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Abbrevation Full designation Description
3PL Third Party Logistics A company's use of a third-party to outsource its distribution, warehousing or other services
4PL Fourth Party Logistics A company outsources its logistics organisation and management. 4PL providers often manage the complete supply chain on behalf of the manufacturer or service provider. B2B2C
ADR/ADR Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) Goods that can do harm to people or the environment
AEO Authorised Economic Operator A party involved in the international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by or on behalf of a national Customs administration as complying with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards
AGS Aden Gulf Surcharge Surcharge due to security measures when sailing through the Gulf of Aden (Pirates)
AGV Automated Guided Vehicle A materials handling robot/vehicle that uses automated vehicles such as carts, pallets or trays which are programmed to move between different manufacturing and warehouse stations without a driver. These systems are used to increase efficiency, decrease damage to goods and reduce overhead by limiting the number of employees required to complete the job.
API Application Programming Interface API stands for Application Programming Interface. In the context of APIs, the word Application refers to any software with a distinct function.
AS-RS Automated storage and retrieval systems consists of a variety of computer-controlled systems for automatically placing and retrieving loads from defined storage locations
ATA Actual Time of Arrival Actual time of arrival
ATA-Carnet An international customs and temporary export-import document ATA carnet simplifies the customs clearance and replaces all export, import and transit documents. Read more about ATA-carnet here
ATD Actual Time of Departure Actual time of departure
AWB Air WayBill Freight document for air
B-L Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping
B100 Bio Diesel "B100 is a bio-based fuel according to the standard for Biodiesel (NS-EN14214). B100 consists of 100% rapeseed methyl ester (RME)."
B2B Business to Business Trade between companies
B2C Business to Consumer Trade between companies and consumers of the goods
BAF Bunker Adjustement Factor Oil / Fuel Surcharge
Barcode Barcode Identification of the goods
Break-bulk Goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain Ships that carry this sort of cargo are called general cargo ships
Bulk Commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities It refers to material in either liquid or granular, particulate form, as a mass of relatively small solids, such as petroleum/crude oil, grain, coal, or gravel.
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor Currency surcharge
Carbon Neutral Carbon Neutral Carbon neutrality specifically refers to the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere being equal to the carbon emitted.
Cbm Cubic meter A volume that is made by a cube that is 1 meter on each side
Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin of the goods
CFR Cost and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named.
Chargeable weight Freight measurement Weight converted out of volume
Chassis Chassis/Semi hanger Trailer for transporting containers
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named. Consigner is responsible for insurance
CIP Carrige and Insurance Paid to Delivered when goods is passed onto 1.carrier or terminal, consignor is responsible for insurance
CMR International shipping letter International freight for road document which is legally binding
Co2 Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas and one of the most important gases linked to global warming
Co2e Carbon Dioxide Equivalent "CO2e essentially describes the global warming potential of all greenhouse gases. In other words, the impact of different greenhouse gases is expressed in terms of the amount of CO2 that would result in the same amount of warming. Put simply, CO2e gathers all greenhouse gases into one place."
COD Change of Destination Change of agreed delivery address
COD Cash on Delivery Payment by cash, also called collect on delivery, no invoice possible
Consignee Consignee Receiver of the goods
Consignor Sender/shipper The sender/shipper of the goods is where the goods is sent/shipped from
Control Tower Control Tower An expert group that seamlessly manages, drives and further develops the supply chain and product flow for your business
Conversion key Conversion key Conversion factor from cbm/LM to weight
CPT Carrige Paid To Delivered when goods is passed onto 1.carrier or terminal
Cross docking Cross docking A practice in logistics of unloading materials from an incoming semi-trailer truck or railroad car and loading these materials directly into outbound trucks, trailers, or rail cars, with little or no storage in between
DAP Delivered at Place Delivered when goods is ready to be unloaded by the buyer at a named destination. Consignee responsible for cost of importing the goods
DAT Delivered at Terminal Delivered when goods is unloaded to a named terminal. Consignee responsible for cost of importing the goods
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery
Deep sea Deep sea Cargo shipped between continents
Demurrage Demurrage Harbour rental fee in regards to containers
Detention Detention Container rental fee
DGR Dangerous Goods Regulations Dangerous goods regulations - rules for handling dangerous goods during transport
Dry bulk cargo Dry bulk cargo Dry cargo shipped without being packed. For example sand and cereals
EAN European Article Numbering Gives the product an unique number readable by a scanner
EcoVadis EcoVadis EcoVadis provides holistic sustainability ratings service of companies. The EcoVadis Rating covers a broad range of non-financial management systems including Environmental, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement impacts. Each company is rated on the material issues as they pertain to their company's size, location and industry.
EDI Electronic Data Interchange Electronic Data Interchange between computer systems
EDI Electronic Data Interchange Electronic data interchange is the concept of businesses electronically communicating information that was traditionally communicated on paper, such as purchase orders, advance ship notices, and invoices.
eMethanol eMethanol E-methanol is produced by combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide from industrial sources. It still releases some greenhouse gases as it burns, but it emits less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxide and particulate matter than conventional marine fuel.
Emission Calculations Emission Calculations "Emission computations calculate the direct and indirect output of greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon dioxide emissions committed by an individual, organization, product, or event. It helps to recognize excessive energy usage or other inefficiencies which result in operating cost reduction, and preserve the environment."
ERP Enterprise resource planning The integrated management of main business processes, often in real-time and mediated by software and technology
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival Estimated time of arrival of goods and cargo
ETD Estimated Time of Departure Estimated time of departure of goods and cargo
EUR-1 certificate EUR-1 certificate EUR-1 - needed to custom clear goods from within the EU
EXW Ex Works An international trade term that describes when a seller makes a product available at a designated location, and the buyer of the product must cover the transport costs.
FAS Free Alongside Ship Delivered when goods is placed along side vessel
FCA Free Carrier Delivered when goods is loaded onto transport of the consignee
FCL Full Container Load Full container load
Feeder Feeder Feeders collect shipping containers from different ports and transport them to central container terminals where they are loaded to bigger vessels or further transport by truck or rail
FEU -/FFU Forty Equivalent Unit/ Forty Foot Unit Forty foot Equivalent Unit/ Container
FOB Free On Board Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel
FSC Fuel SurCharge Additional cost for transport according to cost of fuel in the period the goods are transported
FTL Full Truck Load Truck fully loaded with goods
GHG Calculations Greenhouse Gas Calculations "Carbon footprint is only a CO2 measure, where GHG emissions are the calculation of the CO2 equivalent. CO2 gas is part of CO2 equivalent. GHG shows gases other than CO2 that are responsible for global warming of the earth."
GHG emissions Greenhouse gas emissions The emission into the earth's atmosphere of any of various gases, esp carbon dioxide, that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
GSP Certificate General System of Preference Certificate Preferential treatment is given in the form of reduced or zero rates of customs duties for access to the markets of the European Union. The GSP scheme is specifically designed to benefit certain developing countries and integrate them into the world economy
HAWB House Air WayBill Freight document for air transport, issued by an air freight forwarder
HAZMAT Hazardous Material Goods that are of a concern that may include danger, flammable, corrosive, explosion hazard etc
HBL House Bill of Lading Freight document issued by a shipping forwarder to their customers
IATA International Air Transport Association International Air Transport Association
IFS International Featured Standard The International Featured Standard (IFS) is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standard for manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, agents and brokers
IOD Information on delivery Information on delivery
ISO 14001 Environmental management ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system
ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety What is ISO 45001 in the occupational health and safety? ISO 45001 is an international standard for health and safety at work developed by national and international standards committees independent of government
ISO 9001 Quality management systems ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement).
LCL Less than Container Load Less than container load. 1 TEU equals a 20 feet container
Lm Loading meter One loading meter is 1 meter of the loading length, and 2,40meter of the loading width. Height not included
Lo-Lo Lift on/Lift off Lift on/lift off vessel using a crane
LTL Less than Truck Load Less-than-truckload shipping is used to transport freight that doesn't require a full truckload trailer
MAWB Master Air WayBill Freight document for air transport issued by an airline carrier
MBL Master Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping, issued by the shipping line
Missing IOD Missing IOD Missing IOD, no information on delivery of the goods
NMHC Non-Methane Hydrocarbons NMHC means the sum of all hydrocarbon air pollutants except methane.
Notify party Notify party Notify party regarding the arrival of goods
NOx Nitric Oxide "NOx is a mixture of gases containing nitrogen, specifically the nitrogen oxides NO, NO2 and N2O3. NOx contributes to air pollution and is a significant component of photochemical smog."
NVOCC Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier Do not own a vessel, but can issue B/L
On-Carriage On-Carriage On-Carriage is the term given to any movement that takes place after the container is discharged at a port of discharge from the ocean going vessel
PDA Scanner Handheld scanner for reading the barcode on the labels
POD (road freight) Proof of Delivery Signature confirmation from the receiver of delivery of the goods
POD (sea freight) Port Of Discharge Port the gods are delivered
POL Port Of Loading Port the gods are loaded
Pre-Carriage Pre-Carriage Pre-Carriage Is the term given to the movement that takes place prior to the container being loaded at a port of loading on to an ocean going vessel
Project Cargo Project Cargo A term used to broadly describe the national or international transportation of large, heavy, high value or a critical (to the project they are intended for) pieces of equipment. Also commonly referred to as Heavy lift
Reefer A refrigerated container A temperature regulated container
Ro-Ro Roll on / Roll off Roll on / Roll off the vessel with a truck
SBTi Science Based Target initiative The Science Based Target Initiative is a intiative to drive ambitious corporate climate actions.
SCM Supply Chain Management The management of the flow of goods and services, involves the movement and storage of raw materials, of work-in-process inventory, and of finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. Interconnected, interrelated or interlinked networks, channels and node businesses combine in the provision of products and services required by end customers in a supply chain
SECA Sulphur Emissions Control Area Emission control areas for shipping. There are specific emission limitations for shipping within these geographical areas. Shipping companies in these areas are required to use fuel that produces lower sulfur emissions than traditional fuel. The cost of this fuel is charged to the freight purchaser as a SECA supplement on the invoice
Shipper Shipper of cargo Sender of the goods
Short sea Short sea Loads shipped within a continent
SLA Service Level Agreement Service Level Agreement regarding delivery times
SOx Sulfur Dioxide A major air pollutant, especially in industrial areas. The main sources of emissions are from fossil fuel combustion
SQAS Safety & Quality Assessment for Sustainability SQAS (Safety & Quality Assessment for Sustainability) is a system of uniform third party assessments to evaluate the performance of Logistics Service Providers and Chemical Distributors
SSC Security SurCharge Additional cost according to safety risks involved
Stevedore Stevedore Company that loads and unloads vessels and containers in a harbour
Stripping Stripping of container Emptying a container
Stuffing Stuffing of container Loading a container
Sustainability rating Sustainability rating  A sustainability rating is a measure of how well a company is performing in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
TEU Twenty foot Equivalent Unit Twenty foot Equivalent Unit/ Container
THC Terminal Handling Charge Terminal and handling costs
TMS-TA Transportation management system A subset of supply chain management concerning transportation operations and may be part of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Tonne km Tonne kilometres Weight of goods transported by distance. 10 tonnes of cargo transported 2 km is equal to 20 tonne kilometres.
Transit harbour Transit harbour A harbour where cargo is passing through
ULD Unit Load Device Container, specially adapted for aircraft and air freight
VAL Valuable Cargo High value shipments need special care to ensure a safe and secure transport
VAS Value Added Services A value-added service (VAS) is a popular telecommunications industry term for non-core services, or, in short, all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions.
W-M Weight/Measurement Weight & Measurement of shipment
Wet bulk cargo Wet bulk cargo Wet cargo shipped without being packed, for example oil
WMS Warehouse management system is a software application designed to support and optimize warehouse functionality and distribution center management
Zero Emissions Zero Emissions Zero Emissions