by Freight vocabulary, without a doubt, can leave you speechless, especially if you’re new on the scene. Fortunately, MX Solutions offers comprehensive freight brokerage services and is intent on helping you get a handle on the terms they frequently use.
Heck, you’ve probably even bandied about some of the terms, only to realize later you were somewhat off base. Not to worry; let’s get you up to speed to make conversation with your shipping service provider or coworkers more interesting. Here we go.
1. Back Haul – The journey of a truck carrying goods and merchandise back to its point of origin. Usually, carriers use this tactic to minimize the losses associated with empty truck miles.
2. Blind Shipment – Think of this as a secret delivery. The shipper’s or consignee’s identity and address are kept confidential; neither party knows from whom or to whom they are receiving or sending goods.
3. Time-Definite – A freight shipment delivery with an exact time and date of arrival. This term applies when the shipment is crucial.
4. Cubic Capacity – The measurement of a trailer’s space in cubic feet, a vital aspect in determining a truck’s carrying capacity for safety reasons.
5. Through Rate – A freight rate that applies to a shipment regardless of the number of carriers involved. This rate accounts for the distance from the point of origin to the destination.
6. Bulk Freight – Goods transported as a single unit in a large container, such as a truck or barge. These types of goods typically include grains and coal.
7. Less Than Truckload – A shipping service offered to businesses with lightweight or minimal cargo that can be consolidated with other shipments to maximize efficiency.
8. Nested – Involves stacking of items, allowing some to fit into others. Nesting maximizes space, enabling trucks to carry more and make fewer trips.
9. Time-Critical – A shipment that must be delivered as quickly as possible. This shipping mode involves a courier or other special services designed to suit individual shipping requirements.
10. Lead Time – The duration a carrier has to organize the delivery of cargo from a particular point of origin.
11. Interline – When a shipment is transferred between two or more carriers or modes of transportation for easier delivery to the consignee (the recipient of goods).
12. Embargo – A restriction placed on goods due to certain circumstances, such as a pandemic or political unrest. It prevents the movement or handling of goods.
13. Out of Gauge – Describes freight that doesn’t fit within the standard measurements for trailers due to its unusual shape or size, like lumber.
14. Carrier – A company that provides transportation services for goods in exchange for a fee.
15. Bill of Lading – A vital legal document used in the shipping process, verifying that goods have been received by a carrier and providing shipment details.
16. Concealed Damage – Damage to a shipment that’s only visible upon opening a package.
17. Freight Broker – An intermediary (invaluable bridge) connecting the shipper and carrier for safe and efficient transport of goods.
18. Cartage – The transportation of goods between two geographic locations by truck, usually within the same region or city.
19. Detention – Occurs when carriers cannot deliver or pick up shipments on time after arrival at a certain site.
20. On-board Courier – A specialist service involving a dedicated courier who escorts goods shipped by air.
21. Lumper – An individual who helps unload and load goods from trailers. The shipper, carrier, or consignee pays their charges.
22. Stop Charge – A fee collected by a carrier for making an unscheduled stop while transporting goods.
23. Dry Van – An enclosed trailer without a refrigeration system, ideal for transporting dry consumer goods.
24. Drayage – The process of transporting goods between two points within a short distance.
25. Truckload – A full-container load of goods requiring 48′ or 53′ trailers.
26. Cross-Docking – The process of transferring goods from incoming trailers to outgoing ones without storing them.
27. Reefer – Refrigerated trailers equipped with a cooling system for transporting items that must be chilled or frozen.
28. Common Carrier – A carrier that is available for hire and isn’t bound to one company.
29. Intermodal – The shipment of goods using multiple modes of transportation, such as a train and later by truck.
30. Force Majeure – A clause (usually used in shipping contracts) that states that non-performance of contractual obligations is excusable due to reasons beyond the control of both parties.
31. Delivery Window – A specific timeframe within which a carrier must deliver goods
32. Blocking and Bracing – The process of securing goods inside a trailer to prevent movement during transportation.
33. Tare weight – The weight of an empty container or trailer before loading.
34. Shipping Lane – The standard shipping route freight carriers regularly use.
35. Over-Dimensional – Refers to cargo that doesn’t conform to standard trailer sizes and requires special transport.
Feeling more like a shipping expert now? Well then, put these terms to good use by negotiating better deals and streamlining your shipping operations.
