prerequisite for customs preferences.
V
Packaging
Wrapping or container to protect goods during transport and storage. It protects against damage, contamination, weather influences and theft.
Customs Clearance
Customs clearance of goods when crossing borders. It includes the declaration of goods to customs, the assessment and payment of duties and import charges as well as the verification of import restrictions.
Pre-carriage
Transport of goods from the shipper to the first transshipment point (e.g., port, airport, railway station). It is part of combined transport and is usually carried out by truck.
W
Accompanying Documents
Documents that accompany a shipment during transport. These include freight bills, delivery notes, customs documents, certificates of origin and, if applicable, special certificates.
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
Software for controlling and optimizing warehouse processes. It supports inventory management, order picking, goods receipt and issue as well as resource planning in the warehouse.
Swap Body
Standardized transport container that can be exchanged between different vehicles. Unlike containers, it is not stackable and usually has no corner fittings of its own.
X
XL Load Securing
Certification system for load securing in trucks. XL-certified vehicles meet special requirements for the stability of superstructures and facilitate load securing.
Y
Yard Management
Planning and control of movements of vehicles and transport units on a company site. It optimizes the use of areas, gates and resources and minimizes waiting times.
Z
Customs
State duty levied on the import of goods from third countries. The amount of customs depends on the type of goods, their value and their country of origin.
Customs Tariff Number
Numerical classification of goods according to the Harmonized System (HS) or the Combined Nomenclature (CN). It is required for customs clearance and determining the customs rate.
Proof of Delivery
Documentation of successful delivery of a shipment to the consignee. It serves as proof of fulfillment of the transport order and can be important in case of complaints.