Abbreviations

CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres

Length × Width × Height 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.

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 parts of the world 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.

Refer to our INCO Terms page for a detailed explanation of the INCO Terms

ATD/ATA - Actual Time of Departure / Actual Time of Arrival

ATF - Approved Transitional Facility

Has site approval and an accredited MPI person to receive and inspect import containers.

AQIS - Australian Quarantine Inspection Service

Boarder control in Australia.

CFS - Container Freight Station

Container freight handling depot.

CNOR/CNEE - Consignor/Consignee

Otherwise referred to as the Seller / Buyer.

CY - Container Yard

Referring 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.

NVOCC - Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier

An NVOCC is a freight forwarder or carrier who undertakes to transport goods by sea without owning their own ships.

POL/POD - Port of Loading / Port of Discharge

AMS - Amercian Maritime Security

Compliance costs associated with USA border security laws and procedures.

BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor

Fuel Surcharge on a shipping vessel.

EBAF - Emergency Bunker Adjustment Factor

A Fuel Surcharge on a shipping vessel that may be applied at short notice due to an unforeseen spike in costs related to fuel.

CAF - Currency Adjustment Factor

Charged to cover currency conversion costs and administration.

CABAF - CAF and BAF charges combined

FAF - Fuel Adjustment Factor

A surcharge on top of general transport pricing directly associated to the current fuel price to transparently cover fluctuation.

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.

20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container

40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container

FR - Flat Rack container

HC - High Cube container

OT - Open top container

RF/Reefer - Refrigerated Container

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 harmful 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 for more then one consignee.

FCL - Full Container Load

For higher volume shipments at least over 16 cubic metres total.

LCL - Less than Container Load

For smaller sea freight shipments that do not require a full container. Minimum shipment chargeable size is based on 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 lifted 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' or dry 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.

KG - Kilograms

CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres

Length×Width×Height to work out the cubic metre of a shipment

KG - Kilograms

LB - Pounds

CF - Cubic Feet

LF - Linear Feet

POD - Proof Of Delivery

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.

DV - Declared Value

LCL - Limited Carriers Liability

OR - Owners Risk

CNOR/CNEE - Consignor/Consignee

Sender / Receiver

ETD/ETA - Estimated Time of Departure / Estimated Time of Arrival

FAF - Fuel Surcharge Factor

A surcharge on top of general transport pricing directly associated to the current fuel price to transparently cover fluctuation.

20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container

40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container

FR - Flat Rack container

HC - High Cube container

OT - Open top container

DG - Dangerous Goods

Goods that could be harmful to people and the enviroment and may require special handling.

FCL - Full Container Load

For higher volume shipments at least over 16 cubic metres total.

FTL - Full Truck Load

For higher volume shipments that can fill the capacity of a truck.

LTL - Less than Truck Load

For smaller freight shipments that do not require a full truck load.

GP - General Purpose Container

Otherwise known as a 'standard' or 'dry' container