The logistics dictionary

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

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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 […]

Side-tipping wagons

Side-tipping wagons have hydraulic, pneumatic or electric tipping equipment, that enables the wagon body to be lifted on one side. Depending on the design, they may be tipped to both sides or just one side only. Disclaimer Our content is […]

SLI, Shipper’s Letter of Introduction

An SLI is an optional document that specificy instructions from exporters to their agents (usually Freight forwarders) for ocean and air shipments. Essentially it is a letter that tells your agent/forwarder how and where they need to send your products. […]

Slotting

Slotting is the placement of products within a warehouse. 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 […]

Smalls

Smalls in railfreight refer to any consignment for which it is neither necessary nor required that a wagon be used exclusively. In essence Smalls are Less than Wagon Loads (LWL) Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice […]

Sourcing

Sourcing is the process of researching, selecting, and managing suppliers who can provide the inputs and add value to an organization needs for day-to-day running. Sourcing is tasked with carrying out research, creating and executing strategy, defining quality and quantity metrics, […]

Spot Bidding

Spot bidding, also referred to as spot shipments or spot freight, is when you conduct the Sourcing multiple quotes from logistic service providers (carriers) for specific Freight shipments. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. […]

Staging

Staging is pulling material from inventory before it’s required. 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 […]

Stepdeck Trailer

A step deck trailer, also known as a drop deck or lowboy trailer, is a commercial trailer designed to carry tall cargo that exceeds the legal height limit if transported on a traditional flatbed trailer. Transporting tall cargo on a step deck […]

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

A SKU is an acronym for a Stock Keeping Unit, a code which identifies a product so that it may be tracked in inventory. Disclaimer Our content is not in any way legal advice or binding. The information provided by […]

Stockout (out of stock)

Stockout or Out-of-Stock occurs when you have inadequate inventory levels to meet current demand. 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 […]

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