Navigating the Language of Shipping: A Glossary for Trade Show Logistics

In the intricate world of trade show logistics, understanding the language of shipping is crucial. Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or new to the scene, familiarizing yourself with common shipping terms can greatly enhance your logistics planning and execution. At Expo Express, we believe in empowering our clients with knowledge. Here’s a comprehensive glossary of key shipping terms that you’ll encounter in the realm of trade show logistics.

Glossary

Bill of Lading (BOL): A legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being shipped. It serves as a shipment receipt when the goods are delivered.

Bonded Warehouse: A secured warehouse where imported goods are stored until customs duties are paid or the goods are cleared for export.

Break Bulk Cargo: Non-containerized and often oversized or heavy cargo, loaded individually onto a vessel.

Cabotage: The transport of goods or passengers between two points within a single country by a transport operator from another country.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight): A trade term requiring the seller to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of destination and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain the goods from the carrier.

Consignee: The individual or company to whom a seller or shipper sends merchandise. The consignee is the goods’ recipient.

Consignor: The individual or entity that is shipping goods to a consignee.

Container: A large standard-sized metal box used for transporting goods. Containers can be transported on cargo ships, trains, and trucks.

Customs Broker: A professional who assists importers and exporters in meeting Federal requirements governing imports and exports. Brokers submit necessary information and appropriate payments to regulatory bodies on behalf of their clients and charge them a fee for this service.

Deadhead: The movement of a transportation vehicle, such as a truck or a ship, without any cargo or passengers.

Demurrage: A charge levied by the owner of a chartered ship on the charterer for failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed.

Detention: A charge for holding transportation equipment beyond a given period for loading or unloading.

Drayage: The transport of goods over a short distance, often as part of a longer overall move, such as from a ship to a warehouse.

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival): The date and time when a ship is expected to arrive at a port.

ETD (Estimated Time of Departure): The date and time when a ship is expected to depart from a port.

FCL (Full Container Load): A shipment where the entire container is used by one shipper, transporting goods to one destination.

FOB (Free on Board): A pricing term indicating that the seller pays for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment, plus loading costs.

Freight Forwarder: A person or company that arranges the transportation of goods on behalf of another person or company. They handle the logistics and physical transportation of the goods.

Gross Weight: The total weight of goods including their packaging and pallets.

HS Code (Harmonized System Code): An internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products.

Incoterms: International commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce, relating to international commercial law.

Inland Haulage: The overland transport of cargo between the main port of discharge and the final destination.

Intermodal: The movement of cargo in a container or vehicle using multiple modes of transportation (rail, ship, and truck), without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes.

Just-In-Time (JIT): An inventory strategy companies employ to increase efficiency by receiving goods only as they are needed in the production process.

Knot: A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, commonly used in maritime and aviation.

Laden: Referring to a ship that is loaded to its full capacity.

LCL (Less than Container Load): A shipment that is not large enough to fill a standard cargo container and is grouped with other cargo.

Manifest: A document listing the cargo, passengers, and crew of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle for the use of customs and other officials.

Maritime: Related to the sea, particularly in reference to seafaring commercial or military activity.

Net Weight: The weight of the goods alone without any packaging.

NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier): A firm that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations but doesn’t own sea vessels.

Open Top Container: A container with an open top, covered by a tarpaulin instead of a solid roof, useful for oversized cargo.

Pallet: A portable platform used to package items for freight shipping.

Pier Pass: A fee charged for picking up or delivering a container at a terminal during peak hours.

Quarantine: A state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.

Quay: A platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships.

Ramp: The area where containers are picked up or dropped off.

Reefer: A refrigerated container used for transporting perishable goods.

Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo): A method of shipping where vehicles roll on and off the transport vessels.

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI): A document that provides instructions from the exporter to the agent or forwarder.

Tariff: A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

Telex Release: A message sent by a shipping line from the origin to the destination office to release the cargo under a negotiable bill of lading without surrendering the original bill of lading.

Transit Time: The total time taken for goods to be shipped from the point of origin to the destination.

Transshipment: The transfer of goods from one vessel to another during the course of shipment.

ULD (Unit Load Device): A pallet or container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on wide-body aircraft and specific narrow-body aircraft.

Vessel: A ship or large boat.

Warehousing: The process of storing goods within a storage facility.

Waybill: A document issued by a carrier giving details and instructions relating to the shipment of a consignment of goods. Typically, it will include the name of the consignor and consignee, the point of origin of the consignment, its destination, and route.

Wharfage: A fee charged by a port for the use of its wharves or docks for loading or unloading cargo, or for the storage of cargo on the wharf.

Yard Management: The process of overseeing the movement of trucks and trailers in the yard of a warehouse or distribution center. This includes the management of the locations of vehicles and trailers, as well as the scheduling of loading and unloading.

Final Notes

Understanding these terms is like having a secret map of the trade show logistics world. It empowers you to navigate the complexities of shipping with confidence. At Expo Express, we’re not just about moving your exhibit materials; we’re about enlightening your journey with knowledge and expertise. Stay tuned for more insights and tips to make your trade show experience smooth and successful.