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Understanding the language of logistics is essential for newcomers and professionals alike to manage operations and communicate effectively with stakeholders. This glossary offers concise definitions of essential terms used in the industry, helping you navigate the fast-paced world of international transportation.
Arrival notice
An Arrival Notice is the advance notice of an upcoming delivery or pickup. This may be done by telephone or in writing and may include a time of delivery. This notice is not the same as the shipping documents that accompany the goods themselves when they arrive.
ADR
ADR is short for "Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route" (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road). It is an international agreement that regulates the transportation of dangerous goods by road. ADR covers packaging, labeling, vehicle equipment and training requirements and serves as the core regulatory framework for the road transportation of dangerous goods.
Belly
Aircraft cargo space underneath the passenger deck
Bonded Warehouse
Customs warehouse
Carrier
Airline
Charter
A leased aircraft or leased cargo space
Demurrage
In container transport: an additional fee charged if a container is left longer than the agreed demurrage-free period at the sea port container depot or inland depot.
Door-to-Door Transit Times
The total time it takes to transport a shipment from the sender's location to delivery at the receiver's address.
ETA
ETA stands for Estimated Time of Arrival and refers to the expected arrival time of a vehicle or shipment at its destination based on current conditions. At Gebrüder Weiss, ETA supports transparent, real-time communication for both partial and consolidated shipments, updated every five minutes. The delivery window can be narrowed down to within two hours.
FCL (Full Container Load)
Full Container Load refers to a door-to-door container shipment in which the goods are shipped from a single shipper to a single consignee using the entire container.
Hazard Labels
Pictograms affixed to packaging and vehicles to visually indicate the type and class of hazardous material (e.g., a flame symbol for flammable substances). These labels are crucial for quick identification in emergency situations.
INTRASTAT
INTRASTAT stands for “Intra-community trading statistics between the member states of the European Union”.
Last Mile
The "last mile" refers to the final leg of the delivery journey - from the receiving terminal to the customer's doorstep. It's the last leg before the customer receives the goods.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
LTL refers to the transportation of smaller shipments from one or more shippers that are consolidated into a single container at distribution centers, primarily seaports. These goods are then deconsolidated at the destination for final delivery.
Main Carriage
The transportation of several shipments (groupage) from the carrier's terminal to the receiver's terminal.
On-Carriage
The transportation of goods from the receiver's terminal terminal to the end customer.
Out of Gauge
Goods that exceed standard container dimensions and therefore require special transportation solutions. This includes oversized machinery, industrial components, or structural components.
Pre-Carriage
The transportation of shipments from the shipper's terminal to the carrier's terminal.
Project Cargo
Project Cargo is the transportation of particularly large, heavy, or technically complex goods that are part of specific industrial or infrastructure projects. These shipments place high demands on logistics and require carefully tailored, individual planning.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
A method of loading wheeled cargo such as cars, trucks or trailers that can be driven onto the transport vessel (e.g. ship) without the use of cranes. Particularly suitable for mobile heavy equipment or large vehicles.
RID
RID is the regulation governing the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
Track & Trace
Track & Trace is a system used to monitor the status of a shipment in real time. It facilitates shipment visibility, allows for better control of logistics operations, and helps streamline the handling of inquiries or delivery issues.
Turn-Key Concept
A comprehensive project approach in which the provider not only handles the transportation, but also the planning, execution, and, if necessary, assembly and commissioning. The customer receives a turnkey solution - essentially just "turning the key" to start operating the delivered system or installation.
UN-Nummer
A four-digit number assigned by the United Nations to uniquely identify hazardous materials. The UN number is used worldwide and must appear on packaging, shipping documents, and transport vehicles.
WSC (War Risk Surcharge)
Airline’s war or security surcharge, which covers increased insurance costs since September 11, 2001
