|
Air Waybill (AWB)
|
Air waybills are the freight documents associated with air shipments. They act as delivery instructions, a contract of carriage, and a cargo receipt for airfreight. |
Airline Terminal Fee |
Air shipments include an airline terminal fee, which is charged as a fee for handling the cargo. |
Anti-dumping Duties (AD) |
Anti-dumping duties are assessed to mitigate the impact of dumping, which is when foreign manufacturers sell products in the United States at a lower cost than their fair value. They are priced to make up for the gap between foreign manufacturer pricing and fair market value |
Automated Export System (AES) |
The Automated Export System (AES) is the automated system for filing U.S. Shipper’s Export Declarations. It is a nationwide system operational at all ports and for all methods of transportation. Due to electronic filing, AES has the capability to edit collected information immediately and correct any detected errors at the time of filing. |
Automated Manifest System (AMS) |
The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic information transmission system operated by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. An AMS fee will be charged per BOL/AWB. Either the client or supplier must cover the fee. |
BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) |
BAF represents the floating price level of fuel in ocean freight shipping and is typically updated on a quarterly basis. Low Sulphur surcharges originate from an International Maritime Organization (IMO) initiative to reduce the amount of sulfuric fuel emissions burned by ocean vessels.
The BAF is charged by ocean carriers per container to protect them against fuel price fluctuation, and varies among trade lanes |
BTI | Binding Tariff Information |
A Binding Tariff Information (BTI) decision is a written tariff classification of your goods issued by the Taxation and Customs Union of the EU. A BTI is generally valid for 3 years and is legally binding on all EU Customs administrations but only to the legal entity for which it was issued. A BTI can provide assurance that your goods have the correct commodity code or Harmonized tariff code. |
Bill of Lading (BOL or B/L) |
A bill of lading (BOL or B/L) is issued to a shipper detailing the method and path of a shipment. It is a contract for the movement of the goods, and serves as a receipt for the cargo and can act as proof of ownership of the goods being transported. |
Binding Origin Information |
A Binding Origin Information (BOI) allows you to obtain a decision from an individual EU Member State on the origin of your goods. |
Blank Sailing |
A blank sailing (a void sailing) is a sailing that has been canceled by the carrier. A blank sailing could mean a vessel is skipping one port, or that the entire string is canceled. Blank sailings happen for a couple of reasons:
1. When demand for space on vessels is low. Carriers balance available container supply with projected demand.
2. When carriers are changing the number of strings per week.
If your cargo was booked on a sailing that has been canceled, it will be rescheduled to move on the next available sailing. |
Blind Shipment |
A blind shipment is when the consignee involved in a shipment is unaware of who the shipper is.
This type of shipment is requested by distributors who want their goods shipped directly to the retailer to avoid going through additional distribution channels. This helps conceal if a product was shipped from a third-party vendor.
|
Bobtail Fee |
A bobtail fee (drop fee) is charged by the trucker to drop off an FCL container at the warehouse and pick it up after it has been unloaded, as opposed to a live unload. A bobtail is a truck (tractor) that’s traveling without a trailer. |
Bonded Goods |
Bonded Goods are goods where the customs duty has not yet been paid. These goods are required to be stored in bonded warehouses—that is, warehouses under the supervision of customs authorities, until the customs duty has been paid on them. |
|
Bonded Warehouse
|
A Bonded Warehouse is a warehouse, building, or otherwise secured warehouse that is customs-controlled where goods for which the duty has not been paid can be stored. |
Break Bulk |
Break bulk is a shipping term for cargo that does not fit in a standard shipping container or cargo bin. Break bulk cargo is instead transported individually in bags, boxes, crates, drums, or barrels.
It includes:
|
Bulk Cargo |
Bulk cargo is a shipping term for items that are shipped loosely and unpackaged as opposed to being shipped in packages or containers. Bulk cargo is often not containerized and easily secured on a vessel. Items such as oil, grain, or coal are all examples of bulk cargo. |
CAIN (Customs Assigned Importer Number) |
A CAIN is a Customs Assigned Importer Number used for foreign importers. |
CBM (Cubic Meter) |
CBM (cubic meter) is a measurement of volume one meter wide by one meter long by one meter high, which you often seen associated with air and LCL shipments.
|
CBP (Customs and Border Protection) |
CBP is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, formed in 2003, that regulates international travel and trade into the U.S. CBP examines import paperwork like commercial invoices and packing lists, collects import duties, and performs customs exams.
|
CDS (Customs Declaration Service) |
CDS is the UK government’s new electronic system for handling customs declaration processes
|
CES (Centralized Examination Station) |
A CES is a privately-operated facility designated by CBP for physical examination where imported or exported cargo is made available for a Customs inspection. The importer is responsible for all costs associated with a Customs exam, including trucking to and from the CES, the CES fee, storage, etc.
|
CFS (Container Freight Station) |
A container freight station is a warehouse that specializes in the consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo. A CFS will charge a fee.
|
CFS (Container Freight Station) Cut-off |
A CFS cut-off is the date that an LCL shipment needs to be checked in the CFS for the shipment to make its sailing.
|
CFS (Container Freight Station) Fee |
A container freight station (CFS) is where LCL cargo is taken for consolidation (at origin) and deconsolidation (at destination). The CFS charges a fee for this service, based on the volume of the cargo.
|
CHED (Common Health Entry Document) |
CHED’s are the common health entry documents for consignments of plants, plant products, foods and animal products.
|
CHIEF |
CHIEF - Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight. The UK Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system records the movement of goods by land, air and sea. It allows importers, exporters and freight forwarders to complete customs formalities electronically and automatically checks for entry errors. |
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna an Flora)
|
CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. |
CTPAT
|
CTPAT is the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. It's a security program of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, aimed at strengthening the security of international supply chains. Through CTPAT, CBP works with entities such as freight forwarders, importers, customs brokers, and manufacturers to implement certain security procedures and identify best practices.
|
CY (Container Yard) Cutoff |
A CY cutoff date is the date by which a container must be gated-in (checked-in) at the container yard before its scheduled sailing. CY cutoff dates are determined by the carrier, but are typically 2 days before the scheduled sailing.
|
Cargo Insurance |
Cargo insurance is coverage for your shipment from pickup to delivery, across multiple carriers and modes. It covers the purchase value (not retail value) of your goods, as well as freight and other costs associated with the cargo.
|
Cargo Ready Date (CRD) |
The cargo ready date (CRD) is the day the cargo is expected to be available at the supplier or other named location (a warehouse, an airport terminal, or a container yard).
|
Carrier |
A freight carrier is the company or individual that transports the cargo from one location to another. |
Cartage |
Cartage is the transportation of cargo to and from a CFS (container freight station) via truck within a local area.
|
Chassis
|
A chassis is a special trailer or undercarriage used to transport ocean containers over the road. A chassis will be necessary for a shipment traveling by truck and will incur a chassis fee. A tri-axle chassis will be used for overweight FCL shipments traveling by truck |
Chassis Fee |
A chassis fee is assessed if your shipment is traveling by truck (e.g., after your cargo arrives at an ocean port, if it’s being transported via truck to a warehouse).
|
Chassis Pool |
A chassis pool is a location where chassis are stored and available for rental. There are two types of chassis pools:
|
Chassis Split |
A chassis split fee is charged if the trucker has to make an additional trip to pick up a chassis, from a separate location.
|
Chinese New Year (CNY) |
Chinese New Year is the largest Chinese celebration of the year, during which factories are closed or operated at diminished capacity
|
Clean Truck Fee |
A clean truck fee is assessed by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as part of the Clear Air Action Plan in an effort to reduce air pollution.
|
Co-Loader |
A co-loader is a third party who consolidates the cargo of two or more LCL shipments in a container before handing it over to an ocean carrier.
|
Commerce Control List (CCL) |
The Commerce Control List (CCL) is a list of categories and product groups used to help you determine whether an export license is needed from the U.S. Department of Commerce for U.S. exports.
|
Commercial Invoice |
A commercial invoice is a document used for customs declaration that identifies the value and quantity of the shipped products.
|
Common Carrier |
A common carrier is a company that offers service to the general public and accepts cargo subject to its available capacity.
|
Compliance Assessment |
A compliance assessment is an analysis or audit of a company’s customs transactions.
|
Consignee
|
The consignee will be named on the bill of lading, and is the party to whom ownership of the goods will transfer at the cargo's destination.
|
Consolidation
|
Consolidation is the act of combining two or more shipments in a truck or container. |
Container |
A container is a steel receptacle used to transport ocean and rail shipments.
|
Container Yard (CY) |
A container yard (CY) is a physical facility from which ocean carriers accept and deliver ocean containers, as well as issue and receive back empty containers.
|
Continuous Customs Bond |
A customs bond is required to import goods into the United States, as a form of insurance to protect the U.S. Treasury. A continuous customs bond will cover all of your import shipments for one year.
|
Contract of Carriage |
A contract of carriage is a negotiated contract not subject to a tariff that is between the carrier and shipper for the transportation of cargo.
The written contract between a shipper and carrier sets forth the terms, conditions, and obligations of each party with respect to the carriage of the particular goods. Contracted carriers may choose if and when to provide service.
|
Countervailing Duties |
Countervailing duties (CVD) are duties intended to protect the U.S. manufacturing industry from foreign goods made cheap by subsidies and tax benefits from foreign governments. |
Country of Origin |
Country of origin is the location where your goods are manufactured or produced. |
Customs Bond |
A customs bond, or import bond, is a legal document verifying all required importing fees, duties, and taxes have been paid. |
|
Customs Broker
|
This is an agent—in some countries powered by a governmental customs agency—who assists importers and exporters in preparing documents for clearing goods through customs. |
Customs Clearance |
Customs clearance is the governmental authorization necessary for a good to enter or exit the borders of a specific country. |
Customs Entry |
Customs entry is a declaration of the kind, amount, and value of goods being taken in or out of a country, for purposes of customs clearance. |
|
Customs Exam
|
A Customs exam is either an X-ray, Tail Gate, or Intensive exam. Your shipment may be selected for a customs exam upon import into the U.S. |
|
Customs Exam Fee
|
A customs exam fee is the fee incurred by the importer if a shipment is pulled for a customs exam. Depending on the type of inspection performed, the fee can run from $80 to more than $1,000. |
Customs Procedure Codes |
Customs Procedure Codes - HMRC uses CPCs to identify the reason for the export or import and therefore the relevant customs regime. The CPC is entered on the declaration at the time of import and export. |
Declared Value Coverage |
Declared value coverage is a form of cargo damage/loss coverage that raises the carrier’s financial liability so that it matches the declared value of the cargo. Declared value coverage is not cargo insurance |
Deconsolidation |
Deconsolidation is the act of separating out LCL shipments to prepare them for final delivery. |
Deferment Fee |
This is the cost for having your freight forwarder/customs broker pay the Duty and VAT to the customs authorities on your behalf, before billing it to you directly. It is often calculated as a percentage of the amount of Duty and VAT paid. |
Deferment or Postponed VAT Accounting |
This term refers to the reverse-charge mechanism on wherein you are not required to pay the VAT on import immediately. The VAT can then be paid when you file your periodic VAT return, offering significant cash flow benefits.
|
Delivery Labor Fee |
A trucker may charge a delivery labor fee if they have to help unload cargo at the warehouse (or other destination). |
Delivery Order |
A delivery order (DO) is the document that is sent to the trucker with the pickup and delivery details of the shipment. |
Demurrage
|
Demurrage is the fee assessed by the terminal if your cargo remains at port after the Last Free Day. It is charged per container, per day, until the cargo is picked up. |
Devanning |
Devanning is a logistics term that means "unloading cargo from a container." |
Direct or Indirect Customs Representation |
In case of direct representation, a customs agent lodges a declaration in the name of and on behalf of the stakeholder. The stakeholder is the declarant and, as such, responsible for the declaration. In the EU the basis for this kind of representation is Article 18 UCC.
In case of indirect representation, a customs agent lodges a declaration in his or her own name but on behalf of a stakeholder. A customs agent who acts as an indirect representative is the declarant and, as such, responsible for the content of the declaration. Indirect representation is particularly intended for situations where the stakeholder is established outside the import country. In that case, he/she will not be able to act as a declarant himself. In the EU the basis for this kind of representation is Article 18 UCC.
|
Disbursement Service Fee |
A disbursement fee is charged for clients who do not pay their duties and taxes directly to customs, or other government authorities, and request that an agent does so on their behalf. |
Double Blind Shipment |
A double blind shipment is when the shipper is unaware of where a shipment will be delivered to and the consignee is unaware of where the shipment is coming from. |
Drayage
|
Drayage is the transportation of a full ocean container via truck. A full container will be loaded onto a chassis and trucked to a nearby warehouse or rail ramp. |
Drop
|
A drop is a type of trucking delivery for FCL shipments where the trucker drops off the container at the warehouse and then leaves, instead of waiting while the container is unloaded. |
Drop Fee |
A drop fee is charged by the trucker to drop off an FCL container at the warehouse and pick it up after it has been unloaded. This is also called a bobtail fee |
Drop and Pick |
A drop and pick (also known as a drop and hook) is a trucking delivery option for high-volume FCL where a truck driver drops off the container at the warehouse and then leaves (instead of waiting while it’s unloaded, as in a live unload). After the container has been unloaded, the driver returns to pick up the empty container (usually within 48 hours). |
Dry Run |
A dry run is when a trucker is not able to successfully complete the pickup or delivery of a shipment. The trucker will charge full price for the extra trip. This usually happens when there's port congestion or cargo has not been released. |
Dry Van Shipping |
Dry van shipping is for cargo that doesn't need to be temperature-controlled or transported in a flatbed trailer |
Duty
|
A duty is an indirect tax on the value of an imported or exported product. |
Duty Drawback |
Duty drawback, or Drawback, is an export incentive program that allows U.S. importers, exporters, and manufacturers to recover, in part or in whole, certain duties, taxes, and fees paid on imported merchandise or domestically produced flavoring extracts, medicinal or toilet preparations, bottled distilled spirits and wines |
E2 | Import Entry Acceptance Advice |
E2 - Import entry acceptance advice (E2) shows when an import entry is successfully committed and holds the import information from the declaration such as the value, consignee, entry number. |
EBS (Emergency Bunker Surcharge) |
Carriers implement an EBS once fuel costs have risen so high that they cut into carriers' profits. |
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
|
An EIN is a tax ID that the US government uses to identify business entities located in the US. This is used by Customs to associate entities with any of their import or export dealings such as Customs bonds, Customs entries, ISF filings, etc. Foreign importers can obtain a Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) for these purposes. |
ELD (Electronic Logging Device) |
The ELD allows truckers to log their hours electronically instead of in paper books |
EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) |
An EORI number is how the European Union (EU) identifies business entities. All businesses and people wishing to import into or export out of the EU must use the EORI number as an identification number in all customs procedures when exchanging information with Customs administrations. |
EXW (Ex Works) |
EXW (Ex Works) is an incoterm that only requires the seller to make the goods available for pickup by the buyer at the seller’s premises or another named location. The buyer is responsible for export clearance, loading the goods at the named location, and bearing all cost and risk to the destination. |
Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) |
An Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) is a five-character alphanumeric key used in the Commerce Control List (CCL) to classify U.S. exports. |
Export Declaration |
An export declaration provides information about the goods being shipped to Customs. This information is used to regulate exports and to compile statistical information on foreign trade. |
Export License |
An export license grants someone the right to conduct an export transaction of restricted or controlled commodities. |
Express Bill of Lading |
An express bill of lading is a type of bill of lading (B/L) in which the carrier is obligated to deliver the goods to the named consignee and no original bills of lading (OBL) are issued at all. Express B/Ls are non-negotiable and not a document of title to the goods; transfer of title should be documented elsewhere in the sales contract. |
External Transit (T1) |
The external transit procedure allows by default for non-Union goods to be moved from one point to another point within the customs territory of the Union so that customs duties and other charges are suspended. The T1 usually refers to the actual document that facilitates this movement. |
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) |
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is an Amazon service that allows you to store your products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers (also known as Amazon FBA warehouses) until they’re purchased by Amazon customers. Amazon will then pack and ship those products to Amazon customers. |
FBA ID |
FBA IDs are assigned to every shipment going to a different FBA warehouse. |
FCA (Free Carrier) |
FCA (Free Carrier) is an incoterm (per 2010 Incoterms®) that requires the seller to clear the goods for export and to either: deliver the goods to the buyer at the seller’s premises or deliver the goods to the buyer at another named place. |
FCL (Full Container Load) |
A FCL container is one person's shipment that takes up a full container, as opposed to LCL. |
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for protecting public health by regulating various product types. |
FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit) |
An FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit) is a measure of volume in units of 40-foot long containers. |
FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) |
FLEGT licenses are documents issued by timber-producing countries that have ratified a Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU. |
FOB (Free on Board) |
FOB (Free on Board) is an incoterm that requires the seller to clear the goods for export, deliver the goods to the ocean vessel, and place the goods on board. Cost and risk transfer from the seller to the buyer once the goods cross the ship’s rail. FOB should only be used for ocean shipments that will be delivered directly from the seller’s premises to the vessel. |
FTA (Free Trade Agreement) |
An FTA agreement is an agreement made between two or more countries designed to minimize barriers to trade in an effort to increase trade between the participating countries. |
FTL (Full Truckload) |
An FTL is a type of trucking used for shipments that can fill an entire truck. FTL service is used for shipments that can fill up an entire truck. It’s also a trucking option if you require a faster transit time, because the trucker goes directly from origin to destination without any additional pickups or deliveries or stops at terminals along the way. |
Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) |
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is an independent U.S. agency responsible for regulating foreign and inter-coastal ocean commerce shipping via U.S. ports |
First Sale Valuation |
First Sale valuation is a rule that can be used to determine the real value, based on the purchase price between the original vendor and factory, of imported goods that meet certain criteria. |
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) |
A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a secure geographical area “in or adjacent” to a U.S. Port of Entry that is considered to be outside of CBP territory. |
Forklift |
A forklift is a small industrial vehicle with a pronged device used to move and stack heavy loads in warehouses and other worksites. |
Fuel Surcharge (FSC) |
Trucking companies charge a fuel surcharge fee in order to protect themselves from the volatility of fuel prices. |
GRI (General Rate Increase) |
A GRI is a general rate increase that carriers can apply to their ocean freight rates. U.S. regulation requires that carriers must announce any GRI at least 30 days in advance. |
Gating In |
Gating in for containers means checking in at the port of origin. |
General Average |
General Average is a principle of maritime law born out of the idea that the shipper and the vessel owner are entering into a joint business venture, and that if it weren’t for the shipper’s cargo, the vessel would not be sailing on its (at times dangerous) voyage. |
General Order |
General Order is a status given to cargo that is being held up at Customs due to improper documentation or other issues with clearing. |
Golden Week |
Golden Week is the week following the National Day on October 1st to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic of China. |
HC (High Cube) Container |
A HC container is taller than a standard container, and can fit more cargo. |
Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) |
The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is assessed by U.S. Customs for products imported via ocean through U.S. ports. The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is calculated at 0.125% of the cargo value, as declared on the commercial invoice. |
Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) |
The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is assessed by U.S. Customs for products imported via ocean through U.S. ports. The Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) is calculated at 0.125% of the cargo value, as declared on the commercial invoice. |
Hazmat |
Hazmat means hazardous materials, and need to be carefully shipped. |
ISF (Importer Security Filing) |
An Importer Security Filing (ISF), also known as “10+2,” is a filing required by the CBP that documents importing information and details, as shipments pass from point to point. |
ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) |
ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) is a security measure put into place in response to the 9/11 attacks by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) as part of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. ISPS assigns responsibilities to governments, shipping companies, shipping personnel, and port/facility personnel to detect security threats and take preventative measures against those threats affecting ships or ports used in international trade. |
IOR Importer of Record |
An importer of record is the entity or individual who is responsible for all entry documents required by CBP (Customs Border Protection) and for the product classification and payment of duties, as well as any other import obligations. |
Incoterms® |
Incoterms® are terms of sale that define who arranges for the payment and handling of the goods during shipping, from the moment the goods leave the seller’s door, up until their arrival at the buyer’s final destination. |
Inherent Vice |
Inherent vice is an exclusion found in most cargo insurance policies to account for a defect or inherent characteristic in the nature of the product. |
Inside Delivery Fee |
The trucker may charge this fee if the shipment's delivery requires some form of installation, or if the trucker is required to go inside the delivery location. |
Intensive Exam |
The Intensive exam is the most thorough Customs exam. If Customs and Border Protection (CBP) selects your container for an Intensive exam, the container will be trucked to a Centralized Examination Station (CES), where the CES will unload the container. |
International Roadcheck |
International Roadcheck is the world's largest targeted enforcement program for commercial motor vehicles. See below for more details and how the program may affect your shipments. |
Inventory Linked |
Inventory Linked - Several UK ports and airports are linked to the customs computer systems. Being inventory-linked enables these ports/airports to handle the presentation, arrival and departure of goods on HMRC’s behalf. |
Jones Act |
The Jones Act is section 7 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 that prohibits any non-US built or non-US flagged vessel from participating in trade between points of the United States. |
Known Shipper |
Known shipper is a preferred status for companies shipping via air, and a necessary status to ship via passenger planes taking off from the US. |
LCL (Less than Container Load) |
LCL is a mode of shipping via ocean, and is recommended if your shipment isn't large enough to fill a container. |
LTL (Less than Truckload) |
LTL service is used for smaller shipments that take up less than a full truckload and can be combined with other small shipments to fill up a truck. LTL shipments have longer transit times than FTL shipments because LTL trucks make multiple pickups and deliveries. |
Last Free Day |
The last free day is the last day of free storage time. See below for general guidance on the average amount of free storage time per transportation mode. |
Letter of Indemnity (LOI) |
A Letter of Indemnity (LOI) is a document provided by the shipper stating that the shipper will take responsibility for any harm or loss caused by a breach of contract. |
Liftgate |
A liftgate is a piece of trucking equipment that allows cargo to be lowered to the ground from the back of a truck. Liftgates are used in situations where the cargo cannot be unloaded in any other way, like with a loading dock. |
Liftgate Fee |
A liftgate is used for delivery destinations that do not have a loading dock. Truckers typically charge a fee for this service. |
Live Unload |
A live unload is trucking term, meaning that the trucker will wait for the container to be unloaded, instead of doing a drop. |
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) |
An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a document containing information about the potential hazards of a product, and how to safely handle it. An MSDS is required for all potentially dangerous products and all lithium battery shipments (whether dangerous or not). An MSDS may also be required for potentially dangerous products, like liquids, creams, and powders, just to prove that they aren’t dangerous. Carriers may also request an MSDS for dry or alkaline batteries, to certify they are not lithium based. |
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) |
The Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is a U.S. Customs charge assessed for most imports into the United States. The MPF is charged at 0.3464% of the entered value declared on the commercial invoice, with a minimum of $27.23, and a maximum of $528.33 per entry. |
NES (The National Export System) |
The National Export System (NES) is a computer-based system which enables export declarations to be submitted electronically. The use of the National Export System (NES) is mandatory for businesses. NES operates within CHIEF. |
NVWA (De Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit) |
The Dutch Government Agency that is responsible for ensuring the safety of food and consumer products, animal welfare and nature. |
Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA) |
A Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA) is a document regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). It ensures that all ocean freight rates are documented and accepted before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel. |
Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) |
A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) is an ocean carrier that transports goods under its own House Bill of Lading, or equivalent documentation, without operating ocean transportation vessels. Rather, an NVOCC leases space from another ocean carrier, or Vessel Operating Common Carrier (VOCC), that they sell to their own customers. An NVOCC can be described as a shipper to carriers and a carrier to shippers. |
Notify Party |
Notify party is any party notified with shipment information by a carrier upon the arrival of cargo at its destination. |
Origin Charge |
Origin charges pay for items and services provided before a shipment has departed the origin seaport or airport. |
Origin Engineering |
Origin engineering is the relocation of part of a product's manufacturing from one country to another country to avoid unfavorable trade restrictions, such as higher duty rates or quotas. |
Original Bill of Lading (OBL) |
An original bill of lading (OBL) is a contract of carriage that serves as a title of the cargo and confirms the carrier’s receipt of the cargo. When an original bill of lading is issued, two other identical original bills of lading are also printed, and all three original bills of lading are issued together as one contract of carriage. |
PGA (Partner Government Agency) |
A PGA (Partner Government Agency) is a government agency that works alongside the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that regulate commodities entering the U.S. |
POA (Power of Attorney) |
A Customs Power of Attorney is a legal document authorizing an agent to conduct Customs business on your behalf. |
PSS (Peak Season Surcharge) |
PSS (Peak Season Surcharge) is a variable surcharge that carriers may apply during times of peak demand. PSS may be applied at any time of year, but tends to be more common before the fall/winter holidays and before Chinese New Year. Carriers announce PSS as an additional fee on top of the base rate, though it may be cancelled or mitigated at a lower rate. PSS functions similarly to GRI. |
Packing List (PL) |
A Packing List (PL) is a document used for customs declaration that identifies the quantity, weight, dimensions, and carton count of the shipped products. |
Pallet |
A pallet is a flat transport structure used to increase the ease of handling, speed of loading/unloading, and protection of cargo during the transportation process. |
Pallet |
A pallet is a flat transport structure used to increase the ease of handling, speed of loading/unloading, and protection of cargo during the transportation process. |
Pallet Exchange Fee |
A Pallet Exchange fee is the fee charged by the carrier if the trucker does not bring pallets to exchange with the carrier's pallets when they pick up the cargo. |
Per Diem Charge |
Per diem, or detention, is charged for each day past the number of "free" days that a container is away from port. |
Pier Pass Fee |
The Pier Pass traffic mitigation fee is charged if your shipment is unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach during peak hours. It's part of the port's effort to reduce traffic congestion in the region, by incentivizing pickup during off-peak hours. |
Port filings |
A port filing is a notification to the port that a certain container will be on board of a certain vessel going to a certain location with corresponding export declaration documents. It is a step after export clearance. |
Power of Attorney |
Power of attorney, in the context of customs clearance, is the authorization required to be given to the customs broker on behalf of the importer or exporter. |
Pre-Pull |
A pre-pull is when an ocean container is picked up from the port and stored at the trucker's yard, instead of being immediately delivered. A pre-pull may be used to help avoid demurrage fees. |
Preferential Duties |
A Preferential Duty Rate is lower than the normal duty rate applied to the imports from third countries. |
Quality Control (QC) |
Quality control (QC) is the process during which the quality of products and the manufacturing process is evaluated. If you are planning on having a product manufactured, consider paying for quality control inspections to ensure that your product looks and performs the way you want it to. |
Related Parties |
Related parties are relationships that may affect the declared import value to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. |
Residential Delivery Fee |
A residential fee is the fee a trucker may charge for delivering to a residential area. |
Rolled Cargo |
Rolled cargo is cargo that could not be loaded onto the vessel it was scheduled to sail on because that vessel ran out of capacity. See below for information on what happens to your rolled cargo and how you can lessen the chances of your cargo being rolled. |
Rules of Origin |
Rules of origin are legal standards that determine how to treat goods from a tariff standpoint based on their country of origin. |
Ship from Address (Amazon) |
Ship from Address (Amazon) refers to the Ship From address that Amazon Seller Central requires you to input when creating a shipment plan |
Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) |
A Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a ‘letter’ from the exporter instructing the freight forwarder on how and where to handle the export shipment. The exporter is granting permission to the forwarder to act as the authorized forwarding agent for U.S. export control and customs. |
Shipping Order (SO) |
A Shipping Order (SO) is a document issued by the carrier that confirms a shipment’s booking on a vessel. An SO will contain the location of the empty container for pickup, and may also contain booking details like the vessel number and sailing time. |
Special Delivery Fee |
A special delivery fee is assessed when a trucker completes a delivery outside of their typical service parameters -- for example, making a delivery outside of normal hours, or delivering to an area they don’t normally service. |
Split Shipment |
A split shipment means that cargo moving via air does not arrive on a single flight, but is instead distributed among two or more flights. Split shipments happen because loading a flight is an exercise in precision |
Stop Off Fee |
A stop off fee is assessed by the trucker if a shipment is split between two delivery locations. |
Storage Charges |
Storage charges are the cost of holding a shipment at a location (warehouse, CES, etc) and will be on the final invoice if applicable. |
Stuffing |
Stuffing is the act of loading a container. |
TARIC (The Integrated Tariff of the European Union) |
TARIC is a multilingual database based on the Combined Nomenclature of the EU integrating all measures relating to EU customs tariff, commercial and agricultural legislation used to classify goods being imported into / exported out of the EU. A TARIC code is a minimum of 10 digits of which the first 6 are based on the international Harmonized System. |
TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) |
A TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is a measure of volume in units of twenty-foot long containers. |
TTW (Toestemming Tot Wegvoering) |
Permission from the customs authorities for the goods to be removed from Customs supervision. |
Tail Gate Exam |
A Tail Gate exam is a type of Custom exam, the next step up from an X-ray exam. |
Tariff Engineering |
Tariff Engineering is the practice of modifying a new or existing product in such a way to pay the lowest possible duty rate on that product. |
Tariff Quotas (Preferential or Autonomous) |
Tariff concessions that are provided for a predetermined volume of goods are called "preferential tariff quotas". Within these tariff quotas, a predetermined volume of goods originating in a specified country/territory can benefit at import from a more favorable rate of duty than the normal third countries/territories duty. |
Trade Remedy |
Trade remedies are tactics that the government (through organizations such as CBP, DOC, USTR, etc.) can utilize to make it more difficult for companies to import. The government uses these "remedies" to counteract unfair trade practices by imposing additional duties, quotas, prohibitions on imports or other methods. |
Transloading |
Transloading is the process of moving a shipment from one mode of transport to another (e.g., from ocean container to truck). Most often, this means picking up the container from port, bringing it to a warehouse, unloading it, and re-loading the cargo into a truck (for final delivery). |
Transtainer |
A transtainer is a large gantry crane used to load and unload containers onto trucks or railway wagons or to store the containers on top of each other in stacks in a container yard. |
Trucking Wait Fee |
A trucking wait fee is typically charged by a truck driver if they have to wait more than 1-2 hours while cargo is being unloaded. This is a prorated hourly charge. |
ULD (Unit Load Device) |
A ULD (unit load device) is a device used to move cargo being shipped as airfreight. More specifically, a ULD is used to consolidate cargo in order to assist with the loading process onto an airplane. |
UTB (Uitnodiging Tot Betaling) |
Is the Dutch term for the actual Duties Bill. |
Ultimate Consignee |
The ultimate consignee is the intended recipient of the imported merchandise sold by the shipper. In many cases the consignee is the same party as the ultimate consignee. A U.S. business will need to act as the ultimate consignee for a foreign importer. |
VAT (Value Added Tax) Number |
This is the unique number that identifies a taxable person (business) or non-taxable legal entity that is registered for VAT. A VAT (value added tax) number is required to import goods. |
Valuation Challenge |
This is a type of customs inspection conducted by customs authorities when they have grounds to be suspicious about the customs value. In most cases, the shipment will be selected for valuation check after a document or physical inspection. |
Wharfage |
Wharfage is the fee charged by ocean carriers to cover the port authority’s cost of using a wharf to unload cargo from a vessel. |
What is Chargeable Weight? |
Chargeable weight is what the airline uses to determine the cost of your shipment. It may be either volumetric weight or gross weight, whichever is greater. |
What is Fiscal Representation? |
A foreign entity can appoint a tax representative in the import country to represent their business with the Tax and Customs Administrations. |
X-Ray Exam |
An X-ray exam, also known as a Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) or a VACIS (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System) exam, is the least intensive Customs exam. If U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) selects your container for an X-ray exam, the container will be driven through an X-ray machine at the ocean terminal. A customs officer will review the X-ray images and either release the container, or escalate it to either a Tail Gate exam or an Intensive exam. |
Yard Storage |
Yard storage is the storage of containers in a trucker’s gated yard. If a container cannot be delivered to its destination before the Last Free Day, the container may be stored at the trucker’s yard to avoid costly demurrage charges. Truckers charge a daily fee for yard storage. |
Zone Rate |
A zone rate is a type of freight rate based on the number of geographic areas that a delivery has to pass through to reach its final destination. The more zones a delivery needs to pass through between its starting point and its destination, the progressively higher the freight rate will be. Postal ZIP codes are often used as the basis for zone rates. |