Logistics Terminology

A document issued by a carrier (trucking company) which serves as a receipt for the goods to be delivered to a designated person or to his order. The bill of lading describes the conditions under which the carrier accepts the goods and details the nature and quantity of the goods, identifying marks and numbers, destination, etc. The person sending the goods is the "shipper" or "consignor" the company or agent transporting the goods is the "carrier", and the person for whom the goods are destined is the "consignee". Bills of lading may be negotiable or non-negotiable. If negotiable, i.e., payable to the shipper's order and properly endorsed, title to the goods passes upon delivery of the bill of lading.

To separate a composite load into individual shipments and route to different destinations.

A Broker is a company or individual that arranges for the transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual transporation. However, the Broker does not assume responsibility for the cargo and usually does not take possession of the cargo.

Freight Brokers put customers, loads, trucks, and drivers together. When a trucking company has a customer whose load has to go now, they will call a broker if they don't have a truck available. Brokers do the legwork it takes to find the trucks fast. They make the phone calls, contacts, and arrangements on behalf of the trucking company and the driver.

Combined weight of all loads, gear and supplies on a vehicle.

A document containing certain terms of a full-length insurance policy. A one-page document, it is evidence that there is insurance coverage for a shipment. Beneficiaries of open cargo or blanket insurance policies are authorized to their own certificates of insurance.

Truck used in the city for pick up and delivery

Commercial Motor Vehicle

Freight transportation company which serves the general public. May be regular route service (over designated highways on a regular basis) or irregular route (between various points on an unscheduled basis).

Method of moving shipping containers which involves transporting them on railroad flat cars.

The receiver. The company taking freight. The place you deliver your load/goods.

Operating a truck without cargo.

A charge the motor carrier assesses when a shipper or receiver holds a truck or trailer beyond the free time the carrier allows for loading or unloading.

The business-to-business interconnection of computers for the rapid exchange of a wide variety of documents, from bills of lading to build tickets at auto plants.

A term of sale defining who is to incur transportation charges for the shipment, who is to control shipment movement, or where title to the goods passes to the buyer; it originally meant "free on board"