We understand that the world of shipping might be packed with perplexing terms and phrases. That is why we decided to establish a shipping glossary.
You’ll always know what freight terminology or shipping acronyms to use, whether you’re talking to a courier about prices and services or chatting to customers about numerous delivery options. Now it’s time to ship!
A
API
Body content: While it may sound technical, API stands for “application programming interface”.
In simple terms, an API is a set of routines, protocols, and tools that allow one program to access and use another program’s capabilities.
As an example, an API allows you to integrate Twitter data into your own applications. Rather than having to download, parse and store Twitter’s data in your own database, you can instead access and use the data through an API. This allows you to add real-time updates, news alerts, etc., to your own apps.
API is just one of many types of APIs. These include Open API, SOAP, REST, and OAuth, just to name a few.
Agent
Agents represent the cargo vessel owners at ports where the vessel is to discharge or load cargo. An agent may be a company or an individual.
Body content: An agent represents a business at a port. A business may have an agent at every port where it ships. Each agent serves a specific function or area of interest.
An agent can be licensed by a particular port or agency but is often licensed by the vessel. Vessel agents operate in a similar manner to a broker and act on behalf of a business. However, a vessel agent must be registered with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Arrival Notice
It provides an overview of the shipment, including the name of the shipment, its date of arrival, and its tracking information. It is an email sent to the recipient, usually by the freight forwarder who handled the shipment.
Body content: An arrival notice is a very important tool for any logistics company to utilize. It helps to keep your customers informed, as well as your own staff. It helps in the following ways:
• Keeps customers up-to-date on the progress of the shipment
• Allows your staff to get the necessary paperwork signed and on-time
• Helps ensure the timely payment of your bills
In addition to these benefits, you can use arrival notices for many other purposes such as:
• Providing a quick and easy way for your customers to track their shipment
• Keeping your customers informed
B
Base Rate
It is an estimate of how much it will cost to ship a package before any potential additional charges or fees are added.
Body content: Many online retailers use a base rate to set a shipping cost for each product.
It is usually based on the size and weight of the product, how far the package is going, the location it is being shipped from, and whether or not it is a residential delivery. It is also based on the shipping carrier the customer chooses.
Most companies choose a base rate that is cheaper than the market average. It is a way of encouraging people to buy more from them and spend more.
Bill Of Lading
A bill of lading is an important document that is usually issued by a courier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried. A bill of lading is also known as a manifest, a freight bill, or a cargo bill.
Body content:
Bill of lading or “Bill of lading” is a legal document issued by couriers to shippers, that details the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried.
A bill of lading is also commonly called a “Shipper’s Manifest” or a “Shipper’s Export Declaration”.
A bill of lading typically includes the following information:
• The name of the shipping company
• The name and address of the shipper or consignee
• The description of the cargo, including its contents, dimensions, weight and value
Bonded Warehouse
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defines bonded warehouses as those located in any foreign country where the operator is subject to the laws of the country. CBP has the authority to seize goods or impose monetary fines on importers for violating the law.
The purpose of a bonded warehouse is to provide storage for goods traveling abroad, while they are being inspected, or waiting for a shipment to be cleared. This service is typically offered by the warehouse company to companies operating internationally, so the warehouses themselves are often located in third-party countries.
Bulk Cargo
Body content: In general, bulk cargo refers to goods that are packaged, shipped, and delivered in large quantities. Bulk cargo can include raw materials, processed or packaged goods, and other similar goods that are transported by truck, rail, sea, or air.
A bulk cargo shipment is considered to be large when it includes multiple containers and/or pallets. The most common bulk cargoes include grains, cement, coal, salt, and steel.
Some bulk cargoes include multiple types of goods. For example, cement shipments may contain concrete, sand, and other ingredients that go into the cement mix.
Bulk cargo is usually shipped in large quantities, often over several days. However, shipments can also arrive over a period of weeks or months.
The purpose of a bonded warehouse is to provide storage for goods traveling abroad, while they are being inspected, or waiting for a shipment to be cleared. This service is typically offered by the warehouse company to companies operating internationally, so the warehouses themselves are often located in third-party countries.
Bulk Shipping
Body content: The term “bulk shipping” is used to describe shipping of large quantities of a commodity (often perishable) over a given distance.
Bulk shipping is the best way to ship a large number of products between locations over a long period of time. Bulk shipping is often associated with perishable goods, and the term is often used interchangeably with “LTL” (less than truckload). The word “LTL” is used to describe the freight classification for shipment of less than a full load of goods.
There are several advantages to using bulk shipping services to ship goods:
Lowest cost per pound or kilogram shipped, even for very large orders
Speed: Bulk shipping is faster than most other forms of shipping. For example, it takes about one day to ship a container of fruit from California to New York, versus several weeks for normal delivery.
Convenience: Bulk shipping can be done at a time convenient for the customer
C
Base Rate
It is an estimate of how much it will cost to ship a package before any potential additional charges or fees are added.
Body content: Many online retailers use a base rate to set a shipping cost for each product.
It is usually based on the size and weight of the product, how far the package is going, the location it is being shipped from, and whether or not it is a residential delivery. It is also based on the shipping carrier the customer chooses.
Most companies choose a base rate that is cheaper than the market average. It is a way of encouraging people to buy more from them and spend more.
Bill Of Lading
A bill of lading is an important document that is usually issued by a courier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried. A bill of lading is also known as a manifest, a freight bill, or a cargo bill.
Body content:
Bill of lading or “Bill of lading” is a legal document issued by couriers to shippers, that details the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried.
A bill of lading is also commonly called a “Shipper’s Manifest” or a “Shipper’s Export Declaration”.
A bill of lading typically includes the following information:
• The name of the shipping company
• The name and address of the shipper or consignee
• The description of the cargo, including its contents, dimensions, weight and value
Bonded Warehouse
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defines bonded warehouses as those located in any foreign country where the operator is subject to the laws of the country. CBP has the authority to seize goods or impose monetary fines on importers for violating the law.
The purpose of a bonded warehouse is to provide storage for goods traveling abroad, while they are being inspected, or waiting for a shipment to be cleared. This service is typically offered by the warehouse company to companies operating internationally, so the warehouses themselves are often located in third-party countries.
Bulk Cargo
Body content: In general, bulk cargo refers to goods that are packaged, shipped, and delivered in large quantities. Bulk cargo can include raw materials, processed or packaged goods, and other similar goods that are transported by truck, rail, sea, or air.
A bulk cargo shipment is considered to be large when it includes multiple containers and/or pallets. The most common bulk cargoes include grains, cement, coal, salt, and steel.
Some bulk cargoes include multiple types of goods. For example, cement shipments may contain concrete, sand, and other ingredients that go into the cement mix.
Bulk cargo is usually shipped in large quantities, often over several days. However, shipments can also arrive over a period of weeks or months.
The purpose of a bonded warehouse is to provide storage for goods traveling abroad, while they are being inspected, or waiting for a shipment to be cleared. This service is typically offered by the warehouse company to companies operating internationally, so the warehouses themselves are often located in third-party countries.
Bulk Shipping
Body content: The term “bulk shipping” is used to describe shipping of large quantities of a commodity (often perishable) over a given distance.
Bulk shipping is the best way to ship a large number of products between locations over a long period of time. Bulk shipping is often associated with perishable goods, and the term is often used interchangeably with “LTL” (less than truckload). The word “LTL” is used to describe the freight classification for shipment of less than a full load of goods.
There are several advantages to using bulk shipping services to ship goods:
Lowest cost per pound or kilogram shipped, even for very large orders
Speed: Bulk shipping is faster than most other forms of shipping. For example, it takes about one day to ship a container of fruit from California to New York, versus several weeks for normal delivery.
Convenience: Bulk shipping can be done at a time convenient for the customer