TOP 100 Logistics Short Forms in Logistics | Short Form in Transport

In the complex world of logistics, communication efficiency is paramount. That’s where short forms come into play. These abbreviations and acronyms serve as a universal language among logistics professionals, facilitating quick and precise exchanges of information.

From “BOL” (Bill of Lading) to “TEU” (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) and “POD” (Proof of Delivery), these shorthand expressions condense critical logistics concepts into concise terms. In this article, we’ll unravel the mystery behind these short forms in logistics, providing a comprehensive understanding of their meanings and significance within the industry. So, let’s dive into the world of logistics abbreviations and demystify their importance.

Short Forms in Logistics

Here is a list of shipping and logistics abbreviations and their meanings:

1. ATA – Actual Time of Arrival: The actual time when a vehicle or shipment arrives at its destination.
2. ATD – Actual Time of Departure: The actual time when a vehicle or shipment departs from its origin.
3. AWB – Air Waybill: A waybill that accompanies goods during air transportation. There are two types: HAWB (House Air Waybill) and MAWB (Master Air Waybill).
4. BAF – Bunker Adjustment Factor: An additional fuel surcharge charged as a partial freight amount or a fixed amount per 1 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit).
5. B/L – Bill of Lading: A document accompanying goods used for ocean freight and multimodal ocean freight.
6. CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor: An additional fee charged as a surcharge or partial freight amount that depends on currency fluctuations.
7. CFS – Container Freight Station: A station for handling and storing containers.
8. CMR – Convention relative au Contrat de transport international de marchandises par route: An international waybill for road transportation.
9. CNEE – Consignee: The party to whom goods are being shipped or delivered.
10. CNOR – Consignor: The party who is shipping or delivering goods.
11. C/O – Certificate of Origin: A document used to determine the country of origin (manufacture) of goods.
12. COC – Carrier’s Owned Container: A container owned by a carrier, with its value included in the freight.
13. CSC – Carrier Security Charge: A fee for carrier security protection.
14. C.S.C – Container Service Charge: A fee for goods transportation between the quay and the carrier.
15. CY – Container Yard: A yard used for the storage of containers.
16. DIM – Dimensions: The dimensions of cargo, specifying its size and volume.
17. DGR – Dangerous Goods Regulations: Regulations governing the transportation of dangerous goods.
18. DOC – Documentation Fee: A fee for the preparation of documents related to the shipment.
19. DTHC – Destination Terminal Handling Charges: Charges for cargo handling at the port of destination.
20. ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival: The estimated time when a shipment will arrive at its destination.
21. ETD – Estimated Time of Departure: The estimated time when goods will depart from their origin.
22. EX-1 – Export Declaration: A document providing information on all exported goods.
23. FCL – Full Container Load: Refers to a container that is fully loaded with goods.
24. FEU – Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit: A 40-foot container, used as a measure of container capacity.
25. FIATA – Federation International des Associations de Transitaires et Assimiles: An international shipping agents association.
26. FI/FO – Free In/Free Out: Refers to goods being loaded or unloaded at a port without additional charges.
27. FIO – Free In and Out: Indicates that the vessel does not pay for loading and unloading.
28. FIOS – Free In and Out and Stowed: Indicates that the vessel does not pay for loading, unloading, and goods stowing.
29. FT – Flat Rack: A container-platform with end walls.
30. HBL – House B/L: The bill of lading issued by a shipping agent.
31. HQ – High Cube: A 40-foot container with a larger capacity than a standard container.
32. IATA – International Air Transport Association: An international association for airlines.
33. IG – In Gauge: Refers to goods delivery with special equipment to ensure they do not exceed platform dimensions.
34. INV – Commercial Invoice: An invoice issued by the seller to specify the value of goods.
35. L/C – Letter of Credit: A financial instrument defining the terms of payment and goods delivery in a contract.
36. LCL – Less than Container Load: Consolidated transportation where multiple goods share one container.
37. LI/LO – Liner In/Out: Goods loading and unloading at the expense of the shipping line.
38. LO/LO – Lift On/Lift Off: A method of loading and unloading cargo onto a vessel.
39. LT – Local Time: The local time of a specific location.
40. MBL – Master B/L: The main bill of lading issued by a shipping line.
41. MV – Mother Vessel: A large-capacity liner vessel.
42. N/N – Non-Negotiable Document: A document that does not grant the right to receive goods.
43. NVOCC – Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier: A broker who sells space for ship loading not owned by them.
44. OBL – Original B/L: The original bill of lading.
45. OOG – Out of Gauge: Delivery with special equipment for oversized cargo.
46. OT – Open Top: A container without a hardtop.
47. OTHC – Original Terminal Handling Charges: Handling charges in the port of shipment.
48. ORC – Origin Receiving Charges: Charges in China for goods originating from there.
49. PACK – Packing List: A list describing the goods and their location in a shipment.
50. PCS – Port Congestion Surcharge: Fees based on container terminal workload.
51. POD – Port of Destination: The port where a shipment is intended to arrive.
52. POL – Port of Loading: The port where goods are loaded onto a vessel.
53. PSS – Pick Season Surcharge: A freight surcharge based on seasonal fluctuations in demand.
54. RO/RO – Roll-on/Roll-off: A vessel designed for rolling cargo aboard.
55. SWB – Sea Way Bill: A bill used for sea transportation.
56. TEU – Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit: A 20-foot container used as a measure of container capacity.
57. THC – Terminal Handling Charge: Charges for container transfer between the quay and the carrier.
58. TLC – Three-Letter Code: A three-letter airport code.
59. T/S – Transshipment: The process of transferring goods from one vessel to another during transit.
60. T/T – Transit Time: The time it takes for goods to transit from one point to another.
61. T-1 – Transit Declaration: A declaration used for transit of goods.
62. ULD – Unit Load Device: Containers, pallets, or modules for loading luggage on a plane.
63. WHS – War Risk Surcharge: A freight surcharge accounting for the risk of vessel or cargo loss due to military actions.

Other Short Forms in Logistics

1. BOL – Bill of Lading: A document that acknowledges the receipt of goods for shipment and specifies the terms of the contract of carriage.
2. BOM – Bill of Materials: A comprehensive list of raw materials, components, and assemblies required to manufacture a product.
3. FOB – Free On Board or Freight On Board: An Incoterm indicating the point at which the seller’s responsibility for the shipment ends and the buyer’s responsibility begins.
4. Incoterms – International Commercial Terms: A standardized set of international trade terms used to define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international transactions.
5. PO – Purchase Order: A document issued by a buyer to a seller, specifying the products or services to be purchased along with terms and conditions.
6. POD – Proof of Delivery: A document or receipt that confirms the successful delivery of goods to a recipient.
7. ABC – Activity-Based Costing: A costing method that assigns costs to specific activities and then allocates those costs to products or services based on their usage of those activities.
8. API – Application Programming Interface: A set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate with each other.
9. CRM – Customer Relationship Management: A strategy and technology used to manage interactions and relationships with customers and potential customers.
10. EDI – Electronic Data Interchange: The electronic exchange of business documents, such as purchase orders and invoices, between organizations in a standardized format.
11. ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning: Software and systems that help organizations manage various aspects of their business operations, including finance, human resources, and supply chain.
12. FIFO – First In, First Out: A method of inventory management in which the oldest items in stock are used or sold first.
13. JIT – Just In Time: A production and inventory management approach that aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency by delivering materials or components exactly when they are needed.
14. MRP – Material Requirements Planning: A system for planning and managing the procurement and production of materials needed for manufacturing.
15. RFID – Radio Frequency Identification: A technology that uses wireless communication to identify and track objects or people.
16. SKU – Stock Keeping Unit: A unique code or identifier used to track and manage individual items or products in inventory.
17. SCM – Supply Chain Management: The management of the flow of goods, services, and information from raw material suppliers to end customers.
18. TMS – Transportation Management System: Software and tools used to manage and optimize transportation and logistics operations.
19. UPC – Universal Product Code: A barcode system used for identifying products and tracking inventory.
20. WMS – Warehouse Management System: Software and systems used to control and optimize warehouse operations.
21. 3PL – Third-Party Logistics Provider: A company that offers outsourced logistics and supply chain services to other businesses.
22. CFS – Container Freight Station: A facility for receiving, storing, and loading or unloading cargo in containers.
23. FTZ – Free Trade Zone: A designated area where goods can be imported, stored, and processed without being subject to customs duties until they leave the zone.
24. ISO – International Standards Organization: An international body that develops and publishes standards for various industries and processes.
25. NVOCC – Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier: A company that organizes shipments and handles other aspects of ocean freight transportation without owning vessels.
26. ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival: The expected time when a shipment or vehicle will arrive at its destination.
27. FCL – Full Container Load: A shipment that occupies an entire shipping container.
28. LCL – Less-Than-Container-Load: A shipment that does not occupy a full container and is combined with other shipments.
29. LTL – Less-Than-Truckload: A shipment that does not require a full truckload and is combined with other shipments in a single truck.
30. KPI – Key Performance Indicator: Metrics used to measure and evaluate the performance of an organization or specific processes.
31. OS&D – Over, Short & Damaged: A term used in transportation and logistics to refer to discrepancies or issues with shipped goods.
32. TEU – Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit: A standard unit of measurement for container capacity, equivalent to a 20-foot shipping container.

In the world of logistics, precision and speed are everything. Short forms, or abbreviations, are invaluable tools that help streamline communication and documentation in this fast-paced industry. They serve as a universal language among logistics professionals, allowing for quick and efficient exchanges of information.

From common abbreviations like “BOL” (Bill of Lading) and “TEU” (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) to lesser-known terms like “POD” (Proof of Delivery), these condensed expressions play a crucial role in facilitating smooth operations and reducing miscommunication. In this article, we’ll unravel the mystery behind these short forms in logistics, providing a comprehensive understanding of their meanings and significance within the industry. So, join us as we dive into the world of logistics abbreviations and demystify their importance.