The logistics dictionary

Look up all terms and definitions used in transport en logistics.

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Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), also referred to as a safety data sheet or product safety data sheet, is a document that contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with […]

Merchandise Passports

In case you want avoid paying duties and import taxes when you only export-import goods temporary, you might want to use an ATA Carnet ( also known as Merchandise Passports or Passports for Goods). A Carnet or ATA Carnet (pronounced […]

MFN, Most Favoured Nation

Most-favoured-nation (MFN) implies treating other people equally Under the WTO agreements, countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. Grant someone a special favour (such as a lower customs duty rate for one of their products) and you have to […]

Micro Logistics

Micro logistics relates to the introduction of urban facilities that are developed at a very small scale. Its purpose can be various, including holding local stock close to consumers; loading and charging of alternative goods delivery vehicles (e.g. cargo-bikes, electric […]

Multi-Channel Fulfillment

Where a Fulfillment partner handles the storage, packaging, and Shipping of a consolidated inventory of products that are sold on various online channels ( for example direct-to-retail, direct-to-consumer, business-to-consumer, distributor, wholesaler). Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal […]

Multi-Modal

Multi-Modal or Intermodal means that a shipment travels on more than one mode. Modes being truck, train, ship, airplane or pipeline. The use of intermodal containers makes this practical, as the Freight does not have to be “trans-loaded” between modes. […]

NAFTA

The NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was enacted in 1994 and created a free trade zone for Mexico, Canada, and the United States. It has been replaced by the USMCA Agreement in 2020. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement […]

Nano Fulfillment

Nano Fulfillment starts at 75 sqm – some solutions even at 10 sqm. Nano Fulfillment is thus the smallest and fastest supply chain solution in close proximity to the customers. These urban nano warehouses enable lightning fast delivery times to […]

Nemo dat rule / Nemo dat quod non habet

“Nemo dat quod non habet”, literally meaning “no one can give what they do not have”, is a legal rule, sometimes called the nemo dat rule. This rule states that the purchase of a possession from someone who has no ownership right […]

Net Weight

Net weight is the weight of the merchandise, unpacked. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or full definition. Also when pursuing a specific transaction […]

On Board Couriers (OBC)

An Onboard Courier (OBC) moves small packages and documents on scheduled passenger flights. These are available around the clock, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. It is one of the fastest modes of cargo Transportation and is also known […]

Open (topped) rail wagon

Railway goods wagons designed primarily for the Transportation of Bulk Goods that are not moisture-retentive and can usually be tipped, dumped or shovelled. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might […]

Open Hopper wagon

Open cars/wagons are used for commodities such as coal, which can get wet and dry out with less harmful effect. Self-discharging using gravity-unloading. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might […]

Order Cut-off Time

This represents the cut-off time for an order to be released for pick, pack, ship, in order for it to be shipped that day. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by […]

Packing List

An export packing list is an itemised list of all of the items within a shipment. You must include key details about each item such as the net and gross weights, dimensions and contents of all shipping pieces (boxes, crates, bundles, etc.) as […]

Passports for Goods

In case you want avoid paying duties and import taxes when you only export-import goods temporary, you might want to use an ATA Carnet ( also known as Merchandise Passports or Passports for Goods). A Carnet or ATA Carnet (pronounced kar-nay) is […]

Phyto-Sanitary controls, Origin certificates

The phytosanitary certificate is an original document, or under specific circumstances is a certified copy issued by the NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization) that accompanies the consignment and is presented to the relevant officials upon arrival in the importing country. […]

Piggy Back train

Piggyback Transportation refers to the Transportation of goods where one Transportation unit is carried on the back of something else. It is a specialised form of intermodal Transportation and combined transport. A Piggy Back Train is also known as the […]

POD

An POD is a Proof of Delivery. The POD (Proof Of Delivery) is a significant part of the delivery process as it establishes that the package has been delivered to the recipient or consignee. The POD is a harcdopy evidence […]

Policy of insurance

In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for an initial payment, known as the premium, the insurer promises to pay for loss caused by […]

Port of Entry

The Port of Entry is a port at which foreign goods are admitted into the receiving country. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or […]

Post Purchase Communication

Post-purchase communication refers to essentially any interaction your customers have with your brand after they make a purchase. Post-purchase communications can be in person, on the phone, or virtual. The purpose is to influence the Post-purchase behaviour, which is the way […]

Powder wagons

The powder wagon is a special form of Bulk Goods wagon designed to Transport goods in powder form. These wagons are pneumatically unloaded, usually by using compressed air. For goods that might react with oxygen in the compressed air, nitrogen […]

Power of Attorney (POA)

A POA is a legal grant of authority from one person to another to act on their behalf. The grantor is referred to as the principal, and the grantee is referred to as the agent. The agent acts for the […]

Preferential tariff treatment

During the FTA negotiation process, participating countries agree to offer each other preferential market access. This is done by reducing the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs: import tariffs applied on imports of goods from all third party countries. The reduced tariffs are […]

Prepaid Freight

Prepaid Freight is Freight paid by the Shipper to the carrier. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or full definition. Also when pursuing a […]

Procurement

Procurement is the process of acquiring the goods and services an organization needs for its operations. Procurement is not the same as sourcing. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not […]

Purchase Order (PO)

A PO is a purchaser’s authorization to formalize a purchase with a supplier. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or full definition. Also when […]

Quote Request

The process of inviting service providers / carriers to quote on a specific shipment. It may also be called Freight Spot Bidding. Often applicable for one-off shipments that require handling outside of regular contracts, which means that there is no […]

Rail Transporter

A Rail Transporter is a wagon (UIC) or railroad car (US) designed to carry other railway equipment. Normally, it is used to Transport equipment of a different rail gauge. In most cases, a transporter wagon is a narrower gauge wagon […]

Reefer Containers

Reefer container is short for refrigerated container. Sometimes it is even further abbreviated to RF container. A reefer container is a type of Shipping container that remains its cargo at a regulated, cool temperature. Reefers are essential for worldwide trade of food (fruit, meat, […]

Reefer ships

A reefer ship is a refrigerated cargo ship typically used to Transport perishable cargo, which require temperature-controlled handling, such as fruits, meat, vegetables, dairy products, and similar items. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not […]

Refrigerated Truck

A Refrigerated Truck is a semi-trailer with refrigeration unit for Transport by road of perishable goods and requiring certain temperature conditions. Loading and unloading back. Load 20-22 tonnes, volume 75-82 m3. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal […]

Refrigerator vans, cars, wagons

Refrigerator vans, cars and wagons (Reefers in short) are used to Transport goods that require certain temperatures during transportation. Reefer Containers may also be used on a platform wagon. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or […]

Request for Information (RFI)

An RFI (request for information) is a formal process for gathering information from potential Service Providers of a good or service. RFIs are intended to be written by Shippers and sent to potential Service Providers. An RFI is typically the […]

Resilient Supply Chain

A resilient supply chain is defined by its capacity for resistance and recovery. That means having the capability to resist or even avoid the impact of a supply chain disruption – and the ability to quickly recover from a disruption. Disclaimer […]

Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)

An RMA is used as an authorization for return. RMAs help the sellers to keep an organized record of their returns and allows the customer to return the item(s) with a reference number to the fulfilment center or warehouse. Disclaimer […]

Reverse Logistics

Reverse logistics is logistics for management of products after delivery to customer, such as returns and repairs. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or […]

Ro-La Trains: Rolling Highway / Rolling Road

Ro-La trains are a form of combined Transport involving the conveying of road trucks by rail, referred to as Ro-La trains. The concept is a form of piggyback transportation. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or […]

RoRo (Roll On – Roll Off Transport) ship

RoRo is short for ‘Roll-on, Roll-off’, which describes how products are loaded and discharged from a vessel. RoRo allows your products to roll on and off the vessel, as opposed to being lifted onboard using cranes. RORO ships are ships equipped […]

Saddle-bottomed wagons

Saddle-bottomed wagons are large-volume hoppers are exclusively unloaded by gravity and are therefore classed as self-discharging hoppers. Unlike normal hopper wagons, however, their discharge cannot be controlled and the entire load must be dropped. Disclaimer Our content is not in […]

Safety Stock

Safety stock is an extra quantity of a product which is stored in the warehouse to prevent an out-of-stock situation. It serves as insurance against fluctuations in demand. It is the amount of inventory you keep in the warehouse in case of […]

Seasonality

Seasonality implies the changes in demand based on time periods (weekly, monthly, etc.) Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or full definition. Also when […]

SED, Shipper’s Export Declaration

An export declaration, or shippers export declaration (SED), is an official document that contains details of goods that are being exported or imported. It is generally completed by the exporter and introduced to port authorities at the time of export. Disclaimer […]

Self-fulfillment

Self-fulfillment or in-house Fulfillment is when you take care of the entire order Fulfillment yourself, from beginning to end. For example, you’ll need to find Warehousing or storage, do inventory management, process orders, take care of packaging, get order items picked […]

Serial Number

Serial numbers are often used with items such as electronics. Serial numbers are used to represent a specific unique item; as opposed to an SKU, which represents a group of the same items. Disclaimer Our content is not in any […]

Shipment Cut-off Time

This represents the cut-off time for an order to be entered in order for it to be shipped that day. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the […]

Shipper

The party that tenders goods for transportation. These can be brands, traders, manufacturers, wholesalers, but also logistics service providers. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official […]

Shipping

Tasks related to the outgoing shipment of goods. It includes packaging, weighing, labeling and loading for shipment. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by might not be the official legal or […]

Shopping Cart Integration

Shopping cart integration allows Fulfillment software to be directly linked and integrated with a shopping cart platform. This direct integration provides the Fulfillment house instructions for packing and Shipping the order. A shopping cart integration usually automates the transmission of customer […]

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