A
Air Carrier
The air carrier is the airline that will physically move the cargo. For example: American Airlines, Air China, Polar Air.
Arrival Date
The arrival date is the date the shipment arrives at your destination port.
Arrival Trucking
Arrival trucking is the trucking company that moves the shipment from your destination port to your warehouse.
Automated Manifest System (AMS)
The Automated Manifest System (AMS) was created by U.S. Customs to gather shipment information including cargo, detail, departure, arrival, and release information between ship carrier, air carrier, and rail carrier.
C
Cargo
Also known as 'freight,' cargo refers to the articles, goods, materials, merchandise, etc that are moved by carriers.
Consignee
The consignee is the party (usually a buyer) in transportation documents (bill of lading) that orders the cargo. The consignee is typically located where the cargo will ultimately be delivered, unless otherwise instructed. They are the owner of the cargo for the purpose of filing customs declaration and paying duties and taxes.
Consignor
The consignor is the party (usually a shipper) in transportation documents (bill of lading) that made or sold the cargo.
Container
A container is a single metal box used to hold the goods being shipped. Some common types of containers used include dry storage, flat rack, open top, double doors, refrigerated, and insulated or thermal containers (among others).
Cubic Meter (CBM)
A cubic meter (CBM) is the unit measurement for a container’s capacity. CBM is used to measure cargo space and weight.
Customs Bond
A Customs bond is a financial guarantee filed between three parties: the principal, the insurance/surety agent, and U.S. Customs. The bond’s purpose is to make sure that all duties, taxes, and fees owed to the federal government will be taken care of.
Customs Broker
A person or firm that holds knowledge of import and export law and helps importers pay duties. A customs broker, or customs agent, holds a license to submit all documents for clearing cargo through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Customs Entry
The submission of documents related to shipment for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) review and release.
Cut-Off Date
The cut-off date is the last date that the container can be returned to the port terminal in order to make the schedule that you requested. It’s usually two days before the expected departure date, but will vary based on the carrier and the port.
D
Delivery Address
The delivery address is the address that your shipment will be delivered to.
Demurrage
Demurrage refers to the penalty for exceeding the free time allowed for taking your delivery of a shipment from the shipping carrier or warehouse.
Departure Date
The departure date is the date that your shipment will leave the origin port.
Destination/Origin Agent
Also known as a freight forwarder, the destination or origin agent is a person or company that facilitates cargo movement and arranges shipments for arrival at the destination or origin port.
E
Express Release
An express release means that the original HBL was never issued or printed. In these cases, the shipper has typically fully released the goods from the start and is not pending any type of payment for the goods.
F
Freight
Freight refers to the articles, goods, materials, merchandise, etc — also known as ‘cargo’ — that are moved by carriers.
Freight Forwarder
Also known as a destination or origin agent, the freight forwarder is a person or company that facilitates cargo movement and arranges shipments for arrival at the destination or origin port.
Freight Release Date
The freight release date is the date that your freight is released from the party that owns the cargo.
Full Container Load (FCL)
A full container load (FCL) is a shipment that takes up the entire container. Container types can include: 20’, 40’ 40’HC, 45’.
G
General Order (G.O.)
When a container goes unclaimed for a period of time, U.S. Customs will issue a G.O. Order (also known as a G.O. Notice) and move the goods to a G.O. warehouse, where the goods will either be auctioned off to the public or destroyed depending on the imported goods.
H
Harmonized System Code (HS Code)
The Harmonized System Code, or HS code, is a code used to identify and classify goods being shipped internationally. Developed by the World Customs Organization, it is six digits and is universally standardized.
Hazmat
Also known as Toxic or Hazardous Materials, hazmat refers to the dangerous goods as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law. Hazardous materials generally pose a health or safety risk when transporting, and require extra handling when part of a supply chain.
House Bill of Lading (HBL)
A bill of lading issued by the freight forwarder to a shipper as a receipt of goods. This bill will show the shipper as the consignor. It will also show the buyer or importer of record as consignee.
A house bill allows for the transfer of ownership of goods from the shipper to the buyer, once released.
I
Importer Security Filing (ISF)
The importer security filing (ISF) is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulation that requires importers and vessel carriers to submit data electronically and in advance for inbound ocean shipments. The ISF generally notifies CBP of the container detail and arrival plan.
In-Distribution Center Date (In-DC Date)
The In-DC date is the (ideally pre-planned) date at which your shipment arrives at your distribution center.
L
Less Than Container Load (LCL)
A less than container load (LCL) is a shipment that takes up less than a full container space.
M
Manufacturer
The manufacturer refers to the party that produced or made the cargo. Knowing the manufacturer is important, because U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) needs to know the maker of the product.
Master Bill of Lading (MBL)
A bill of lading issued by the carrier to a freight forwarder as a receipt of goods. This bill will show the origin freight forwarder as the consignor and the destination forwarder as the consignee.
A master bill allows the transfer of ownership of goods from the origin freight forwarder to the destination forwarder.
N
Notify Party
The notify party is usually the buyer, consignee, or importer on the house bill. However, the notify party can be anyone that needs to know the shipment status. This party must receive the arrival notification.
O
Origin Agent
The origin agent refers to a person or company that arranges shipments at the origin port.
Original Bill of Lading (OBL)
An original bill of lading (OBL) is a document that serves as proof of ownership of the importer’s goods. It’s typically issued by the origin forwarder on the origin manufacturer’s behalf. Once the origin manufacturer receives payment for the goods that the importer purchased, the shipper arranges for release.
P
Port of Arrival
The port of arrival is the ocean destination port to which the shipment arrives.
Port of Departure
The port of departure is the ocean port from which the shipment departs.
Port of Discharge
Also called the port of unloading, the port of discharge is the place where a ship or aircraft unloads its shipments, which are then discharged to their respective consignees. It may be the port of destination, but not always.
R
Release Date
The release date is the date the shipment is released. There are two important release dates: (1) the master bill release by the origin freight forwarder to the destination freight forwarder and (2) the house bill release by the shipper to the buyer.
S
Service Type
The service refers to the service that the shipper or buyer requested from the freight forwarder — or from a service like Shippabo. Available service types include: port to port, port to door, door to port, door to door.
Shipper
The shipper refers to the party that ships the cargo.
Shipping Carrier
The shipping carrier refers to the shipping line or airline that will physically move the cargo. This is also the party that issues the Master Bill.
Special Cargo
Special cargo is cargo that faces additional regulations from various other government agencies — in addition to the requirements of U.S. Customs — are considered special cargo. Examples include food, plant and wood products, drugs, and firearms.
T
Telex Release
A telex release typically happens for the release of cargo when the OBL has been surrendered elsewhere. It’s typically an email and stamped ‘Telex’ on the HBL. This type of release tells the origin and destination forwarders that the cargo can be released to the consignee without the original HBL being presented.
Transport Type
The transport type refers to the service that is requested of the shipping carrier. Available services include: container yard to container yard (CY/CY), container yard to door (CY/Door), and container freight station to container freight station (CFS/CFS).
U
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a U.S. government agency in charge of reviewing entries documents and collecting import or export taxes.
V
Vessel
The name of the vessel that carries the container.
Voyage
The voyage number of the vessel, which is typically a mix of three or four numbers and text.