Does your freight forwarder speak English or Acronym?

Have you ever been left confused and bamboozled trying to understand the language used by freight forwarders or logistics companies?

 

The freight and logistics industry, like most specialisms, is full of coded jargon that make it difficult to get a complete understanding on what’s needed, what’s important and what’s not. Looking at the vast number of codes and acronyms it would appear you need Alan Turing and an Enigma Machine to decode everything and turn text into everyday language.  

It is true that when Freight and Logistics businesses communicate with each other lots of acronyms are used, Spatial make an effort not to unload the same language onto customers in an attempt to make the process as simple and easy as possible.

Rather than spend timing working everything out, it's easier to talk in everyday language to be clear on what you really need.  However, you may need to look up something to get a better understanding, so here is a quick index for everything from units of measure to pricing structures and modes of travel.

 

We've gathered some of the most common ones here to help you navigate these terms.

AOG

AWB

CAO

HAWB

IATA

ICAO

MAWB

OAG

RFS

ULD

Aircraft on Ground

Air Waybill

Cargo Aircraft Only

House Air Waybill

International Air Transport Association

International Civil Aviation Organisation

Master Air Waybill

Official Airlines Guide

Road Feeder Service

Unit Load Device

 

BAF

CAF

CBM

CFS

DV

FAK

FCL

FEU

FR

GP

HBL

HC

IMDG

LCL

M3

NVOCC

OBL

OOG

OT

SLAC

SOC

TEU

VGM

W/M

Bunker Adjustment Factor

Currency Adjustment Factor

Cubic Metre

Container Freight Station

Dry Van

Freight All Kinds

Full Container Load

Forty Foot Equivalent Unit

Flat Rack

General Purpose

House Bill of Lading

High Cube

International Maritime Dangerous Goods code

Less than Container Load

Cubic Metre

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers

Original Bill of Lading

Out Of Gauge

Open Top

Shippers Load And Count

Shipper's Own Container

Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit

Verified Gross Mass

Weight or Measurement

 

ADR

CMR

DC

FTL

LDM

LTL

NS

RHA

TIR

Dangerous Goods by Road Treaty

Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road

Distribution Centre

Full Truck Load

Loading Metres

Less than Truck Load

Non Stackable

Road Haulage Association

Transports Internationaux Routiers (International Road Transports)

 

AMS

B2B

B2C

C OF O

CAD

COD

DFZ

DGN

DGSA

DO

EFTA

FTZ

HMRC

ISPM15

L/C

MSDS

POD

SDR

SKU

SLI

Automated Manifest System

Business to Business

Business to Consumer

Certificate Of Origin

Cash Against Documents

Cash On Delivery

Duty Free Zone

Dangerous Goods Note

Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

Delivery Order

European Free Trade Association

Free Trade Zone

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs

International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15

Letter of Credit

Material Safety Data Sheet

Proof Of Delivery

Special Drawing Rights

Stock Keeping Unit

Shippers Letter of Instruction

 

EXW

FCA

CPT

CIP

DAT

DAP

DDP

FAS

FOB

CFR

CIP

Ex Works

Free Carrier

Carriage Paid To

Carriage and Insurance Paid To

Delivered at Terminal

Delivered at Place

Delivered Duty Paid

Free Alongside Ship

Free on Board

Cost and Freight

Cost Insurance and Freight

 



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