Transco Cargo Logistics Glossary

Transco Cargo Logistics Glossary

When it comes to logistics and shipping industry, there are many terms that stand out from your every day vocabulary. The Transco Cargo Logistics Glossary is an aid for understanding the intricacies of the logistics arena. The following is the first part of the instalment.

Break-Bulk Cargo – This includes non-containerised shipping of goods on either conventional ships or Roll On/Roll Off (Ro/Ro) ships (where the goods are wheeled using ramps as opposed to cranes for loading/unloading).

Carrier – A term referring to a firm that offers transportation/logistics services such as a trucking company, parcel delivery company, etcetera.

Consignee – Also known as the recipient or freight receiver, it is the individual or company that the freight is shipped to.

Consignor – Also known as a Shipper, it is the individual or company that the freight is shipped from.

Consolidation – The accumulation of various small shipments (often different consignors/shippers) into large shipment quantities in order to achieve transportation costs economies of scale.

Detention/Demurrage – The penalty charges for holding transportation equipment longer than expected during loading/unloading by the carrier to a consignor or consignee.

Door-to-Door– Where freight is moved from the consignor’s location of origin to the destination being the consignee for a given rate.

Dunnage – This includes wood (such as pallets) and packaging materials used inside of containers (and transportation vehicles) to keep cargo in place.

FCL (Full Container-Load) – When a consignor/shipper signs up for an entire container full of shipments and relates to ocean shipping.

Interline Shipment – Involves when a shipment moves from the origin to its destination passing through several carriers, often two or more.

LCL (Less-than-Container-Load) – When a consignor/shipper signs up for ocean shipping via containers but will not require an entire container full of shipments.

NVOCC – An abbreviation for Non-Vessel Operation Common Carrier, it refers to a logistics service provider that does not own vessels but offers freight forwarding services  via ocean shipping.

Reefer – This includes a refrigerated container often for shipping perishable items.

DGR – Dangerous Goods Regulations relates to the regulations and restrictions associated with the variety of classifications of Dangerous Goods and it’s safe transportation guidelines.

AQIS – Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, is the authority that manages quarantine controls at the borders to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. It’s part of the for is part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

Keep tuned into our blog for the next instalments of the Transco Cargo Logistics Glossary.