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Freight Shipping Acronyms

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Typical Freight Carrier Shipping Acronyms You Should Know
  2. FAK – Freight of All Kinds
  3. LTL – Less than Truckload/Less than Load
  4. TL – Full Truckload
  5. PTL – Partial Truckload
  6. STL – Shared Truckload
  7. Widely-Used Freight Acronyms' List to Comprehend
  8. NMFC – National Motor Freight Classification
  9. DV – Declared Value
  10. FOB – Free on Board
  11. LG – Liftgate
  12. Most Commonly Used Freight Terms Related to Paperwork and Performance
  13. CNOR/CNEE – Consigner/ Consignee
  14. SHPR – Shipper
  15. RCVR – Receiver
  16. POD – Proof of Delivery
  17. OS&D Report –Overage, Shortage, and Damage Report
  18. SLI – Shipper Letter of Instruction
  19. BL/BOL – Bill of Lading
  20. TONU – Truck ordered but not used
  21. EDI – Electronic Data Interchange
  22. International Freight and Shipping Abbreviations to Get a Clear Understanding
  23. Incoterms – International Commercial Terms
  24. COD – Change of Destination
  25. DM – Demurrage
Freight Shipping Acronyms

If you're new to the freight shipping or logistics industry and need to get the handle on all those commonly used freight shipping acronyms, then you've come to the right place!

Shipping or logistics is a confusing field. With so many acronyms, abbreviations, and strange terms, it's no surprise you might have struggled in the past to get your head around it all. So, we created this post to help newcomers quickly catch on to the acronyms and terminologies used in freight shipping and logistics.

Let's dive deep into all those mind-boggling shipping terms and abbreviations.

Typical Freight Carrier Shipping Acronyms You Should Know

The first step in your shipping process is to gather your quotes based on the shipping carrier mode you'd be using. Below are some of the acronyms you'd encounter while deciding on the most suitable shipping carrier mode for your freight.

FAK – Freight of All Kinds

FAK is a term used in the freight and logistics industry, which means pooling different goods into one load to simplify rating and pricing. This acronym is helpful for all the small and medium business owners as it will help them deal in the bulk.

LTL – Less than Truckload/Less than Load

LTL is one of the most widely used shipping methods in the logistics industry. In LTL, shipping goods are packed in pallets or skids. The goods weighing range for this category is less than 4,000 pounds.

LTL shipping relies on a hub-and-spoke system. Your shipment transfers one or more times to the distributor to reach the final destination.

TL – Full Truckload

Full Truckload shipments take up an entire trailer's space and weight limit. Unlike the LTL, your freight reaches its destination in a long haul and without any breaks. In TL, the shipment weighs more than 15,000 pounds and can be packed using boxes, skids, tubs, pallets, etc.

PTL – Partial Truckload

When your freight doesn't fit in an LTL or TL shipping mode, you must consider partial truckload mode. A partial truckload is a freight option for carriers of larger shipments that may not require a full truckload space and typically involves shipments weighing over 5,000 pounds and six or more pallets.

STL– Shared Truckload

A shared truckload is a freight shipping mode that allows several shippers to move their shipments traveling on a similar route on the same truck. This shipping model is suitable for a load under 53 feet long and 1-24 standard-sized pallets. The shared truckload type of shipment has multiple benefits, like it helps reduce the overall charges of shipment and eliminates the risk of getting your goods damaged.

Widely-Used Freight Acronyms' List to Comprehend

Here is the list of more common freight acronyms you are more likely to see over the quote forms. Naturally, therefore, you must be able to seize their meaning without stressing your nerves.

NMFC – National Motor Freight Classification

NMFC codes help you classify the items being shipped interstate and foreign. All the shippable commodities belong to any of the 18 classes of the National Motor Freight Classification standards after evaluating them on the four transportation characteristics named density, stability, handling, liability, etc.

DV – Declared Value

Declared value is the value per unit of a shipment stated by the shipper on delivery to a carrier. In short, it's the worth of the shipment that the carrier is liable to compensate the shipper (in case it gets damaged).

FOB – Free on Board

The FOB identifies when liability and ownership of goods are transferred from a seller to the buyer.

If the designation is used with an identified physical location, it also determines further two aspects of the shipping procedure. For example:

  • Who will pay the freight shipping costs?
  • At what point the title for shipment passes from the seller to the buyer?

LG – Liftgate

A liftgate is an additional service offered by freight shippers when picking up or delivering freight. A liftgate or tailgate is a platform at the rear part of the truck used for loading or heavy unloading freight. They are generally used at locations without docks and forklifts.

When you are done receiving your shipping quotes, your next step is to complete the paperwork. Here again, you'd have to deal with some of the freight terms. To help, we have listed some of them below:

CNOR/CNEE – Consigner/ Consignee:

CNOR or Consignor is the sender of the shipment. Conversely, CNEE or Consignee is the receiver of the shipment.

SHPR – Shipper

A shipper is typically the company that is shipping the goods. The shipper is also identified as an exporter or consigner.

RCVR – Receiver

The receiver is the party (the consignee himself or a third party) who receives the shipped goods from the carrier at the destination port or terminal.

POD – Proof of Delivery

POD is proof of the shipment's proper delivery. For example, the consignee signed a document that the receiver got everything properly. Proof of Delivery ideally includes a recipient's address and description of the package.

OS&D Report –Overage, Shortage, and Damage Report

This report is for the receiver or consignee regarding the shipment issues they have received.

  • Overage means when the recipient receives more than the ordered items.
  • Shortage refers to receiving less than the ordered items.
  • Damaged (as the name implies) means receiving damaged goods in the shipment.

SLI – Shipper Letter of Instruction

SLI is a document filled in by the shipper. This document includes all the necessary details related to the shipment. For example, shipper and consignee, dimensions and weight, description of the items, and shipping terms.

BL/BOL – Bill of Lading

A Bill of lading is a contract that binds the shipper and the carrier. Every bill of lading includes the names and addresses of both the shipper and the carrier, pickup date, shipment and packaging details, class of freight, and hazardous material designation. In addition, you must present BOL at the destination for the goods to be released.

TONU – Truck ordered but not used

TONU is when a shipment truck comes to pick up the shipment, but the consignments are not ready to ship yet.

If that's your fault, you may have to reimburse the carrier for their time and resources.

EDI – Electronic Data Interchange

Electronic data interchange (EDI) is the swapping of business documents between two computers.

In the freight shipping and logistics industry, EDI applies to bills of lading, tracking, invoicing, etc.

International Freight and Shipping Abbreviations to Get a Clear Understanding

Other than some commonly used freight shipping acronyms that you'll hit into while dealing with domestic shipping, there are also some terms that you'll have to understand before shipping goods across the globe.

Every international shipper must recognize some international freight and shipping acronyms.

Incoterms – International Commercial Terms

Incoterms are pre-defined commercial terms established by the International Chamber of Commerce. Today, they form an integral part of commerce. These terms are intended to communicate the task, cost, and risk associated with transporting and delivering goods.

COD – Change of Destination

The COD is a term that comes when your goods are already loaded on a container and are on their way, but (for some reason), you need to change the destination of the delivery.

DM – Demurrage

Demurrage is a charge payable when you haven't picked up your imports on time.

When your container has been discharged, there's a set period for storing them at the port, and you have to pick up your goods before your free storage time expires. Then, later on, you are charged demurrage for the number of days you are late in picking up your container.

DT – Detention

Detention is also a form of fee similar to a demurrage fee, but these are the charges that you have to pay if you've picked up your container but didn't return them to the shipping line in time. Detention charges are charged per container and day. Moreover, the set amount may differ based on location, container type, and carrier.

CYCY – Container Yard to Container Yard

A container yard is a port facility that stores the shipment before being loaded to the origin port and discharged to the destination port.

The CYCY term refers to the carrier's responsibility beginning from the port of loading and ending at the port of discharge at CY. Such shipments are also known as FCL/FCL shipments and involve a single shipper and receiver in the process.

Conclusion

Freight shipping can be challenging to understand at first. That's because there are so many abbreviations and acronyms used in the industry that you need a guide to help you know them. Hopefully, we have simplified some of the most confusing terms related to the shipping industry.

Now you are well-versed with all the basic logistic terms and abbreviations. You are good to go with your shipping ventures and documentation.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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