Every industry has it’s own unique lingo, and the world of shipping and freight logistics is no different. Here are 14 transportation terms defined.
Axle Load – Each freight shipping transport has a weight limit. The axle load refers to the weight limit permitted for each axle over the nation’s highways.
Back Haul – The second half of a carrier’s round trip in which the freight shipping cost is less than the first half. The second half can be referred to as the back haul rate.
Blind Shipment – When the shipper and receiver are not aware of one another, the freight shipment is called a blind shipment. In such cases, the bill of lading lists the party that paid for the shipment as the shipper or receiver of the freight shipment.
Deck trailers – Trailers with rows of tracking on each sidewall and deck load bars. The load bars fit into the tracks to form temporary “decks” on which goods can be loaded. Decks allow more goods to be loaded in the trailer, reduce damage and speed loading and unloading.
Doubles – Vehicle configuration in which a tractor pulls two trailers connected by a dolly or jifflox.
Electronic data interchange (EDI) – The electronic transmission of routine business documents, such as purchase orders, invoices and bills of lading, between computers in a standard format. The data formats, or transaction sets, are usually sent between mainframe computers. Learn more in the EDI Resource Center.
FOB destination – Under this arrangement, title and risk remain with the seller until it has delivered the goods to the location specified in the contract.
FOB origin – Title and risk pass to the buyer at the moment the seller delivers the goods to the carrier. The parties may agree to have title and risk pass at a different time or to allocate shipping charges by a written agreement.
Interchange of Interline – The transfer of freight from one carrier to another.
Nested – A term used in less than truckload(LTL freight) shipping in which materials are stacked so that one item goes inside another. Nested freight reduces the amount of space taken up by the combined freight and makes LTL shipping more efficient as a result.
Non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC) – A type of ocean freight forwarder. NVOCCs book space in large quantities for a reduced rate, then sell space to shippers in lesser amounts. NVOCCs consolidate smaller shipments into a container load that ships under one bill of lading.
Through Rate – A through rate applies to the distance between the point of origin and the delivery destination.
UN number – An internationally accepted four-digit number used to identify hazardous material.
Volume Rate – A less than truckload (LTL) term for rates that are made subject to a minimum weight of 7,000 pounds or more, or cubic volume exceeding 750 cubic feet.
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