
Does your freight forwarder speak English or Acronym?
5th June 2017
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 |