If you are new to shipping cargo overseas, there are probably a lot of new terms that you may come across. Here’s a list of common terms that are used on a day to day basis when shipping overseas.
| Acronym | Full form | Definition |
| ATA | Actual time of arrival | This specifies the actual time at which the cargo arrives at a specified point at a destination. |
| AWB | Airway bill | Type of bill that serves as a receipt of goods by an airline and a contract between the shipper and the carrier. |
| BOL | Bill of Lading | A type of document that is used to acknowledge the receipt of shipment of goods. It also indicates the vessel on which the goods have been placed, their intended destination and the terms for transporting the shipment. |
| CNS | Cargo Network Services | CNS is an organisation that was founded to serve the needs of the air cargo industry in the United States. |
| C of O | Certificate of Origin | A document which states from which the shipped goods originate. Originate here does not mean the country from where they were shipped but where they were produced. |
| CAF | Currency Adjustment factor | Freight surcharge imposed by international carriers to offset foreign currency fluctuations. |
| ETA | Estimated time of arrival | Measure of when the cargo is expected to reach its destination. |
| FCL | Full container load | Admitted weight limit for a container up to which it can be loaded. |
| HAZMAT | Hazardous materials | Used to mark cargo that contains materials that are harmful to any organism and/or the environment. |
| Hub | A centrally located warehouse where shipments are rerouted to other hubs or terminals. | |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association | IATA is the trade association of the world’s airline industry. |
| MAWB | Master Air Waybill | The contract of carriage between the forwarder and carrier. It covers the transport of cargo from airport to airport. |
| PRO number | Progressive number | It is a series of numbers that are used to track consignments and also as reference for freight movements. |
| RFQ | Request for Quotation | Standard business procedure to invite consumers to bid on services. |
| STC | Said to contain | Bill of lading term that states that the carrier acknowledges only the total number of packages but not their contents or their value. So in case of insurance claims the carrier shall be responsible only for the number of packages. |
| ULD | Unit Loading Device | Standard loading device that fits into an aeroplane’s belly. |
| Filed Under: Bulk Cargo , Containers , Resources , RoRo Tagged with airway bill, bill of lading, certificate of origin, cns, eta, fcl, hazmat, iata, mawb, rfq, stc, uld |
Whether you’re actively involved in the freight forwarding industry as a shipper or a carrier or are just interested in this industry, you must know that online blogs are a great way of keeping yourself updated. While many blogs exist both by individuals and by carrier companies not all offer an unbiased view of the market. Here is a handpicked selection of those blogs which do.
1) Zibb.com – Zibb.com contains a number of industrial blogs pertaining to several industries. This is their blog relating to the freight forwarding industry and is regularly updated with the latest news and happenings.
2) HandyshippingBlog.com – The blog offers a witty yet informative take on the latest happenings of the cargo shipping and forwarding industry. Although, it was rarely updated few months ago, regular updates are now being made.
3) FreightBlog.com- The blog offers both new and older information about the freight forwarding industry. As the name suggests this blog is all about freight.
4) FreightDawg.com- This is maintained by an industry insider, with an experience of over 25 years this blog provides an industry’s insight on the key developments in the industry. The blog features both old and new details of the continuous changes to the freight forwarding industry.
5) FreightOption.com/blog- The blog is maintained by freightoption.com and it not only lets you catch up with the latest news but also helps getting the quotations on your shipments. It also lets companies give quotations on consumers’ requests.
6) FreightSavingTips.com – The site offers a number of tips to carriers and shippers alike to save on their freight forwarding. The news section is updated regularly as well and it provides an interesting read.
7) BlogCatalog.com/FreightForwarding – This blog is maintained by shippingdiscounts.com and it offers insights into the small package and freight forwarding industry according to its own definition. Even though the blog is only a year old it features plenty of information and news. Especially useful are the posts pertaining to key areas of the industry that are answered pretty regularly.
ShippingOverseasGuide.com – This site features a concise list of dos and don’ts when going through your freight forwarding exercise. It also features news and updates from the industry.
9) Tradeword.com/Blog – Even though the blog hasn’t been updated in three months the information available is plenty and detailed. Good for referring if historical information is important to you.
10) BlogCatalog.com/HeavyEquipment – The blog focuses on the trucking industry and heavy equipments used in freight forwarding.
| Filed Under: Bulk Cargo , Containers , Resources , RoRo Tagged with forms, information, shipping news |
