Freight Glossary
Commonly Used Freight Terms from A to Z
Standard Freight Glossary and Definitions
There are tons of standard freight terms and definitions; sometimes, even the best pros are confused and do not understand them all. Our glossary defines Freight, explains cargo, and identifies the documents with easy-to-understand explanations of the words and acronyms you will encounter most.
Accessorials
(required and optional) enhance the shipping services you receive.
Air Waybill (AWB)
An air waybill is vital for shipping via air. The air waybill serves as a contract to outline the terms and conditions of the transport agreement between the shipper and the airline to ensure successful cargo handling during transit.
Backhaul
These are the journeys trucks take, cargo in tow, back to (or near) their point of origin to start their next delivery. Drivers typically find backhaul from shippers different from their outbound load. This way, they aren’t left with deadhead mileage.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
A bill of lading or “BOL” is a document that establishes a contract between the customer, FreightCenter, and the carrier.
Billing Adjustment
A billing adjustment represents a portion of unpaid freight shipping costs as reported by the carrier.
Blanket Wrapped Freight
Blanket Wrapped Freight involves wrapping thick blankets around goods to cover and cushion them during shipment.
Blind Shipment
A blind shipment uses a bill of lading that does not provide the customer or consignee information.
Cargo Carriers
A cargo carrier is a company that transports goods by air, rail, or ship.
Cargo Companies
Cargo companies provide freight services for commercial and residential shippers.
Cargo Containers
A truck trailer can be detached and loaded onto a ship, rail car, or stacked in warehouses.
Carrier Lanes
They are also known as freight lanes, shipping lanes, and trucking lanes. Lanes matter to carriers and shippers.
Cartage Services
Cartage refers to short hauls moving cargo containers.
Cheapest Freight
The cheapest freight services offered by FreightCenter exist due to the high volume of shipments processed each month.
Commercial Trucking
Any truck that is used for transporting goods over roads.
Common Carriers
A transportation company that provides the movement of goods on behalf of customers at published rates.
Consignor / Consignee
Two strange-sounding freight shipping terms are explained.
Consolidated Freight
Consolidated Freight service saves shippers money by combining multiple shipments in one conveyance.
Container Freight
Shipments that fill containers may be ventilated, insulated, refrigerated, open-top, liquid-fill body, or equipped with other devices or racks.
Crating Services
A container constructed of wood and affixed to a pallet is used to transport fragile, unboxed items.
Curbside Pickup
A bill of lading that does not include inside pickup or delivery.
Density Calculator
A Density Calculator is used to determine a shipment’s density, an essential factor in a shipment’s freight class.
Discount Freight
Understanding the factors that influence shipping discounts will help you save money.
Domestic Freight
Shipments transported within the continental United States.
Drayage
A freight term commonly used to mean two very different things.
Drop Deck
Specialized truckload equipment has a lower deck system that rolls onto an upper deck.
Drop Shipping
When the goods are shipped from the manufacturer, wholesaler, or another retailer (like Amazon), which sends the goods to the end customer on behalf of the consignor.
Dry Van
An enclosed cargo trailer is used to transport goods that do not require refrigeration or other devices.
eBay Freight Shipping
Freight shipping options for eBay sellers.
Ecommerce Shipping
What is ecommerce and how do you ship freight for orders made on an ecommerce platform?
Engine Shipping
Shipping of engines, transmissions, and heavy auto parts can all be categorized as Auto Shipping.
Equipment Shipping
Transportation for heavy equipment and machinery, like pinball machines, arcades, CNC milling machines, MRI machines, etc.
Estate Shipping
Residential freight shipping for goods sold at auction or during an estate sale.
Expedited Freight
Time-sensitive freight that utilizes guaranteed and time-critical services to meet fast delivery windows.
Fast Freight Services
Fast Freight Services recognizes that getting Freight delivered within time can be as important as finding the lowest overall rate.
Final Mile
This service includes inside delivery and debris removal. If more services are needed, let us know, and we will help you secure those requirements.
First Mile
FirstMile service includes an inside pickup from the origin and packaging. After the Freight is picked up and packaged, the carrier will take it to its destination.
Free on Board
Free on Board (FOB) is a shipping term that determines when ownership and responsibility for goods transfer from the seller to the buyer.
Freeze Protection
Freeze protection is a service provided by many carriers to prevent Freight from being exposed to frigid temperatures.
Freight
Boxed, crated, or palletized shipments weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Freight Agency
A brokerage that acts as a liaison between customers and freight carriers or forwarders.
Freight Agents
A broker is authorized to transact business on behalf of another person or company.
Freight Bill Audit
An inspection of an invoice to a customer and from a carrier to determine a remaining balance or difference in the cost of services rendered.
Freight Broker
A company that transports goods on behalf of customers and is under contract with asset-based carriers and transportation companies.
Freight Carrier
A Freight Carrier may also be known as a common carrier, freight company, or trucking carrier.
Freight Center
An assigned area where shipping activity takes place.
Freight Class
A number between 50 and 500 classifies or codes the goods inside a shipment.
Freight Companies
Another name for a transportation company or common carrier.
Freight Consolidation
Freight Consolidation lowers costs by pairing several orders in one truck, ship, or aircraft.
Freight Cost
Freight Cost is determined by several variables, some of which shippers can control directly.
Freight Forwarder
A company that acts on behalf of a customer to transport goods overseas.
Freight Forwarding
When a third party that does not carry Freight itself organizes freight shipments for businesses, that activity is sometimes called Freight Forwarding.
Freight Hauler
FreightCenter uses only high-quality Freight Haulers.
Freight Hauling
In most cases, they transport goods weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with dimensions greater than 4 feet.
Freight Insurance
Freight insurance is additional coverage you can purchase through one of FreightCenter’s full-service coverage partners or on your own. Freight insurance coverage protects the total value of your shipment beyond what is covered by limited liability.
Freight Liability
Every booked freight shipment comes with included limited liability coverage. The carrier determines this amount and depends on the commodity type.
Freight Lines
Another name for a transportation company.
Freight Load
Another term for cargo or shipment.
Freight Logistics Companies
Logistics companies help businesses transport Freight while streamlining their supply chain.
Freight Marketplace
A digital platform similar to a load board, where shippers and brokers can post freight loads for carriers and drivers to bid on to move freight efficiently.
Freight Matching
Automation that pairs the details of a shipment with the capabilities of a freight company.
Freight Of All Kinds (FAK)
A pricing system for shipments containing miscellaneous items that can’t be priced individually as separate freight classes.
Freight Quote
An estimated cost of shipping goods before pickup is made and the shipment is measured and weighed.
Freight Rate Calculator
How FreightCenter’s online quote system saves shippers money.
Freight Rates
The base tariff or contract rate charged by a carrier.
Freight Services
Brokers, forwarders offer the product, and carriers to transport goods by various modes like LTL, TL, rail/intermodal, cargo container, and air freight.
Freight Shipping
See Freight. A service that transports goods weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Freight Shipping Calculator
A calculator you can place on any eCommerce site so customers can calculate shipping charges.
Freight Shipping Cost
The actual cost of shipping cargo.
Freight Shipping Quotes
See Freight Quote. An estimated cost of shipping goods before pickup is made and the shipment is measured and weighed.
Freight Shipping Rates
The cost of shipping goods via freight service.
Freight Shipping Services
Services that transport goods and packages weighing over 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Freight Terminal
Where a carrier receives incoming Freight that is then prepared for reloading into a truck, rail car, vessel, or plane.
Freight Transportation
See Freight Shipping. A service that transports goods weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Freightways
A transportation company or carrier took a lane or route.
Government Shipping
Both military and non-military agencies require Government Shipping services.
Ground Freight
Service that involves transporting goods by truck over surface roads.
Groupage Shipping
A shipping method used to transport bundled goods by consolidating them—groupage groups together goods dispatched by various companies into a single shipment.
Handling Unit
Every distinct piece of packaged Freight that will be moved with a forklift, pallet jack, or by hand is a handling unit.
Hazmat
Hazardous material that is considered to have the capability to cause an unreasonable risk to human health or safety or the environment when transported in commerce used incorrectly or if not properly stored or contained is considered a hazardous material. Hazardous materials include fuels, bio-chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Heavy Freight
Freight weighing over 8,000 lbs occupies an entire truck’s space and weight maximums.
Inside Delivery & Pickup
Standard freight pickup and delivery are loading dock to loading dock or curb to curb. Inside pickup and delivery go beyond the curb.
International Freight Shipping
Any movement of Freight that occurs outside the United States (excluding Canada) is considered international.
Interstate Freight
Interstate Freight is any freight shipment that moves from one state to another, whether a full truckload or less than a truckload.
Interstate Truckers
A truck driver that transports Freight along a domestic interstate highway.
Lift Gate
A lift gate will be required if the pickup or delivery site does not have a loading dock and the cargo weighs too much for an individual to handle.
Limited Access
Trucks do not have clear and unfettered access to the exact pickup or delivery spot at a limited access location, such as a school or an airport.
Line Haul
The movement of freight utilizing various modes of transportation (rail, air, ocean, and road) in a relay style between one city and another.
Lean Supply Chain
A supply chain strategy aiming to reduce waste while optimizing efficiency during goods and services production and distribution processes.
Load Board
An online marketplace where shippers, brokers, carriers, and drivers post, find, and bid on freight loads to transport.
Logistics
Logistics is the comprehensive process involving planning, managing, and controlling the efficient movement, storage, and reverse flow of goods, services, and related information from their origin to their destination, the consumer.
LTL
Abbreviation for “Less than Truckload.”
LTL Transportation
The movement of loads belonging to multiple customers that are consolidated to occupy the space of a single dry van trailer.
LTL Trucking
Defined as transporting freight more oversized than a parcel and smaller than a truckload, LTL shipments usually weigh more than 150 lbs but less than 20,000 lbs.
Lumper Fee
Lumper fees are charges applied by the driver for using lumpers for labor during loading and unloading times.
Military Freight
As a veteran-owned third-party logistics company (3PL), FreightCenter is proud to provide our military and government with the required shipping services.
Motor Freight
They transport goods by motor carrier over public highways.
Motorcycle Shipping
Motorcycle Shipping transports your bike where you need it next.
Moving Companies
A company that relocates household property over short or long distances.
Moving Freight
See Freight Shipping. A service that transports goods weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Multimodal Transport
Multimodal transport involves coordinating and managing freight using multiple modes of transport.
Non-Asset Based 3PL
A logistics company that does not own the physical assets used in transportation and the storage of goods.
Not Otherwise Indicated (NOI)
Abbreviation for “Not Otherwise Indicated.” Use the linked calculator to determine the freight class for goods and commodities not classified by the NMFCA.
Oversize Freight
It was transporting goods that were longer, wider, or taller than the footprint of a trailer.
Overweight or Heavy Freight
See Heavy Freight. Shipments weighing more than 8,000 lbs that occupy the space and weight maximums of an entire truck.
Parcel Shipping
A parcel company like the United States Parcel Service transports a standard package.
Personal Effects
Another term used for household goods or personal property.
Pounds per Cubic Foot (PCF)
Density (the number of pounds occupying a cubic foot of space) is an essential measurement for calculating freight class.
Proof of Delivery
Also known as the Delivery Receipt, the Proof of Delivery serves three essential functions.
Refrigerated Freight
They are transporting goods that require refrigeration or freezing. Trucks used to transport these goods are known as “Reefers.”
SCAC Codes
The Standard Carrier Alpha Code (or SCAC Code) is a unique two-to-four-letter code used to identify transportation companies.
Sea Cargo Container
See Container Freight. Shipments that fill containers may be ventilated, insulated, refrigerated, open-top, liquid-fill body, or equipped with other devices or racks.
Shared Truckload
Shared truckload shipping uses technology to match compatible freight, maximizing trailer usage, reducing costs and emissions, and promoting collaborative and sustainable logistics.
Shippers
A shipper is a person who ships goods—also referred to as a customer or consignor.
Shipping
A service that transports Freight weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet in most cases.
Shipping Companies
Another name for a company that transports goods on behalf of a customer.
Shipping Cost
See Freight Shipping Cost. The actual cost of shipping cargo.
Shipping Furniture
Shipping Furniture can be intricate, especially if you’re a newbie. FreightCenter has the experience you need.
Shipping Labels
Shipping labels help make sure your cargo is delivered to the correct location.
Shipping Motorcycles
Shipping Motorcycles means transporting your bike where you need it next.
Shipping Rates
Prices are charged by freight carriers based on a variety of factors.
Shipping Service
See Freight Shipping Service. In most cases, the transportation of goods and packages weighing more than 150 lbs or more or with a dimension greater than 4 feet.
Small Business Shipping
A Small Business Shipping service that combines world-class technology with personally delivered freight shipping expertise allows small business operators to focus on what they do best.
Straight Truck
A straight truck, also known as a box truck or cube truck, is a commercial vehicle where the cab and cargo area are mounted on the same chassis.
Supply Chain Logistics
Times change. The right Supply Chain Logistics plan responds to those changes.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Outsourced provider of freight brokerage and supply chain services.
Tradeshow Shipping
Reserving your booth space is just step #1. Tradeshow Shipping gets that booth to the show on time.
Transportation Brokers
See Freight Broker. A company that transports goods on behalf of customers and is under contract with asset-based carriers and transportation companies.
Transportation Companies
In the freight industry, a term refers to a common carrier or trucking company.
Trucking
Transporting goods over the road (OTR) via truck.
Trucking Broker
See Freight Broker. A company that transports goods on behalf of customers and is under contract with asset-based carriers and transportation companies.
Trucking Business
A general motor carrier that provides freight transportation by truck.
Trucking Companies
A transportation company that services ground Freight.
Trucking Cost per Mile
The cost incurred for each mile that goods are transported by trucks.
Trucking Rates
See Freight Rates. A national trucking index determines the base tariff or contract rate charged by a carrier or spot market rate.
Trucking Service
The most common way of shipping freight in the USA is via Trucking Service.
TONU Fee
A Truck Order Not Used, or TONU fee, is a standard fee that a trucking company charges shippers if a shipment is canceled at the last minute or isn’t available for pickup when the driver arrives at the location.
White Glove Service
Service that involves inside delivery and light installation, and packaging removal.
Yellow Freight
They are now known as YRC. Yellow Freight is a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide and YRC Freight, Inc.
Guaranteed competitive pricing every time you ship.
