Glossary

Wando Terminal Tracking

How to track containers in Wando Terminal? Wando Welch Terminal (WWT), the largest container terminal in South Carolina ...

Value Added Tax (VAT) Number

What is a VAT Number? A VAT Number, or Value Added Tax Number, is a unique identifier assigned to businesses and entitie...

Unit Load Device (ULD)

What is a ULD? A Unit Load Device (ULD) is an essential tool in the logistics and freight industry, particularly in air ...

Transloading

What is Transloading? Transloading is a critical process in the field of logistics and supply chain management, involvin...

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)

What is TEU? The Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) is a standard unit of measurement in the freight industry, widely use...

Shipping Order (SO)

What is a Shipping Order (SO)? A Shipping Order (SO) is a critical document in the world of freight and logistics. It se...

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI) A Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI) is an essential document in the field of f...

Pier Pass Fee

What is a Pier Pass fee? The Pier Pass fee is a crucial term in the logistics and freight industry, especially relevant ...

Pier Pass

What is Pier Pass? Pier Pass, or PierPass, is a not-for-profit organization founded by marine terminal operators at the ...

Per Diem Charge

What is a per diem charge? A per diem charge is a daily fee imposed by transportation carriers for the use of their cont...

Partner Government Agency (PGA)

What is a PGA? A Partner Government Agency (PGA) refers to a government body responsible for regulating specific goods t...

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC)

What is a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC)? A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier, commonly abbreviated as NV...

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)

What is the Merchandise Processing Fee? The Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is a crucial term in the world of freight a...

Maher Terminal Tracking

How to track containers in Maher Terminal? Maher terminal is one of the largest terminals in Port Newark-Elizabeth Marin...

Long Beach Container Terminal Tracking

Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) is America’s 6th-busiest seaport with an annual capacity of 3.5 million TEUs. Equip...

Live Unload

What is a Live Unload? Live unload, a critical process in the freight and logistics industry, involves the manual unload...

Liftgate

What is a Liftgate? A liftgate, often essential in freight and logistics operations, is a mechanical device attached to ...

ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code)

What is ISPS? The ISPS Code, short for International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, is a comprehensive set of mea...

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

What is IMF? The International Monetary Fund is an international financial institution that helps facilitate internation...

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

What is IATA? The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association representing more than 290 airli...

FOB (Free on Board)

What Is FOB? FOB, short for Free on Board, is a crucial term used in international shipping to denote when the liability...

Free Carrier (FCA)

What Is FCA? Free Carrier (FCA), one of the critical terms in international shipping, is an Incoterm used to define the ...

Ex Works (EXW)

What Is EXW? Ex Works, commonly abbreviated as EXW, is one of the incoterms used in international trade. This term place...

HS / HTS Codes

What are HS Codes? The Harmonized System (HS) is an internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classif...

Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)

What is the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)? The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is a charge levied on the value of commercial...

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

What is GST? The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added tax (VAT) that is levied on goods and services that are u...

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

What is FBA? FBA, which stands for Fulfillment by Amazon, is an e-commerce service provided by Amazon that assists selle...

Fuel Surcharge (FSC)

What is a Fuel Surcharge? A fuel surcharge, often abbreviated as FSC, is an additional fee that transportation service p...

Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU)

What is an FEU? A Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) is a standard measure used in the shipping industry to quantify cargo...

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)

What is FMC? The Federal Maritime Commission is responsible for regulating shipping traffic coming in and out of the Uni...

Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)

What is an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)? The Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) is a key element...

Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI)

What is an EORI Number? The Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number is a unique identifier assig...

Dry Run

What is a Dry Run? A dry run in the freight industry refers to a specific scenario where transportation of goods is simu...

Drop and Pick

What is a drop and pick? Drop and pick, a common term in the freight and logistics industry, refers to a specific type o...

Devanning

What is devanning? Devanning, a critical process in the world of freight and logistics, refers to the unloading of cargo...

Declared Value Coverage

What is declared value coverage? Declared value coverage is a critical term in the freight and logistics industry, offer...

Cubic Meter (CBM)

What is a CBM? A Cubic Meter (CBM) is a unit of measurement used in the freight transportation industry to quantify the ...

Container Yard (CY)

What is a Container Yard? A container yard, commonly abbreviated as CY, is a dedicated storage space used by the logisti...

Container Tracking System

What Is a Container Tracking System? A container tracking system provides real-time information on containers using sens...

Consignee

What is a consignee? A consignee is an individual, company, or entity that is legally designated to receive shipments in...

Commerce Control List (CCL)

What is the Commerce Control List (CCL)? The Commerce Control List (CCL) is an integral part of export control regulatio...

Chassis Split Fee

What Is a Chassis Split? A chassis split is an important concept in the logistics and transportation industry, particula...

Chassis Fee

What is a chassis fee? A chassis fee is a charge levied by transportation providers for the use of a chassis, which is a...

Chassis

What is a Chassis? A chassis is a critical component in the transportation and freight industry, especially when it come...

Chargeable Weight

What is Chargeable Weight? Chargeable weight is a critical concept in the freight and shipping industry, representing th...

Centralized Examination Station (CES)

What is a CES? A Centralized Examination Station (CES) is a designated facility where Customs and Border Protection (CBP...

Cartage

What is Cartage? Cartage refers to the process of transporting goods over a short distance, typically within a single me...

Blind Shipment

What Is Blind Shipping? Blind shipping is a unique shipping arrangement where the consignee (the recipient of the goods)...

Blank Sailing

What is a Blank Sailing? Blank sailing, a term frequently encountered in the shipping and logistics industry, refers to ...

Automated Manifest System (AMS)

What is AMS in Shipping? The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is a key component in the world of shipping, particularly f...

Automated Export System (AES)

What is AES? The Automated Export System (AES) is an electronic system used by exporters who ship goods, which are value...

Terminal Handling Charges (THC) Explained 2026: What Forwarders and Shippers Should Know

Terminal handling charges, almost always shortened to THC, are the fees a terminal operator levies on every container th...

Landed Cost Calculation for Freight Forwarders 2026: Formula, Automation, and Client Reporting

In March 2026, a US importer of Chinese consumer electronics quoted a customer a delivered price based on a $50,000 FOB ...

Modernized ACE Portal: What Changed in CBP's 2026 Update

The Automated Commercial Environment, better known as ACE, is the single window every US importer, broker, and freight f...

Fulfillment as a Service (FaaS) for Freight Forwarders: When to Offer It

Freight forwarders have always lived in the gap between the carrier and the consignee. The shipment ends when the contai...

IEEPA Tariffs Explained: Emergency Trade Powers and US Freight Imports

In February 2026, a mid sized electronics importer in Long Beach received a customs invoice that was $84,000 higher than...

Split Shipment Explained: When Forwarders Use It and Customs Implications

A consumer electronics importer placed a single purchase order with their Shenzhen supplier for 1,800 units of a new pro...

1PL, 4PL and 5PL Explained: Logistics Service Tiers Beyond 3PL

Most logistics conversations stop at 3PL. The shipper hands inventory to a third party, the third party warehouses it an...

CBP Form 7507: Air Manifest General Declaration for Freight Forwarders

CBP Form 7507, officially titled General Declaration (Outward / Inward) Agriculture, Customs, Immigration and Public Hea...

MPF Consolidation: How to Save on US Merchandise Processing Fees

The Merchandise Processing Fee is one of the few CBP charges that a US importer can meaningfully lower without renegotia...

SCFI Explained: Shanghai Containerized Freight Index and How to Read It

If you read any shipping market report, freight rate newsletter, or carrier earnings call, you will see the SCFI mention...

Ocean Carrier Alliances 2026: Gemini, Premier and Ocean Alliance Explained

Ocean carrier alliances are vessel sharing agreements that let competing container lines pool ships, slot capacity, and ...

ICS2 Explained: EU Import Control System 2 Filing Requirements

If you move freight into the European Union and you are not already filing under ICS2, you are running out of runway. Th...

Cargo Insurance: Coverage Types, Costs and Why Freight Forwarders Need It

Cargo insurance is the policy that pays for physical loss of, or damage to, goods while they are in transit. It sits in ...

Certificate of Origin: Types, How to Get One, and Why It Matters

A furniture importer in Chicago ordered $420,000 worth of solid wood dining sets from a manufacturer in Vietnam. The shi...

What Is a Freight Audit? Process, Benefits, and Best Practices

A logistics manager at a consumer goods company in Ohio reviewed their freight spend after switching to a new TMS. Withi...

Freight Bill Explained: What It Is, Types, and How It Differs from Bill of Lading

A freight forwarder in Miami invoiced a customer $14,200 for an ocean shipment from Santos, Brazil to Port Everglades. T...

ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note): What It Is & Which Countries Require It

If you ship cargo to certain African countries by sea, there's a document you need that most shippers outside of Africa-...

DEQ (Delivered Ex Quay): What It Means in Shipping

If you've encountered the term DEQ in a contract, a textbook, or a conversation with an experienced trader, you're looki...

DAP (Delivered at Place): Incoterm Definition & Responsibilities

DAP puts most of the logistics burden on the seller. Under this Incoterm, the seller is responsible for delivering the g...

CFR (Cost and Freight): Incoterm Definition & Responsibilities

CFR is one of the most commonly used Incoterms in ocean freight, and also one of the most commonly misunderstood. The co...

Freight Forwarder: What It Is & How Freight Forwarding Works

You need to ship 20 pallets of electronics from a factory in Shenzhen to a warehouse in Dallas. Between those two points...

HS Code: What It Means & How to Find the Right Code

You're shipping a product overseas. Customs authorities at the destination need to know exactly what's inside the contai...

Bill of Lading (B/L) Explained: Types, Functions, and How Freight Forwarders Use It in 2026

Introduction Definition A bill of lading (B/L) is a legally binding document issued by a carrier (or a freight forwarder...

Demurrage: What It Means & How Charges Work in Shipping

You picked up the container from the port two days late. The reason was mundane — a missing document that took your cust...

ISF (Importer Security Filing): What It Is & How It Works

A container of furniture parts ships from Shenzhen to Long Beach. The freight forwarder submits the Importer Security Fi...

Telex Release: What It Means in Shipping

Your container arrived at the destination port three days ago. The consignee is ready to pick up the cargo. But the orig...

Customs Clearance: What It Means & How It Works

Every product that crosses an international border goes through customs clearance. It doesn't matter if it's a single pa...

FOB Shipping Point vs FOB Destination: Key Differences Explained

“We lost $18,000 in damaged cargo, and the worst part? Neither side knew who was responsible.”

CFS (Container Freight Station): What It Is and How It Works

A freight forwarder in Long Beach received an angry call from a customer. Their LCL shipment had arrived at the port thr...

LCL (Less Than Container Load): Definition, How It Works, and When to Use It

A specialty food importer in San Francisco needed to bring in 4 CBM of premium olive oil from a small producer in Puglia...

FCL (Full Container Load): Definition, When to Use It, and How It Works

A furniture importer in Atlanta was shipping 14 CBM of dining tables from a factory in Ho Chi Minh City. Their forwarder...

ITS Terminal Tracking

What is ITS Terminal? ITS Terminal (International Transportation Service, Inc.) is a marine container terminal operator ...

Fenix Marine Terminal Tracking

What is Fenix Marine Terminal? Fenix Marine Services (FMS) is a major container terminal operator at the Port of Los Ang...

Savannah Terminal Tracking

What is Savannah Terminal Tracking? Savannah Terminal tracking refers to the process of monitoring container status at t...

Garden City Terminal Tracking

What is Garden City Terminal? Garden City Terminal is the primary container terminal at the Port of Savannah, operated b...

Co-Loader

What is a Co-Loader? A co-loader is a logistics service provider that consolidates cargo from multiple shippers into a s...

Bayport Container Terminal: Ops, Drayage, and Cutoff Window

Bayport Container Terminal is Port Houston's flagship containerized freight terminal at 12621 Port Road, Pasadena, TX 77...

SCAC Code

Ever wondered how a massive retailer tracks thousands of inbound containers from dozens of different ocean carriers with...

CFR Incoterm Explained: The Definitive Guide for Forwarders (2026)

Ever stared at a quote with 'CFR Shanghai' and had to pause to clarify who's on the hook for risk, insurance, and unload...

How to File ISF Online: Step-by-Step 10+2 Filing Guide (2026)

Introduction If you handle US ocean imports, ISF (Importer Security Filing) isn't optional. It is federally mandated. Mi...

What is a TMS (Transportation Management System)? A Complete 2026 Guide

Introduction A TMS (Transportation Management System) is software that manages the planning, execution, and optimization...

Air Waybill (AWB): The Complete Guide for Freight Forwarders

Air Waybill (AWB): The Complete Guide for Freight Forwarders A shipment of automotive parts is sitting at Taipei Taoyuan...

What is The Gross Margin of Freight Forwarders? Benchmarks, Breakdown, & How to Improve It

A mid size freight forwarder in Houston closes the quarter with $4.2 million in revenue. The operations team has been bu...

Electronic Bill of Lading (eBL): How Digital Documentation Is Transforming Shipping

A freight forwarder in Rotterdam issued a paper bill of lading for a container of automotive parts destined for a plant ...

Everything Freight Forwarders Need to Know About The Electronic Cargo Tracking Note

What is the electronic cargo tracking note? The electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN), also known as the Bordereau de Su...

eAWB: The Complete Guide to Electronic Air Waybill

A freight forwarder in Ho Chi Minh City finishes processing a 12 pallet consolidation bound for Frankfurt. The documenta...

CIF: Cost, Insurance, and Freight

Navigating the intricate labyrinth of international shipping agreements can feel daunting for the uninitiated. Central t...

CFR Incoterms 2026: Cost and Freight Explained for Freight Forwarders

Introduction Definition CFR stands for Cost and Freight, an Incoterms 2020 rule for sea and inland waterway shipping onl...

What Does DEQ Mean? A Deep Dive into Quay Terminology

Confused by shipping jargon like DEQ and quay? You’re not alone. Understanding DEQ can drastically impact how your goods...

Decoding DDP (Incoterms): Import Clearance & Shipping Costs

In the vast ocean of international trade, DDP (Incoterms) stand out as a beacon for many businesses and freight forwarde...

Unraveling Demurrage & Detention Charges

Imagine the scene: a cargo arrives at a bustling port, ready for its next destination. But instead of being swiftly move...

What is Co-Loading Freight?

Co-Loading Freight Defined Similar to ride-sharing, co-loading freight is a fulfillment solution that transports pooled ...

Understanding Bill of Lading: The Essential Freight Bill

Introduction: The What and Why of Bill of Lading Ever puzzled over the complex labyrinth of paperwork involved in shippi...

What is DAP in International Trade?

In the dynamic landscape of international trade, shipping terms serve as the bedrock of clarity and understanding. Just ...

Incoterms 2026 Explained: Complete Guide to All 11 Trade Terms

A container of automotive parts sits at the Port of Shanghai. The buyer in Detroit assumes the seller is covering insura...

What is the Automated Manifest System (AMS)? Simple AMS Filing Guide

Automated manifest system (AMS) was created to collect shipment information formulated by U.S Customs and Border Protect...

CPT Incoterms: Carriage Paid To Explained

CPT (Carriage Paid To) is an Incoterms 2020 rule where the seller pays freight to a named destination but risk transfers...