The freight industry uses a huge amount of abbreviations, 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. Click on any of the sections below to see the abbreviations used in that area.
Air and Ocean Freight Abbreviations
Dimensions
CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres
Length × Width × Height to work out the cubic metre of a shipment
KG - Kilograms
LB - Pounds
CF - Cubic Feet
LF - Linear Feet
R/T - Revenue tonnes
A billing unit used in the international freight industry.
W/M - Weight or Measure
Billing will be based on whichever is greater based on the converstion factor.
Documents
AWB / HAWB - Air Waybill / House Air Waybill
A waybill is a document issued by a carrier or forwarder giving details and instructions relating to the shipment.
B/L or BOL - Bill of Lading
A document issued by the carrier to the shipper as a contract of carriage, it must be presented at destination in order for the goods to be released - it is a document of title for the goods.
D.O. or D/O - Delivery Order
A document which orders the release of freight to another party. Unless in North America, do not mistake this for delivery instructions or a document of title for the goods. In North America a delivery order IS a delivery instruction.
Freight Release
Referred to in parts of the world as a document that orders the release of freight to another party.
L/C - Letter of Credit
This is a document issued by a bank to another bank to serve as guarantee for payments made to a specified person under specified conditions.
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet
Provides procedures for handling Dangerous Goods (DG) in a safe manner. It will confirm how the goods can travel and if they can be loaded with other Dangerous Goods.
SLI - Shippers Letter of Instruction
A document filled in by the shipper providing all the details related to the shipment - Shipper and Consignee, dimensions and weight, description of the goods and shipping terms.
INCO Terms
Refer to our INCO Terms page for a detailed explanation of the INCO Terms
People & Places
ATD/ATA - Actual Time of Departure / Actual Time of Arrival
ATF - Approved Transitional Facility
Has site approval and an accredited MPI person to receive and inspect import containers.
AQIS - Australian Quarantine Inspection Service
Boarder control in Australia.
CFS - Container Freight Station
Container freight handling depot.
CNOR/CNEE - Consignor/Consignee
Otherwise referred to as the Seller / Buyer.
CY - Container Yard
Referring to the shipping lines container storage yards, they are likely to be inland ports.
ETD/ETA - Estimated time of Departure / Estimated Time of Arrival
IATA - International Air transport Association
An international organisation of airlines that regulate conditions of operation, safety, schedules and pricing for international air transport.
NVOCC - Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier
An NVOCC is a freight forwarder or carrier who undertakes to transport goods by sea without owning their own ships.
POL/POD - Port of Loading / Port of Discharge
Surcharges
AMS - Amercian Maritime Security
Compliance costs associated with USA border security laws and procedures.
BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor
Fuel Surcharge on a shipping vessel.
EBAF - Emergency Bunker Adjustment Factor
A Fuel Surcharge on a shipping vessel that may be applied at short notice due to an unforeseen spike in costs related to fuel.
CAF - Currency Adjustment Factor
Charged to cover currency conversion costs and administration.
CABAF - CAF and BAF charges combined
FAF - Fuel Adjustment Factor
A surcharge on top of general transport pricing directly associated to the current fuel price to transparently cover fluctuation.
GRI - General Rate Increase
Used by shipping lines to label general increase in ocean freight rates on particular trade routes.
ISPS - International Ship & Port Facility Security
To cover security handling at the origin and destination ports/depots.
SCA - Sea Cargo Automation Fee
Applied by Australian Customs to the computer system that coordinates and controls the reporting and delivery of import sea-cargo in Australia.
Modes of Transport
20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container
40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container
FR - Flat Rack container
HC - High Cube container
OT - Open top container
RF/Reefer - Refrigerated Container
B/B, B/Bulk - Break-Bulk
A large shipment, usually too big for a shipping container, that can be loaded directly onto a ship.
DG - Dangerous Goods
Goods that could be harmful to people and the enviroment and may require special handling.
FAK - Freight All Kind
Full container load with a combination of freight from different shippers for more then one consignee.
FCL - Full Container Load
For higher volume shipments at least over 16 cubic metres total.
LCL - Less than Container Load
For smaller sea freight shipments that do not require a full container. Minimum shipment chargeable size is based on 1 cubic metre (CBM/M³) to 1 tonne.
LSE - Loose Airfreight
Goods travelling by airfreight on its own and not in a consolidation with other freight.
LO LO - Lift on Lift off
Term used by carriers when shipping containers are lifted off the vessel (import) or forwarders truck (export) onto the forwarders truck (import) or vessel (export).
GP - General Purpose Container
Otherwise known as a 'standard' or dry container.
OOG - Out Of Gauge
When your shipment over hangs the dimensions of a shipping container.
RO RO - Roll On Roll Off
When a shipment can either be driven or towed on and off a vessel.
SOC - Shipper Owned Container
Shipping container owned by the shipper rather than the shippng line.
U.L.D - Unit Load Device
Spealised containers or pallet bases used in cargo aircraft.
Domestic Freight Abbreviations
Dimensions
KG - Kilograms
CBM/M³ - Cubic Metres
Length×Width×Height to work out the cubic metre of a shipment
KG - Kilograms
LB - Pounds
CF - Cubic Feet
LF - Linear Feet
Documents
POD - Proof Of Delivery
This is used as proof that the goods have been delivered to the consignee fully and undamaged. The POD is signed by the driver when the goods are picked up from the depot and then signed by the consignee when the goods are delivered.
Insurance
DV - Declared Value
LCL - Limited Carriers Liability
OR - Owners Risk
People & Places
CNOR/CNEE - Consignor/Consignee
Sender / Receiver
ETD/ETA - Estimated Time of Departure / Estimated Time of Arrival
Surcharges
FAF - Fuel Surcharge Factor
A surcharge on top of general transport pricing directly associated to the current fuel price to transparently cover fluctuation.
Modes of Transport
20FT, 20', TEU - Standard 20 foot shipping container
40FT, 20', FEU - Standard 40 foot shipping container
FR - Flat Rack container
HC - High Cube container
OT - Open top container
DG - Dangerous Goods
Goods that could be harmful to people and the enviroment and may require special handling.
FCL - Full Container Load
For higher volume shipments at least over 16 cubic metres total.
FTL - Full Truck Load
For higher volume shipments that can fill the capacity of a truck.
LTL - Less than Truck Load
For smaller freight shipments that do not require a full truck load.
GP - General Purpose Container
Otherwise known as a 'standard' or 'dry' container
