Comprehensive Glossary | Logistics & eCommerce

#A

• Access Token: A digital key in API authentication and authorization that grants users access to a specific resource.
• Accessorial Services and Charges: Accessorial services are any extra services provided by carriers during shipping, such as residential delivery, and accessorial service charges are the fees associated with them.
• Actual Time of Arrival (ATA): The exact time when a shipment reaches its destination, as recorded in the shipping log.
• Actual Time of Departure (ATD): ATD refers to the recorded time when a shipment leaves its origin.
• Advance Freight: Payment for a shipment that the recipient makes before it arrives at the designated location.
• Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN): A notification that the shipper sends to the recipient informing them of an incoming shipment and details about its specific contents, including the expected time of arrival.
• Agency Tariff: A published list of the rates a shipping agency or carrier charges and applicable rules to goods it ships.
• Aggregate Shipment: Consolidated cargo that comprises multiple individual orders or packages shipped as one to lower costs and optimize shipping efficiency. 
• Air Freight: The process of transporting goods by air.
• Air Waybill (AWB): An official document that accompanies air freight and is issued by an airline or freight carrier, serving as a contract of carriage and receipt. It is also used to track air freight. 
• Airline Network/Route Network: The routes an airline operates and connects different destinations with direct and connecting flights.
• All-risk Cargo Insurance: A type of shipping insurance that provides comprehensive coverage against all types of loss or damage for goods in transit.
• Anti-Dumping Duty: A tariff that countries impose on goods that are priced below the fair market value to protect their domestic industries from unfair competition.
• API (Application Programming Interface): A set of tools and protocols that enable two different software to communicate with each other.
• API Aggregator: A platform that consolidates multiple APIs into one access point, simplifying the integration process for users. 
• API Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of an API user to ensure that only authorized personnel can perform specific actions or access certain resources.
• API Authorization: A process determining which permissions and access controls are allowed to a user or application after authentication.
• API Design: The process of developing APIs such that they are simple to use, reliable, and meet the specific needs of developers and end-users.
• API Documentation: Written guidelines explaining how to use and integrate with an API effectively.
• API Endpoint: A specific URL application use to communicate with an API and request data or service. 
• API Gateway: An intermediary server between clients and backend services that manages API requests, authentications, and rate limiting to ensure secure and smooth communication. 
• API Key: A unique ID that authenticates an API user, developer, or the calling program to ensure secure access to its services.
• API Lifecycle Management: Strategies employed in overseeing the full lifecycle of an API from its design and development to deployment and maintenance, ensuring it is secure, functional, and up-to-date.
• API Testing: The process of verifying that an API performs as expected in terms of functionality and reliability. The API’s security is also tested by simulating different scenarios and data inputs.
• API Throttling: Limiting the number of API requests a client can make within a designated period to prevent overuse and ensure stability.
• API Versioning: Assigning numbers to different API versions to enable developers to make changes and updates without disrupting functionality and the user experience.
• Arrival Notice: An alert sent to the recipient informing them that a package has been delivered to a specific location and is ready for pick up or delivery.
• Arrival Port: The designated port where a shipment is being transported to and will be unloaded from the vessel carrying it.
• Authorized Economic Operator: A business authorized by customs authority to facilitate international trade because of its secure supply chains and compliance with customs regulations.
• Automated Broker Interface: A digital go-between customs brokers use to transmit import data to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for customs clearance.
• Automated Delivery: A delivery system that delivers goods without human intervention utilizing drones and autonomous vehicles.
• Automated Export System: An electronic system used by exporters in the U.S. to declare electronic export information (EEI) to the Census Bureau to ensure compliance with export regulations.
• Automated Identification System: A tracking system that identifies and locates sea vessels at sea by exchanging electronic information with other ships, shore points, and satellites.
• Automated Label Generation: A process that automatically creates shipping labels with the necessary information shipping using software. 
• Automated Shipment Tracking: The use of tracking technology to monitor and report on the status and location of a shipment during the shipping process.
• Average Order Value (AOV): The average amount customers spend on their orders on an e-commerce website, calculated by dividing total revenue by the total number of orders.

#B

• Backhaul: The return trip to the origin-destination by a transport vehicle or shipping vessel after making a delivery.
• Backorder:  An order received for a product out of stock to be fulfilled once inventory is replenished.
• Balloon Freight: Shipment that a carrier charges according to its volume instead of weight because of its bulky nature but low weight. Balloon freight costs are calculated using dimensional weight pricing.
• Barcode: A code consisting of a series of lines or patterns scannable by a computer that stores information about a package and is used for inventory management and tracking.
• Basic Ocean Freight: The minimum cost for transporting goods by sea, excluding any additional charges such as fuel surcharge and handling fees.
• Batch Fulfillment: A strategy for enhancing efficiency and reducing handling time when fulfilling orders by processing multiple orders simultaneously.
• Batch Picking: A warehousing order-picking strategy where multiple orders are grouped by product and picked simultaneously to streamline warehouse operations. 
• Bill of Lading (BOL): A legal document carriers issue to shippers that provides more details about the goods, such as the type, destination, and quantity being transported. It also acts as a receipt.
• Billed Weight: The actual or dimensional weight of a shipment used to calculate shipping charges.
• Blind Shipping: A shipping method most common in dropshipping where the shipper and consignee identities are concealed.
• Bond Port: A port where a shipment is held under bond until customs duties are paid and compliance is met.
• Bonded Goods: Imported goods stored in a bonded warehouse exclusive of any customs duties until they are released for use or sale.
• Bonded Warehouse: A secure facility controlled by customs authorities where imported goods can be stored without immediate payment of duties.
• Branded Emails: Emails incorporating a brand’s logo, contact details, color, and fonts used to communicate professionally with customers.
• Branded Tracking Page: A customized page on a website that includes a brand’s logo, colors, fonts, and messaging and provides customers with shipment tracking service.
• Breakbulk: Small quantities of cargo are transported in units such as pallets instead of containers that require individual handling.
• Brokerage: Services provided by freight and custom brokers, such as documentation, compliance, and communication with authorities, to facilitate the import and export of goods.
• Bulk Cargo: A large quantity of goods transported unpackaged and often loaded directly into a vessel’s hold.
• Buyer’s Consolidation: A process by which a buyer consolidates different smaller shipments into a single container that they manage to reduce cost and streamline logistics.

#C

• Cargo Declaration: A document presented during customs clearance that details the contents of a shipment, such as quantity and description.
• Cargo Manifest: A comprehensive list of all the cargo on board a transportation vehicle providing details about them, including the consignor, consignee, and descriptions of the goods. The cargo manifest is used for tracking and regulatory compliance.
• Cargo Tracking: A process that utilizes digital tracking systems and GPS technology to monitor the locations and status of in-transit cargo.
• Cargo: Any goods transported by a truck, ship, airplane, or train.
• Carrier API: Refers to an application programming interface that carriers provide to businesses to integrate services such as shipment tracking, booking, and shipping rates into their systems.
• Carrier Selection: The process of actively choosing a carrier to transport goods based on their service offerings, shipping speeds, and cost.
• Carrier: A company or person that transports goods from one place to another by air, road, or sea.
• Carrier’s Certificate: An official document that a carrier issue to a shipper confirming that they’ve received goods for shipping as per instructions provided.
• Carrier’s Scorecard: A system for measuring a carrier’s performance based on service quality, on-time delivery, damage rates, and other applicable metrics.
• Cash on Delivery: A payment method that allows customers to pay for goods upon receiving them.
• Certificate of Origin: A document that confirms the origin of manufactured goods used by customs officials to determine applicable duties and compliance with trade agreements.
• Change of Destination: A request or instruction to change the destination of a shipment, which often requires additional documentation and approval by the carrier.
• Cold Chain Logistics: The process of managing temperature-controlled supply chains to ensure the successful transportation of perishable goods, including food, flowers, and pharmaceuticals.
• Consignee: The person or entity to whom goods are shipped and is responsible for receiving them.
• Consignment: A shipment of goods sent by a consignor to a consignee.
• Consolidation: A strategy for optimizing transportation efficiency and reducing costs by combining smaller shipments into one large shipment.
• Contactless Delivery: This is a delivery option in which the recipient instructs the delivery person to leave the goods at their doorstep or another designated location with no contact between the two.
• Container Load: Refers to the quantity of goods that can fit into a container, either less-than-containerload (LCL) or full-containerload (FCL).
• Container: A reusable metal box for transporting goods by sea, road, or rail. Containers are standardized for easy handling and transfer from one vehicle to another.
• Containerization: Using containers to transport goods to enable easy handling, improve security, and reduce damage and loss.
• Contract Courier: A service provider contracted to a company for regular delivery services.
• Contract Logistics: The business practice of outsourcing logistics and supply chain services, including transportation, warehousing, and distribution to a third-party provider.
• CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing): A security feature that facilitates API interactions by allowing web applications from one domain to access resources from another.
• Cost and Freight (CFR): A shipping agreement where the seller pays for the cost and freight to ship goods to a destination port, but the risk is transferred to the buyer once goods are on board the ship.
• Cost Net Freight (CNF): This shipping agreement requires the shipper to pay for transporting the goods to the buyer’s destination port, but the cost excludes insurance.
• Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF): An international shipping agreement in which the seller pays for the cost, insurance, and freight of the goods to the buyer’s destination port, but the buyer assumes the risk once goods are on board the ship.
• Country of Origin: The country from which goods are being shipped, used to determine applicable tariffs and compliance with trade agreements.
• Courier Allocation: A business’s strategy for assigning specific delivery tasks to different couriers based on location, delivery time windows, and capacity.
• Courier Charges: The fees a courier charges to deliver goods based on distance, weight, and service level.
• Courier Management Software (CMS): A digital platform for businesses to manage their courier operations, including tracking, dispatch, route optimization, and performance analysis.
• Courier Time Calculator: A digital tool for calculating the estimated delivery time based on the courier’s availability, distance, and traffic conditions.
• Cross-Border Shipment: Transporting goods from one country to another, requiring customs clearance and compliance with international trade agreements.
• Cross-Docking: A practice in logistics in which incoming shipments are loaded onto outbound vehicles with minimal storage time in between to speed up the delivery process.
• Curbside Pickup: A pickup service that lets customers pick up their orders from a designated location outside a warehouse or store without leaving their cars. 
• Customer Advocacy: Offering exceptional service and engaging with customers to enhance their satisfaction so they are willing to promote a company’s products and services to others.
• Customer Engagement: Strategic interaction with customers across multiple channels to build relationships with them, enhancing their satisfaction and encouraging their loyalty.
• Customer Experience Management: The strategies and tools a business employs to manage and improve customer interactions to enhance overall satisfaction levels and boost loyalty.
• Customer Feedback: The information that customers share about their experience with a business, its products, and services.
• Customer Journey: The experiences that a customer goes through with a business from initial contact to post-purchase. 
• Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): A metric that estimates the total value a customer brings to a business over the entirety of their relationship.
• Customer Loyalty: Strong feelings of satisfaction with a brand and preference for its products and services exhibited by a customer due to a positive experience.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): The systems and practices businesses employ to manage and improve interactions with potential and existing customers to foster long-term relationships. 
• Customer Retention: The strategies a business executes to keep customers satisfied, reduce churn, encourage repeat business, and boost loyalty.
• Customer Satisfaction: A measure of how well a business and its products or services meet or exceed customer expectations. 
• Customer Support: Services and resources a business offers to assist customers in using its products and services and answer common questions.
• Customs Broker: A licensed intermediary that assists importers and exporters in complying with customs regulations, preparing documents, and getting customs clearance. 
• Customs Declaration: A document that importers and exporters present to customs officials with details of the goods being shipped to get clearance.
• Customs Invoice: A document customs officials require providing details about the goods being shipped, their value, origin, and classification.
• Customs: Government authorities responsible for overseeing a country’s import and export activities and ensuring trade laws are enforced and duties and taxes are paid. 
• Cut-off Time: The latest time a shipping service provider can accept a package for processing or dispatch in a day.

#D

• Dangerous Cargo Service: Specialized transportation services that ensure safe handling and compliance with regulations when transporting hazardous materials.
• Dangerous Goods: Flammable, toxic, or corrosive materials deemed threats to health, safety, environment, and property during transportation.
• Declared Value for Carriage (DVC): The total value of goods a shipper declares to help in calculating applicable charges should there be loss or damage and in determining liability.
• Deconsolidation Point: A designated location where consolidated cargo is separated into individual consignments for the final mile delivery.
• Delay Notice: A notification sent by the carrier to inform the consignee that delivery will be delayed for various reasons.
• Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): A shipping agreement where the seller is responsible for all the risks and costs of delivering goods to the buyer’s destination, including import duties and taxes.
• Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): A shipping agreement where the seller delivers goods to the buyer at a specified location, but the buyer pays the import duties and taxes.
• Delivered Ex Ship: An agreement whereby the shipper delivers goods to a buyer’s port of arrival while bearing the costs and risk involved up to that point.
• Delivered-At-Place (DAP): An international shipping agreement whereby the seller delivers goods to a buyer’s specified location and bears all costs and risks except the import duties and taxes.
• Delivered-At-Place Unloaded (DAPU): In this agreement, the seller delivers goods to the buyer’s specified port of arrival and covers all risks and costs except import duties and taxes. However, the seller is responsible for unloading the goods when delivered.
• Delivery Accuracy: A measure of how close the carrier’s actual delivery matches the delivery time promised, location, and condition of the goods. 
• Delivery Alerts: Notifications that carriers send to recipients and shippers about the status and progress of delivery, including any issues encountered along the way.
• Delivery at Terminal: A delivery agreement in which goods are delivered to a designated terminal, such as a seaport or airport, and the recipient picks them up from that point.
• Delivery Authorization Document: A document that grants a delivery agent or carrier the right to deliver goods to a specific person or location.
• Delivery Companies: Businesses specializing in transporting goods from one location to another.
• Delivery Confirmation: A signed receipt or electronic confirmation that verifies goods have been delivered to the specified location or person.
• Delivery Damage: Any breakage or distortion of a consignment while being transported to the recipient.
• Delivery Date Estimate: An approximated date businesses provide customers informing them when they can expect a delivery to be made.
• Delivery Exception: Any event or occurrence that delays or changes a shipment’s scheduled delivery date. 
• Delivery Experience: The experience that a customer goes through during the delivery process, including if goods were delivered on time, in the right condition, and how effective the communication was.
• Delivery Failures: When deliveries are unsuccessful for various reasons such as an incorrect address, damaged goods, or an unavailable recipient.
• Delivery Instructions: The specific instructions that recipients give carriers on how delivery should be handled and where and when it should be delivered.
• Delivery Note: This refers to a document accompanying a delivery that lists the products being delivered and is used for verification.
• Delivery Notification Preferences: Stakeholders’ preferences for being notified about the delivery progress, including via SMS, email, app, or push notifications.
• Delivery Notification Software: Software that automates the processing of sending delivery notifications to customers.
• Delivery Notification: A message sent to the recipient and shipper informing them that a shipment has been dispatched, is in transit, or has been delivered. 
• Delivery Options: Refers to methods and speeds of delivery that a business allows customers to choose from, such as same-day, expedited, and standard delivery.
• Delivery Order (DO): An official document the carrier issues to a consignee or their agent authorizing the release of goods from a warehouse or terminal.
• Delivery Partner: A third-party service provider with whom a business collaborates to deliver goods to customers.
• Delivery Performance Metrics: Data that evaluates the performance of a delivery service provider, gauging the efficiency of their services based on customer satisfaction, on-time delivery, and delivery accuracy.
• Delivery Preferences: The specific choices customers make regarding how their deliveries should be handled, including the timing, location, and mode of communication.
• Delivery Processing Time: The duration it takes to prepare an order for shipment, including picking, packing, and labeling. 
• Delivery Receipt: A document that the recipient signs upon receipt of the goods confirming that the delivery was successful and the goods are in expected condition.
• Delivery Redirection: The change of a delivery location or recipient while goods are being delivered.
• Delivery Rescheduling: Arranging a new delivery date because of an unsuccessful delivery or recipient’s unavailability.
• Delivery Route Planning: Mapping out the delivery process for multiple packages to different locations to establish the most efficient routes based on factors like the delivery window, traffic, and distance.
• Delivery Satisfaction: The degree of customer satisfaction with the delivery process based on timeliness, communication, and condition of goods.
• Delivery Speed: How fast an order can be delivered to the recipient from the point of dispatch.
• Delivery Status Updates: These are real-time notifications that customers receive about the location and current status of their shipments during delivery.
• Delivery Status: Refers to the progress of a shipment in the delivery process, such as being in transit, out for delivery, or delivered.
• Delivery Tracking: The process of monitoring the movement and location of a delivery from the time it is dispatched to when it is delivered.
• Delivery Window Management: The strategies businesses employ to organize their delivery operations and optimize delivery windows to ensure timely deliveries and balance customer satisfaction with operational constraints.
• Delivery Window: Specified time frame within which a courier plans to make a delivery, allowing the customer to select the most convenient time.
• Delivery: The process of transporting goods from a seller’s warehouse or distribution point to the recipient’s location.
• Dimensional Weight: A pricing technique for bulky but lightweight shipments that considers the volume of the package and its actual weight.
• Direct-to-Consumer (D2C): A business model where companies bypass retailers and intermediaries to sell their products directly to the consumers.
• Dispatch: Sending goods out for delivery to the recipient from a warehouse or distribution center. 
• Distribution Center: A facility designed for storing, managing, and distributing goods to various destinations.
• Distribution Network: A professionally managed system of interconnected facilities and logistics operations for storing, handling, and delivering goods from manufacturers to customers.
• Diversion Charge: A fee that carriers charge customers when they request the diversion on an already dispatched shipment.
• Diversion: When a shipment is rerouted from its original destination to another.
• Dock Receipt: A document that a shipping company issue to acknowledge receipt of goods at the dock for shipment.
• Dock-to-Stock: A logistics practice where once goods are received at the dock, they bypass any additional handling and move directly to inventory.
• Domestic Courier Service: A delivery service that only delivers goods within the borders of a country.
• Door-to-Door Service: A delivery option where goods are transported from the consignor’s location directly to the recipient’s address.
• Drayage: The act of transporting goods over a short distance, such as from a port to a nearby warehouse or distribution facility.
• Drop-Off Point: The designated location where customers leave packages for collection by the carrier.
• Dropshipping: An e-commerce fulfillment option where the seller does not hold any stock; instead, they transfer the order to the manufacturer for direct delivery to the buyer’s address.
• Dunnage: Materials used to protect cargo from damage during shipping, such as foam, wood bracing, and airbags. 
• Duty-Free Zone: A designated area where goods can be stored and processed without the need to pay any import duties.

#E

• E-commerce Fulfillment: The process of receiving, processing, and delivering goods sold online.
• E-commerce Shipping Platform: A digital platform that enables online retailers to receive orders, generate shipping labels, select carriers, request shipping quotes, and ship goods to customers.
• E-commerce Tracking Updates: Periodic notifications sent to customers informing them about the status and location of their online orders in real time. 
• E-commerce: The buying and selling of goods online.
• Economical Shipping: A cost-effective method of shipping customer orders that takes the longest to deliver.  
• EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): A way for businesses to exchange business documents electronically in a standardized format.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Integrated software systems that businesses implement to help them manage various business processes, including supply chain, finance, and manufacturing.
• Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR): This document records the transfer of equipment, such as containers, between different business entities. 
• Error Handling: Pre-determined processes and procedures for responding to errors in a system to ensure smooth operations.
• Estimated Delivery Date (EDD): The projected date a shipment is likely to be delivered to a recipient.
• Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA): The anticipated time a shipment is expected to arrive at its destination.
• Estimated Time of Completion (ETC): The projected time a task or process will be completed.
• Estimated Time of Departure (ETD): The approximate time a shipment will leave the origin port.
• Estimated Time of Readiness (ETR): The anticipated time when goods will be ready for shipment or pickup.
• Exchange Policy: The guidelines a company provides to customers who want to exchange bought goods.
• Exchange Procedure: Specific steps customers need to follow to exchange purchased goods.
• Exclusive Use: A shipping option where a shipper pays for a shipping vehicle, guaranteeing that it only carries their goods and no other.
• Expected Receipt Date: The date a consignee can anticipate to receive goods at the destination port.
• Expedited Shipping: A faster shipping option that ensures goods arrive at their destination quicker than when using standard shipping.
• Export Documentation Software: A digital program that helps exporters access and prepare all export documents and ensure compliance with customs regulations.
• Export License: A permit issued by the government allowing businesses to send goods to another country for sale or trade.
• Export: Sending goods to another country for sale or trade.
• Exporter Identification Number (EIN): A unique code assigned to each exporter for tracking and regulatory purposes.
• Express BoL: A type of bill of lading that ensures urgent goods can be expedited faster and handled with priority.
• Express Shipping: A premium shipping option that ensures packages are delivered overnight or within two days.

#F

• FedEx: A U.S. shipping company with a global presence known for its reliable express shipping service.
• Final Mile Carrier: A shipping company specializing in handling the last stretch of the delivery process from a local distribution hub to the recipient. 
• Final Mile: This is the last phase of the delivery process, during which goods move from a local distribution center to the recipient’s address. 
• First In First Out (FIFO): An inventory management technique in which the oldest stock is used or shipped first, ensuring freshness and reducing wastage.
• First-mile Delivery: The initial phase of the delivery process when goods move from the point of origin to a distribution center.
• Flat-rate Shipping: A shipping price model that charges the same price for all shipments regardless of the size or weight of the package.
• Force Majeure: A clause in a contract that frees both parties from liability if an event occurs that they have no control over and which hinders them from fulfilling their contractual duties.
• Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU): The volume of a standard 40-foot shipping container used as a measure of cargo capacity in shipping.
• Forwarder’s Cargo Receipt (FCR): A document that a freight forwarder issues to a shipper confirming the receipt of cargo and confirming it will be shipped to its destination.
• Fourth-party Logistics (4PL): An operational model where a business engages a single integrator to manage all facets of the supply chain for them. The 4PL connects the company to multiple other logistics service providers and carriers.
• Free Alongside Ship (FAS): An international shipping agreement in which the seller is responsible for delivering goods alongside the vessel to the port of shipment, and the buyer assumes all subsequent risks and costs. 
• Free Carrier (FCA): In this shipping agreement, the seller delivers goods to a carrier or other person a buyer designates at the seller’s premises or another location.
• Free on Board (FOB): A shipping agreement that sees the seller take responsibility for goods until they are loaded onto a vessel, after which the buyer assumes costs and risk.
• Free Shipping: A shipping option used by online retailers to incentivize buyers where the seller pays the shipping cost when a purchase is made. 
• Free Time: Time allowed for loading and unloading cargo without incurring any additional costs.
• Freight All Kinds (FAK): A shipping rate that applies to all shipments that consist of different types of goods meant to simplify pricing by not having a specific rate for each cargo type.
• Freight Bill: An official invoice that carriers issue to request payment for freight services offered.
• Freight Broker: An intermediary between shippers and carriers who organizes transport and negotiates shipping rates on behalf of the consignor.
• Freight Forwarder: A company that organizes the transportation of goods on behalf of shippers and coordinates various logistics services and carriers.
• Freight Forwarding: Services provided by a freight forwarder, including organizing transport, coordinating logistics, and handling documentation.
• Freight Insurance: Insurance coverage against loss or damage during transportation of goods.
• Freight Rate Negotiation: Negotiation between shippers and carriers on the shipping rates to arrive at the best possible rate.
• Freight Release: Official authorization for the release of a shipment to the consignee or their agent after all documentation has been verified and shipping charges settled.
• Freight Shipment: The process of transporting goods by a freight carrier using multiple modes of transport in some instances.
• Freight: Refers to goods transported in bulk by air, sea, road, or rail. It also refers to the process of transporting such cargo.
• FTL (Full Truckload): A shipping arrangement where a single truck is fully loaded with goods belonging to one shipper to optimize efficiency and costs.
• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): A service offered by the e-commerce company Amazon, where they receive inventory, store it, and then pick, package, and ship orders to customers on behalf of merchants. 
• Fulfillment Center: A warehouse facility dedicated to handling picking, packing, and shipping orders on behalf of e-commerce retailers.
• Fulfillment SKU: A unique code assigned to inventory when it is logged into a warehouse management system to assist in tracking products, managing inventory, and order processing.
• Fulfillment: The process of receiving, processing, and delivering goods to customers. It includes several activities, such as picking, packing, and shipping.
• Full Container Load (FCL): A shipping option where a container is only loaded with goods belonging to a single shipper.

#G

• Gate In Gate Out: The process of tracking containers as they enter and exit a port terminal.
• Global Shipping: Transportation of goods from one country to another. The process involves customs clearance, international logistics, and compliance with regulations.
• Global Sourcing: The business practice of sourcing goods and services from different suppliers worldwide to save costs, take advantage of efficiencies, and access new markets.
• Goods Capacity: The maximum volume or weight of goods supported by a warehouse or transportation mode.
• Goods Inspection: Examining goods upon receipt or before shipment to ensure they meet set quality standards.
• Goods Receipt Note (GRN): A document that confirms the receipt of goods and details their quantities and conditions for inventory management and accounting purposes.
• Goods Receipt: The act of receiving goods at a warehouse or distribution center and updating inventory records.
• Goods Return Authorization (GRA): Permission that a seller or manufacturer grants to a customer to return purchased goods accompanied by a return shipping label.
• Goods-in-Transit: Items that are being transported from the seller’s location to the buyer’s address.  
• Green Shipping: Environmentally-conscious modes of shipping goods with the aim of offsetting carbon emissions through the use of alternative fuels, utilizing energy-efficient vehicles, and route optimization.
• Groupage: The process of consolidating smaller shipments into one large consignment to optimize transport efficiency and lower costs.
• Guaranteed Minimum Charge: A minimum fee that a carrier charges on all shipments regardless of the actual cost incurred to ensure profitability on small shipments.

#H

• Handling Charges: Fees incurred due to physical handling of the cargo during the shipping process, such as loading, unloading, and packaging.
• Harmonized System Codes: Standardized codes for classifying goods internationally to facilitate duty collection and statistics.
• Haulage: The process of transporting goods by road using large trucks and trailers.
• Hauler: An individual or entity that transports goods by road.
• Hazmat (Hazardous Materials): Goods that pose an environmental, health, and safety risk when transported and require special handling, packaging, and transportation procedures.
• Headless Commerce: E-commerce architecture that enables the front and back ends of websites to operate independently and, therefore, allows for flexibility in how products are sold and displayed.
• High-cube Container: A shipping container measuring one foot higher than standard containers and therefore providing more storage space for bulkier or larger cargo.
• High-Value Cargo: Items of significant monetary value that require extra security and insurance during shipping.
• Highway Bill of Lading: A carrier-issued document providing details about shipment being transported by road.
• HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code): A security mechanism that combines a cryptographic hash function with a key to ensure the authenticity and integrity of a message.
• House Bill of Lading: A document the freight forwarder issues to a shipper to act as a receipt of goods and transportation contracts.
• House Waybill (HAWB): A freight forwarder-issued document for air cargo providing details about the contents of the shipment and cargo routing.
• House-to-House: A shipping option in which the carrier picks the package from the shipper’s location and delivers it directly to the consignee’s location.
• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): This protocol is used to transfer web pages and other content over the internet.
• HTTP Methods: Refers to various request methods supported by HTTP, including GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, explaining the action to be performed on a given resource.
• HTTP Status Codes: Three-digit codes that a web server returns detailing the status of an HTTP request, such as 404 for not found, 500 for server error, and 202 for success.
• Hub: A centralized point in a distribution network for receiving, sorting, and dispatching items to their final destinations.
• Hub-and-Spoke Network: A transportation strategy where a central hub helps to sort and distribute goods to other locations (spokes) to optimize shipping efficiency.
• Hybrid Order Fulfillment: A business fulfillment strategy that combines multiple fulfillment techniques, including in-house, drop shipping, and 3PL, to ensure maximum efficiency, satisfy customers, and optimize costs.
• Hyperlocal Delivery: A delivery service that only operates in a small geographic area like a city or neighborhood with rapid and efficient delivery times.

#I

• Import Declaration: A document customs authorities require from anyone bringing goods for sale into a country stating the nature of items, quantity, and value.
• Import License: A government-issued permit that allows an individual or entity to import stated goods into a country.
• Import: Bringing goods into a country from another for sale.
• Importer of Record: The individual or entity tasked with handling customs documentation and paying all necessary duties and taxes to ensure that imported goods comply with a country’s regulations.
• In-bond Shipment: Goods imported into a country but not subject to duties until they are ready for sale or released from a bonded warehouse.
• Inbound Logistics: All the processes involved in managing goods coming into a business including transportation, receiving, and storage.
• Incoterms (International Commercial Terms): These are standardized international trade terms established by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to define the roles and obligations of buyers and sellers in the delivery of goods.
• Independent Carrier: A transportation company that operates independently without affiliation with a larger logistics company.
• Inland Carrier: A transportation service provider who transports goods inland by road or rail.
• In-store Pickup: An e-commerce option that allows customers to buy products online and pick them up at the brand’s brick-and-mortar store.
• Insurance Certificate: An official document showing proof that goods in transit have insurance coverage against damage and loss.
• Integrated Logistics: A comprehensive approach to logistics management that employs advanced technology to coordinate the entire logistics process from procurement and production to distribution and delivery.
• Interchange Point: The location where a consignment moves from one vehicle to another during intermodal transportation.
• Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC): A reusable, portable container for storing and transporting bulk liquids and granulated cargo such as chemicals and food ingredients. 
• Intermodal Transportation: Transporting goods using multiple modes of transportation such as road, sea, and air without physically handling the cargo itself during the change from one mode to the next.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA): A global air trade association that regulates air transport standards and practices. 
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): A United Nations agency that specializes in setting international standards for aviation safety, security, and environmental protection.
• International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA): A non-governmental organization that represents freight forwarders worldwide.
• International Shipping: Transporting goods across international borders, often involving advanced logistics processes, customs regulations, and documentation.
• International Speed Post: A premium postal service for delivering international documents and parcels quickly.
• In-transit Inventory: Business inventory shipped by the supplier but has yet to arrive at the designated warehouse.
• In-transit: Cargo that is in the process of being transported from its origin to destination.
• Inventory Carrying Costs: The total costs that a business incurs because of its inventory, including insurance, depreciation, storage, handling, and opportunity costs.
• Inventory Management Fee: Costs such as insurance, labor, and warehousing involved in managing inventory.
• Inventory Management System: Software that business uses to track and control inventory levels, orders, and sales to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Inventory Management: Business strategies for ensuring optimal inventory levels through overseeing and controlling ordering, storing, and using inventory.
• Inventory: The stock of goods that a business has in its possession for purposes of sale.

#J

• Java: A programming language used to develop applications such as enterprise systems and web and mobile apps.
• Javascript: A coding language developers use to create interactive effects that enhance the user experience in web browsers. 
• JIT (Just In Time): An inventory management strategy that allows businesses to order and receive materials for producing goods when they need them so there is no wastage or excessive inventory management costs.
• Joint Rate: A freight charge that two or more carriers that transport goods over a specific route establish to combine their services.
• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A data interchange format used in web applications that is easy for humans to read and write and for machines to parse and generate.

#L

• Label Printing: Creating and printing shipping, inventory, and product identification labels.
• Lading: Loading cargo into a vessel or vehicle.
• Landed Cost: The total cargo cost when delivered to the buyer’s location. It includes purchase price, transportation cost, custom duties and taxes, and other applicable charges.
• Last In First Out (LIFO): An inventory management strategy in which the latest product to be received is sold or used first.
• Last Mile Delivery Analytics: An analytic review of the data associated with the final phase of product delivery to identify opportunities for optimization.
• Last Mile Delivery: Refers to the final stage in the delivery process when shipments are transported from the distribution center to the recipient’s address.
• Last-mile Carrier Tracking: The process of monitoring and providing real-time updates on the status of shipments handed by last-mile carriers. 
• Lead Time: The period between the start and completion of a process. In e-commerce, it refers to the time between a customer placing an order and receiving it at their doorstep.
• Less-Than-Container Load (LCL): A shipping option that consolidates multiple smaller shipments from different shippers into a container to be shipped as one.
• Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): A road transport option consolidating multiple smaller cargo from different customers into one consignment to be transported by one truck.
• Load Planning: Organizing and scheduling cargo loading into a transport vehicle to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.
• Local Delivery: Transportation of goods to recipients within a limited geographical area, often a neighborhood or city.
• Logistics Outsourcing: The business practice of hiring a specialized third party to handle logistics operations such as warehousing, transportation, and fulfillment on behalf of an entity.
• Logistics Provider: A company offering logistics services such as transportation, warehousing, and distribution.
• Logistics: The processes involved in managing the flow of goods, resources, and information from origin to destination. It includes tasks such as transportation, warehousing, and distribution.

#M

• Mail Line Operator: A shipping company that operates regular routes for sea transport of mail and cargo.
• Make-to-Stock: A production strategy in which businesses manufacture products based on forecasted demand and store them as inventory until they are sold.
• Malpractice: Shipping malpractice occurs when a carrier illegally gives preference to a customer to attract business by offering them rebates, allows access to specialized equipment to the detriment of other shippers, misdeclares shipped items to avoid applicable duties and taxes, and quotes lower shipping rates than the fair price for the quantity being shipped.
• Maritime: Related to the sea and transportation of cargo by sea.
• Master Bill of Lading: A document the carrier issues to a shipper for a consolidated shipment that contains multiple house bills of lading.
• Measurement Freight: Cargo whose transportation fee is charged based on volume instead of weight.
• Merchant Haulage: A shipping instance where the shipping of goods is arranged by the shipper instead of the carrier.
• Micro-Fulfillment Center (MFC): A small strategically located warehouse, often found in cities that uses automation to quickly and efficiently fulfill orders.
• Mid-mile Delivery: An intermediary delivery step between the first and last mile in which goods are transported from a distribution center to a local hub or retail store. 
• Milk Run: A logistics strategy in which one vehicle is used to pick up goods from multiple suppliers and deliver them as one shipment to a buyer.
• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): A term used in international trade refers to the smallest amount of a product that a supplier is willing to sell to a buyer to ensure production and shipping cost efficiency.
• Minimum Order Value: The smallest amount a customer must spend when purchasing products to qualify for certain perks such as free shipping and discounts.
• Mixed Shipment: A consignment of different types of goods that require specialized handling and documentation.
• Motor Carrier: A transportation services provider that transports goods by road.
• Multi-Carrier Parcel Management Software: Software businesses use to manage shipments handled by different carriers in one place and reduce shipping costs while improving shipping efficiency.
• Multi-Carrier Shipping: A shipping strategy in which shippers work with multiple carriers to help them transport their packages to various destinations.
• Multi-Carrier Tracking: The process of monitoring the status and whereabouts of shipments transported by different carriers. 
• Multi-Country Consolidation: Combining shipments from different countries into one consignment to improve shipping efficiency and lower costs. 
• Multi-Modal Transport Operator: A transport services provider that manages the transportation of goods across rail, sea, air, and road to enhance efficiency and ensure seamless coordination.
• Multi-Modal Transportation: The use of more than one mode of transport to move goods from their origin to destination, leveraging the advantages of each mode.

#N

• Net Promoter Score (NPS): A measurement of customer loyalty and satisfaction that gauges how likely they are to recommend a product, service, or brand to someone else on a scale of 0-10.
• Next-day Shipping: A shipping option that delivers goods to the recipient on the next business day after dispatch.
• Node.js: An open-source, cross-platform runtime environment for Javascript that allows developers to create scalable network applications.
• Non-Delivery Report (NDR): An automatic report generated when a delivery attempt fails, informing the stakeholders of the reason for the unsuccessful delivery and the next steps.
• Non-Dumping Certificate: A verification document that authenticates imports into a country are to be sold at a fair price to protect against product dumping.
• Non-Pickup Report (NPR): A report the carrier generates when a scheduled package pickup does not occur. It explains why the pickup did not happen and gives additional information on rescheduling.
• Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC): An ocean freight services provider that does not operate any of its own vessels and acts as an intermediary between shippers and carriers.

#O

• Ocean Bill of Lading: A carrier-issued document that acts as a receipt, document title, and carriage contract when transporting goods by sea.
• Ocean Carrier: A company that transports goods by sea. 
• Ocean Freight: Refers to cargo transported by sea or may also refer to the process of transporting goods by sea. 
• Ocean Transport Intermediary (OTI): A third-party logistics provider that helps to arrange ocean freight transportation for shippers and handles related logistics services.
• Omnichannel Fulfillment: A business strategy for enhancing order fulfillment by integrating multiple sale channels such as online, mobile, and in-store, allowing customers to choose an option that is ideal for them.
• Omnichannel Returns: A returns strategy that enables customers to process product returns through any sales channel regardless of where they made the purchase.  
• On Board: When goods have been loaded onto a vessel or vehicle for transportation.
• On-Carriage: The process of transporting goods from the port of discharge to their destination within a country. 
• On-time In Full (OTIF): A measure of a company’s delivery reliability and accuracy by gauging how many orders are delivered on time and in full.
• Order Accuracy: A metric that shows how accurately a company fulfills customer orders with regard to delivering the correct products, quantities, and specifications.
• Order Confirmation: A notification a business sends to a customer acknowledging it has received their order and is processing it. 
• Order Fulfillment: The process of receiving, processing, and shipping customer orders in e-commerce.
• Order Management System: Software businesses use to manage the order fulfillment process, track orders from receipt to delivery, and coordinate other crucial functions, including shipping, communication, and inventory.
• Order Notifications: Automated messages businesses send to customers, keeping them updated on the status of their orders, such as shipping updates and delivery confirmations.
• Order Processing: The steps involved in fulfilling a customer order, including picking, packing, and shipping.
• Order Release Time (ORT): When an order is released for processing and fulfillment to ensure timely delivery to the customer.
• Order Tracking: The process of monitoring the status and whereabouts of a customer order. 
• Origin Charge Catalog: An official list of fees that a shipper incurs to ship cargo from the point of origin, including documentation, customs clearance, and handling.
• Origin: The location from which a shipment is being transported.
• Outbound Logistics: All the processes involved in storing, processing, and shipping goods from a business to its customers.
• Out-of-Gauge Cargo: Bulky or heavy freight that exceeds standard weight and dimension limits of transport equipment, requiring special handling and transport arrangement.
• Overage: Any excess goods beyond the quantity ordered shipped to the consignee due to human error or intentional overproduction.
• Overland: Transporting goods by road or rail instead of sea and air.
• Oversized Shipping: Shipping large or bulky items that exceed standard size limits. 
• Overweight Surcharge: An extra fee that carriers charge for handling cargo that exceeds standard weight limits.

#P

• Package: A container or bundle of goods prepared for shipping.
• Packing List: A document that lists the contents of a shipment, their descriptions, quantities, and weights used for inventory management and customs clearance.
• Pallet Exchange: A process whereby shippers and buyers exchange pallets to ensure a fresh supply of pallets in good condition fit for use. 
• Pallet: A flat plastic, metal, or wooden platform for stacking, storing, and transporting goods.
• Palletization: Stacking and securing goods onto pallets for efficiency during transportation and handling.
• Paperless Returns: Use of digital platforms to track and manage returns, eliminating the need for any paperwork.
• Parcel Delivery: Making deliveries to recipients in a fully digitized format without any manual paperwork.
• Parcel Insurance: Cover against loss or damage during transportation for packages weighing less than 150 pounds. 
• Parcel Monitoring: Tracking and monitoring packages throughout their shipping journey to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
• Parcel Tracking Automation: Integrating technology into the parcel monitoring process to automatically track their whereabouts and provide real-time status updates.
• Parcel: Packages below 150 pounds shipped via courier or postal services.
• Peak Season Surcharge: An extra fee carriers charge customers to ship goods during peak season when demand for shipping is high.
• Perishable Cargo: Goods with a short shelf life like foods and pharmaceuticals that require specialized handling such as temperature-controlled containers during shipping to maintain their quality.
• Pick and Pack: A warehouse practice of collecting products from shelves and packing them into boxes to prepare them for shipping.
• Pick List: A warehouse document listing which items to be picked from inventory to fulfill customer orders.
• Place of Delivery: The shipping destination where a recipient receives or picks up a package. 
• Place of Receipt: The designated location where a shipper hands over goods to be shipped to a carrier. 
• Plugins: Software components coded to add specific elements to existing software to enhance its functionality.
• Point of Origin: The manufacturing or warehouse location where the shipping journey of a product starts.
• Port of Call: A specific port along a ship’s voyage where it stops to load or unload cargo and passengers.
• Port of Destination: The port where cargo is discharged from a vessel and delivered to the consignee.
• Port of Discharge: The specific port where cargo is unloaded from the vessel carrying it, often the same as the port of destination.
• Port of Exit: The port where cargo leaves the exporting country and starts its international shipping journey. 
• Port of Loading: The port where cargo is loaded onto a vessel.
• Port: A designated sea harbor where ships load and unload cargo to facilitate the entry and exit of goods into a country.
• Post-purchase Experience: Customers’ feelings regarding their experience after purchasing a product from a business, including satisfaction with the product or service and customer service interaction.
• Post-Purchase: The activities a business carries out and interactions with a customer after purchasing, including delivery, support, and returns management.
• Pre-paid Shipping Label: A shipping label paid for in advance and issued to customers to enable easy returns.
• Priority Mail Flat Rate: A fast shipping service offered by postal service that charges a flat rate regardless of the weight or destination of a package.
• Priority Shipping: Expedited shipping that guarantees faster shipping times than standard shipping service.
• Product Reviews: Customer feedback and ratings about an e-commerce brand’s products, often shared on the e-commerce site.
• Proof of Delivery: An electronic record or document that often requires a signature and authenticates that a recipient received goods in the expected condition.
• Purchase Order: A document that buyers issue to sellers specifying products, quantities, and the agreed price for them.
• Purchase Regret: Strong feelings of dissatisfaction buyers experience after making a purchase that did not meet expectations, resulting in them returning the product.

#Q

• QR Code: A scannable two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned using a scanner or mobile phone to access a URL or access information on a product.
• Quality Management System (QMS): A business’s formalized processes and procedures for achieving its quality policy and ensuring consistency in product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Quantity: The number of units of a product.

#R

• Rail Carrier: A transport service provider that transports goods by rail.
• Rate Limit Exceeded: An error message that lets the user or application know they have exceeded the maximum number of requests they can send to an API within a given time.
• Rate Limit Reset: When the rate limit for API requests resets, allowing users to send more requests.
• Rate Limiting: A control technique that limits the number of requests sent to an API within a given time, preventing overuse.
• Real-time Shipment Tracking: Monitoring the whereabouts and status of shipments in real time and providing prompt updates to shippers and customers.
• Real-time Shipment Visibility: Access to real-time information about a consignment’s location and shipping progress throughout the supply chain.
• Reefer: Refrigerated container for temperature-controlled transportation of perishable goods like flowers and food. 
• Refresh Token: A token used in the authentication process to grant users a new access token without reauthenticating their identities.
• Refund Policy: A business’s specified conditions for accepting a customer’s return and issuing a refund.
• Refund Processing Time: The time it takes for a business to refund a customer after returning a product.
• Relay: The transfer of goods from one vehicle or vessel to another during intermodal transportation.
• Remote Area Surcharge: An extra fee that carriers charge customers for delivering shipments to areas deemed remote or difficult to reach.
• Repackaging: Removing products from their original packaging and putting them in new packaging because of branding, compliance, and efficiency considerations.
• Replenishment: When a business restocks its inventory to ensure optimal levels and continuous product availability.
• RESTful API: API that follows representational state transfer (REST) principles that enable interaction with other web services using standard HTTP methods.
• Return Authorization: Permission that a seller grants a buyer to return a product when it does not meet their expectation and meets the seller’s return conditions.
• Return Cargo: Goods shipped back to the seller as returns or exchanges. 
• Return Label: A pre-printed label the seller provides to buyers for returning products after purchase. It includes the return address and tracking information.
• Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA): The return review process a seller conducts before accepting a buyer’s return request and issuing a unique RMA for tracking.
• Return Policy: The rules and guidelines a seller provides buyers on what and how to return products they have bought including the eligibility.
• Return Process: The steps involved in returning a product to a seller including getting the authorization, packaging, and shipping the product.
• Return Shipping: Transporting a returned product to the seller’s designated address or returns warehouse.
• Return to Origin (RTO): Shipping products back to the sender when a delivery fails due to an incorrect address provided or the recipient’s refusal to accept the package.
• Return Window: The time frame sellers allow customers to submit a return request after purchasing a product.
• Returns Management: Strategies and processes that a business employs to manage the return of products by customers, from authorizing returns, receiving the products, processing refunds or exchanges, and updating inventory.
• Reverse Logistics: A logistics term referring to the process of shipping back goods to the sender or manufacturer for repairs, recycling, and disposal.
• Route Optimization: When shippers and carriers select the most efficient route to use to ship goods based on traffic, cost, and distance considerations.
• Route Planning: Expert and tech-led planning of transportation routes by shippers and carriers to maximize shipping speeds and operational and cost efficiency.

#S

• Safety Stock: Extra inventory that a business has in storage to protect against stockouts due to supply chain disruptions and supply and demand volatility.
• Same-day Shipping: A shipping service where goods are dispatched to their destinations on the same business day.
• Sandbox Environment: A secure tech environment for testing software features and functionality without impacting other users.
• Sea Waybill: A non-negotiable physical or digital document issued by sea carriers to serve as a receipt and contract of carriage.
• Self-fulfillment: A fulfillment strategy by businesses where they handle all fulfillment tasks in-house from receiving and storing inventory, to picking, packing, and shipping orders to customers directly.
• Self-Service Portal: A digital interface with resources where customers can access crucial business services such as package tracking and return authorization without contact support.
• Service Level Agreement (SLA): A formal agreement between a service provider and a customer stating which services will be provided, the expected level of service, and the metrics for gauging performance.
• Shipment Consolidation: The process of pooling smaller shipments into one large shipment to maximize shipping efficiency and reduce costs.
• Shipment Delay: When a shipment does not arrive at its destination at the scheduled time. 
• Shipment Exception: Any event in the shipping process, such as weather delays, that prevents the shipment from reaching its destination on time.
• Shipment Tracking API: An application program interface that enables developers and businesses to integrate shipment-tracking information into their business systems, websites, and applications for real-time tracking and status updates.
• Shipment: Cargo being transported from one location to another, typically from the seller’s to the buyer’s location.
• Shipper: A company or person sending goods from one location to another.
• Shipper’s Letter of Instruction: A document containing shipping and handling instructions for specific cargo that a shipper issues to a freight forwarder or carrier. 
• Shipper-Owned Container (SOC): A shipping container owned by the shipper rather than the carrier, ideal for reducing shipping costs.
• Shipping API: An application programming interface that enables businesses to integrate shipping services including rates, shipping labels, and tracking from carriers into their business systems.
• Shipping Carton Marking (SCM): The markings and labels on shipping cartons including barcodes and addresses provide more information on handling, storage, and delivery.
• Shipping Cost: The expenses of transporting cargo from one place to another.
• Shipping Documents: The numerous paper and electronic records required for compliance while transporting goods such as customs declarations, invoices, packing lists, and bills of lading.
• Shipping Incidents: Unforeseen events such as theft, damage, and accidents that occur while transporting goods and affect their final condition and delivery times.
• Shipping Label: A label containing essential information for shipping a package such as the sender and receiver addresses and tracking number attached to the package.
• Shipping Lines: Ship operating companies that provide cargo shipping services to businesses and individuals.
• Shipping Manifest: A document that accompanies a shipment and describes the shipment’s contents, quantities, and the destination of the goods.
• Shipping Notifications: Alerts sent to shippers and consignees about the status of their shipments such as dispatch, in-transit, and delivery confirmations. 
• Shipping Policy Generator: A tool businesses use to generate customized shipping policies for their shipping operations by answering several questions and following provided prompts.
• Shipping Policy: A document that outlines a business’s shipping terms and conditions including shipping methods, costs, delivery times, and procedures for handling damaged or lost items.
• Shipping Rate Calculator: A tool that helps shippers calculate how much it would cost to ship a package based on its weight, destination, shipping method, and dimensions.
• Shipping Solutions: A range of tools and services that a shipping service provider offers to customers to help streamline their shipping operations from fulfillment to delivery.
• Shipping Zones: Geographic areas categorized by carriers to help determine shipping rates and delivery times.
• Shopify Dropshipping: An e-commerce business model on Shopify in which a store sells products it does not hold in inventory. Instead, when orders are received, they are passed on to the manufacturer for delivery directly to the customer’s address.
• Social Proof: A phenomenon where people rely on other’s opinions to help them make decisions. Marketing leverages this to build trust through customer reviews, testimonials, and endorsements.
• Sourcing: The business process of finding and acquiring high-quality and cost-effective product and service suppliers. 
• Split Shipment: A delivery to a customer that involves multiple shipments stored in different warehouses that need to be delivered at different times.
• SSL Certificate: A digital certificate for authenticating the identity of a website and providing a secure connection.
• Standard Shipping: A cost-effective shipping option that offers average delivery speeds that are slower than express and expedited shipping.
• Stock Keeping Unit (SKU): A unique code used to identify and track each product or service that can be bought. It is most commonly used in sales and inventory management.
• Stockout: An instance when a business depletes its stock and customer orders cannot be fulfilled, leading to lost sales and a negative customer experience.
• Storage Fees: The charges incurred by a business to store goods in a warehouse or distribution center.
• Storage-In-Transit: The temporary storage of goods while they are being transported before the delivery journey resumes. 
• Store-to-Door Delivery: A delivery service in which products are transported from a retailer’s location straight to the customer’s address. 
• Supply Chain Management: The process of managing and coordinating the activities involved in the sourcing, procurement, production, and logistics to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery of goods to customers.
• Supply Chain: The network of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers involved in the production and delivery of goods to customers.
• Surcharges: Extra fees that carriers impose on transport service due to peak season demand, fuel, and special handling requirements.
• Switch Bill of Lading: A new bill of lading that is issued to replace the existing one because of a change in the consignee or other crucial detail while a shipment is in transit.

#T

• Tare Weight: The weight of an empty container or packaging in which goods were shipped and is often subtracted from the total weight of a shipment to arrive at the net weight of its contents.
• Tariff: A document listing all duties and charges applicable to exports and imports.
• Temperature-Controlled Shipping: A transportation service that focuses on shipping items that require temperature-controlled storage, such as refrigeration or heating, to maintain product quality.
• Terminal Handling Charges (THC): The expenses incurred for services offered at a terminal, such as documentation, loading, and unloading.
• Terminal: A designated facility for loading, unloading, and transferring cargo from one mode of transport to another.
• Terms of Carriage: The agreement under which a carrier transports goods on behalf of a shipper and includes the responsibilities, liabilities, and rights of both parties.
• Third-Party Logistics (3PL): A company that provides outsourced logistics services such as warehousing, transportation, and order fulfillment to businesses.
• TLS (Transport Layer Security): A cryptographic protocol that facilitates secure connections and privacy when communicating over the internet.
• Track and Trace: The ability to track a package’s location and status in real time, ensuring maximum shipment visibility and transparency during shipping. 
• Tracking History: A chronological record of all tracking events and updates on a package throughout its entire shipping journey.
• Tracking Information: The information shippers and consignees receive from carriers about the status and location of a shipment at various points of its shipping journey.
• Tracking Number: A unique code carriers assign a package that allows stakeholders to track its whereabouts on the carrier’s website or third-party tracking platforms.
• Tracking Page: A dedicated page on a business website where customers can input their tracking numbers and get the latest updates about the status and location of packages they are expecting.
• Tracking Status: The current state of a shipment, such as in transit, out for delivery, and delivered.
• Tracking System: A digital platform employed by carriers and logistics service providers to track the location and status of shipments and relay this information to shippers and consignees.
• Tracking Updates: Periodic messages are sent to stakeholders to inform them about the status and location of a shipment. 
• Trailer Load (TL): The total amount of cargo that can be transported by a trailer.
• Transit History: A chronological record of all events and checkpoints that a shipment goes through while being shipped to its destination.
• Transit Time: The amount of time it takes to transport a shipment from its origin to its destination.
• Transload: The transfer of cargo from one mode of transport to another, such as from a sea vessel to a truck to be transported by road. This process happens at a transloading facility.
• Transportation Management System (TMS): Software that businesses use to manage, plan, and execute the transportation of goods with the aim of maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs.
• Transporter Allocation: The system that a transport services provider uses to assign transport vehicles and other resources to serve certain customers and routes. 
• Trans-shipment: Transferring a consignment from one vehicle or vessel to another during its shipping journey.
• Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU): A measure of the capacity of container ships and terminals based on the volume of a 20-foot-long shipping container.  
• Two-day Shipping: A type of shipping service that ships and delivers goods in two business days.

#U

• UN Number: A four-digit code that the United Nations assigns to hazardous materials to identify and classify dangerous cargo during shipping.
• Unclaimed Freight: Shipped cargo that has not been claimed by a recipient or consignee at a port of entry within a given time, often leading to its disposal.
• Unit Load: The standard quantity of goods assembled for shipping and placed on pallets for easy handling.  
• Universal Postal Union (UPU): An international organization that coordinates postal policies among member countries globally and sets the standards for international mail exchange.
• Unloading: The process of removing cargo from a vehicle or vessel at its destination.
• UPS: The United Parcel Service (UPS) is an American multi-national parcel carrier and logistics service provider.
• Urgent Cargo: Shipment that has to be shipped to its destination quickly, often overnight.
• User Experience (UX): The overall experience and satisfaction a user derives from using a product or service, influenced by its ease of use, design, and functionality. 
• User interface (UI): The visual and functional elements of a digital platform or software that a user interacts with.
• USPS: The United Postal Service is the official postal services operator in the U.S., providing mail processing and delivery services to individuals and businesses.

#V

• Valuation Charge: An extra fee that carriers impose based on the declared value of goods being shipped to cover the risk of high-value items.
• Value Chain: The full cycle of activities from design, production, and marketing to support that businesses go through to bring a product or service to market.
• Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI): An inventory management strategy in which the vendor is responsible for managing and replenishing the inventory on behalf of the customer at their location.
• Ventilated Container: A special type of shipping container that incorporates air vents for air circulation and is used for transporting moisture-sensitive or perishable goods.
• Vessel Manifest: A list with details on the passengers and cargo carried on a ship or boat, required by customs and port authorities for verification and clearance. 
• Vessel Operating Common Carrier (VOCC): A sea freight carrier that operates its shipping line and provides sea transportation services.
• Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA): An official agreement between shipping companies to share space on their vessels for transporting sea freight.
• Vessel: A ship or boat used to transport cargo over a large mass of water.
• Volume Charge: A fee for transporting goods based on their volume, most commonly used when the volume exceeds certain dimensions.
• Volume Weight: A measurement that determines the shipping cost for cargo based on its volume instead of its actual weight.

#W

• Warehouse Management System (WMS): Software that helps to optimize warehouse operations including inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and labor management.
• Warehouse: A designated facility for storing goods before they are transported to their destination. Many warehouses also offer inventory management services like picking, packing, and distribution.
• Warehouse-to-Warehouse Clause: A marine insurance clause that provides cover for cargo from when it leaves its origin warehouse to when it is delivered at the designated warehouse at its destination.
• Warehousing: The practices and protocols like receiving, storing, picking, and shipping involved in the management of warehouse operations.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF): A cybersecurity system that monitors and filters all incoming traffic in a web application to protect against access by unauthorized personnel and attacks.
• Webhooks: Automated shipment tracking updates that businesses using a tracking API receive when specified events are triggered, enabling the relay of information in real time.
• White Glove Delivery: A premium delivery service in which the cargo is given extra attention in terms of handling, inside delivery, unpacking, assembly, and other services specified by the recipient.
• White Label Shipping: A type of shipping service in which the shipping services are offered by another company but packaged and resold as belonging to another.
• WISMO: An acronym for “Where is my order?” A common customer service inquiry is when recipients are not able to track their packages or are yet to receive them when the delivery date is past due.
• WISMR: Refers to “Where is my return?” These are customer service inquiries from customers who want to know the status of returned products shipping back to the seller.

#X

• XML (Extensible Markup Language): A markup language that encodes documents in a human and machine-readable format, facilitating data exchange between systems.

#Z

• Zip-code Serviceability: The ability of a carrier to deliver to a specific zip code.