From AES to waybill, the vocabulary of international freight, defined simply so you can read any quote, document or tracking screen with confidence.
A–C
AES / EEI
The U.S. Automated Export System and the Electronic Export Information filed through it, required for most exports over $2,500 per HS line.
B/L - Bill of Lading
The carrier's document that is simultaneously cargo receipt, contract of carriage and (if negotiable) title to the goods.
Bonded warehouse
A facility where imported goods can be stored with duties deferred until they leave the warehouse.
CBM
Cubic meter, the unit LCL freight is priced by.
CFS - Container Freight Station
The warehouse where LCL cargo is consolidated at origin and deconsolidated at destination.
Consignee
The party to whom the cargo is delivered, usually the importer.
Customs broker
A licensed agent who files import declarations and clears cargo with customs on your behalf.
D–I
Demurrage & detention
Charges for keeping a container at the port (demurrage) or outside the port (detention) beyond free days. The most avoidable cost in ocean freight.
Drayage
Short-distance trucking of containers, typically between port and warehouse.
ETA / ETD
Estimated time of arrival / departure.
FCL / LCL
Full Container Load / Less-than-Container Load, exclusive vs shared container space.
Freight forwarder
The company that organizes the shipment across carriers, warehouses, brokers and last-mile, BLS's role.
FTL / LTL
Full Truckload / Less-than-Truckload, the road equivalents of FCL and LCL.
FTZ - Free Trade Zone
A designated area where goods can be stored, handled and re-exported with duties deferred or reduced.
HS code
The Harmonized System classification that determines duty rates. See our HS codes guide.
Incoterms
The ICC's standardized terms defining seller/buyer responsibilities. See our Incoterms guide.
L–Z
Landed cost
Total per-unit cost of product delivered to your shelf. See our landed cost guide.
Manifest
The itemized list of cargo in a shipment, container or vehicle.
POD - Proof of Delivery
The signed confirmation that cargo was delivered.
Reefer
A temperature-controlled container.
Shipper
The party sending the cargo, usually the exporter.
Tariff
The duty rate applied to an HS code at import.
Transit time
Door-to-door or port-to-port time for a shipment. Always ask which one a quote means.
Waybill (Sea/Air)
A non-negotiable transport document, like a B/L but without title function, enabling faster release.
Missing a term? Write to us, we add to this glossary based on the questions our customers actually ask.
