Freight, shipping and chartering glossary

Type Meaning
Rail overweight fee

Surcharge associated with overweight containers on rail.

Rail Waybill

The bill of lading for international rail freight transport.

Rate basis point

The major shipping point in a local area; carriers consider all points in the local area to be the rate basis point.

Re-consignment

A carrier service that permits a shipper to change the destination and/or consignee after the shipment has reached its originally billed destination and to still pay the through rate from origin to final destination.

Reefer

A refrigerated container used to transport perishable goods.

Release Approval

Document to advise that goods are available for further movement or action.

Return Cargo

A cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded.

Revenue Ton

The unit used in billing in the freight industry.

Ro-Ro Ship

A vessel for transporting goods on a wheelbase (cars, trucks, railway wagons) and passengers. The fundamental difference between vessels of this type is horizontal loading/unloading through an inclined bow or (usually) stern; this design is called a "ramp."

Rolling Cargo

Cargo which is on wheels, such as truck or trailers, and which can be driven or towed on to a ship.

Safety stock

Reserve stock, below which the level of stocks for this product should not fall.

Salvage material

Unused material that has a market value and can be sold.

Scrap material

Defective material that has no market value and cannot be sold.

Screening charge

Surcharge related to airport terminal screening.

Sea Waybill

Transport document used in shipping. The cargo is issued to a specific consignee specified in the sea waybill if he can document his identity, and at the same time, he doesn’t need to present his original copy of this waybill.

Security Filing

The importer or their agent is required to electronically submit information relating to the shipment. This term is used in the USA.

Separable cost

A cost that a company can directly assign to a particular segment of the business.

Service Contract

A contract to optimize the flow of services provided by enterprises to consumers, rendered to each other by partners in the supply chain, as well as intra-company flows.

Ship agent

An authorized person (individual or firm) performing certain actions on behalf of another person (principal) on his behalf and in his interests.

Shipbroker

An intermediary that facilitates the execution of retail transactions between interested parties (customers) on their behalf and at their expense.

Shipment

A load of goods sent by sea, road, train, or air.

Shipment Point

A specific location from where goods will depart for movement.

Shipper's agent

A firm that primarily matches up small shipments, especially single-traffic piggyback loads, to permit shippers to use twin-trailer piggyback rates.

Shipper’s Letter Of Instruction (SLI)

A note from the exporter to the freight forwarder with instructions on how a shipment is being sent and where it is going.

Shipping Quote

A document that breaks down the individual legs of a shipment and the surcharges each will incur, as per your freight quote.

Shipping Types

Different levels of service that you will use to fulfill your orders.

Special Customs Invoice

In addition to a customs invoice, some countries require a special customs invoice designed to facilitate the clearance of goods and the assessment of customs duties in that country.

Stevedore

Specialized organizations and firms engaged in loading and unloading ships.

Storage

Cost of storing cargo in an off-site warehouse.

Stowage

The placing of goods in the cargo areas of ships with the aim of leveling it or stuffing under-deck voids. It is usually used when loading bulk and break bulk cargo.

Stripping

Surcharge associated for breaking down a container.

Surcharge

An add-on charge to the applicable charges; motor carriers have a fuel surcharge, and railroads can apply a surcharge to any joint rate that does not yield 110 percent of variable cost.

Service

The defined, regular pattern of calls made by a carrier in the pick-up and discharge of cargo.

Separable cost

A cost that a company can directly assign to a particular segment of the business.

Security Filing

The importer or their agent is required to electronically submit information relating to the shipment. This term is used in the USA.

Sea Waybill

Transport document used in shipping. The cargo is issued to a specific consignee specified in the sea waybill if he can document his identity, and at the same time, he doesn’t need to present his original copy of this waybill.

Screening charge

Surcharge related to airport terminal screening.

Scrap material

Defective material that has no market value and cannot be sold.

Salvage material

Unused material that has a market value and can be sold.

Safety stock

Reserve stock, below which the level of stocks for this product should not fall.

Rolling Cargo

Cargo which is on wheels, such as truck or trailers, and which can be driven or towed on to a ship.

Ro-Ro Ship

A vessel for transporting goods on a wheelbase (cars, trucks, railway wagons) and passengers. The fundamental difference between vessels of this type is horizontal loading/unloading through an inclined bow or (usually) stern; this design is called a "ramp."

Re-consignment

A carrier service that permits a shipper to change the destination and/or consignee after the shipment has reached its originally billed destination and to still pay the through rate from origin to final destination.

Shipbroker

An intermediary that facilitates the execution of retail transactions between interested parties (customers) on their behalf and at their expense.

Rail overweight fee

Surcharge associated with overweight containers on rail.

Rail Waybill

The bill of lading for international rail freight transport.

Rate basis point

The major shipping point in a local area; carriers consider all points in the local area to be the rate basis point.

Release Approval

Document to advise that goods are available for further movement or action.

Return Cargo

A cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded.

Revenue Ton

The unit used in billing in the freight industry.