Freight glossary

The German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions. They set out duties, liability and liability limits between a customer and a forwarder in Germany.

The sea freight document. It confirms the shipping line has received the goods and is often needed before the container is released.

Also called: Konnossement (B/L), Konosament (B/L)

The latest time an export container must reach the terminal to be loaded on a particular vessel.

Also called: Closing, Closing (zamknięcie przyjęć)

The convention on international road haulage contracts. Also the name of the consignment note that travels with the load and is signed on delivery.

A transport chain where the road only covers the leg to or from rail, inland waterway or sea. Germany allows higher weights for some of these road legs.

Also called: Kombinierter Verkehr, Transport kombinowany

The shipping line’s permission to collect a particular container, usually with a reference number.

Also called: Freistellung, Zwolnienie kontenera

The standard trailer with sliding side curtains, loadable from the side, rear and top.

Also called: Planenauflieger, Plandeka (firanka)

Advance notice to the receiver that a delivery is coming, usually by phone or email, so someone is there to accept the goods.

Also called: Avis, Awizacja

A shipping line charge when a container stays at the terminal longer than the free days.

A shipping line charge when a container is kept outside the terminal, for example at the customer, longer than the free days.

Returning the unloaded import container to the depot named by the shipping line.

Also called: Leerrückgabe, Zwrot pustego kontenera

The permit a haulier needs for commercial road freight between EU countries. We check it for every carrier we use.

Also called: EU-Gemeinschaftslizenz, Licencja wspólnotowa UE

The standard 120 × 80 cm pallet. A 13.6 m trailer takes 33 of them in one layer.

Also called: Europalette, Paleta EUR

Sea freight terms: FCL is a whole container for one customer, LCL is a smaller consignment that shares a container with others.

Also called: FCL und LCL, FCL i LCL

A whole truck for one customer, direct from loading to unloading.

Also called: Komplettladung (FTL), Ładunek całopojazdowy (FTL)

Small consignments from several customers, bundled through hubs and transported together.

Also called: Sammelgut, Drobnica

One metre of trailer floor across its full width. The basis for pricing part loads.

Also called: Lademeter (LDM), Metr ładunkowy (LDM)

A trailer with about 3 m inside height for light, bulky goods.

Also called: Megatrailer, Naczepa mega

A shipment that fills part of a truck and is usually delivered directly without reloading.

Also called: Teilladung (LTL), Ładunek częściowy (LTL)

The road leg before the main leg (to the port) and after it (from the port to the receiver).

Also called: Vorlauf und Nachlauf, Dowóz i odwóz (pre- i on-carriage)

A document signed by the receiver, usually the CMR or delivery note, confirming delivery.

Also called: Ablieferbeleg (POD), Potwierdzenie dostawy (POD)

Booking a fixed time window to collect or deliver a container at the terminal. Mandatory in Hamburg since 2017.

Also called: Slotbuchung, Rezerwacja slotu

The International Monetary Fund’s unit of account. Transport liability limits are stated in it, for example 8.33 SDR per kilogram.

Also called: Sonderziehungsrecht (SZR), Specjalne prawo ciągnienia (SDR)

A detachable load unit that can be set down by the truck and picked up later.

Also called: Wechselbrücke, Nadwozie wymienne

A customs procedure for moving goods that are not yet cleared to another customs office under customs supervision.

Also called: T1 (Versandverfahren), T1 (tranzyt)

Verified gross mass of an export container. Under SOLAS it must be declared before the box is loaded on a vessel.