Primary Terminology
Name | Also Know As | Definition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advance Shipment Notice Electronic Shipping Notice | ASN ESN | Advance Shipping Notice – (ASN) is a notification of pending pick-ups/ deliveries, similar to a Packing List. It is usually sent in an electronic format and is a common EDI document. |
| 2 | Chain of Responsibility | CoR | The chain of responsibility is a policy concept used in Australian transport legislation to place legal obligations on all parties in the transport supply chain or across transport industries generally. |
| 3 | Consignment | A Consignment is a logical grouping of goods (one or more physical entities (Logistics Units) that is intended to be transported as a whole from a Consignor to a Consignee by a Carrier or freight forwarder via one or more modes of transport, subject to one single transport contract. Identical to Shipment if Consignor is the Shipper / Original Consignor and the Consignee is the Receiver (Final/Ultimate Consignee). | |
| 4 | Shipment Unit | SU | A Shipment Unit is a Unit(Box, Carton Pallet) that can each be identified (uniquely) within a Shipment. |
| 5 | Stock Keeping Unit | SKU | Stock Keeping Units are the Physical stock that may be placed within the Shipping Unit. 1 SU may contain 5x Boxes of Pencils |
| 6 | Warehouse Management System | WMS | The system used to manage stock on hand and other warehousing activities |
| 7 | Enterprise Resource Planning system | ERP | Enterprise resource planning is the integrated management of main business processes, often in real time and mediated by software and technology. This is often where an Sales/Purchase order will originate, forwarding to the WMS/FMS to be fulfilled |
| 8 | Manifest | A list of Consignments to be carried by a Carrier, A manifest can only exist per Sender/Carrier | |
| 9 | Dimensions | DIMS | The Dimensions of a shipping Unit include LxWxH Length, Width, Height all measured in Cm's |
| 10 |
Secondary Terminology
Name | Definition | Also Know As |
|---|---|---|
Approved Dispatch System | A system for the transmission of electronic dispatch data. | |
| Advance Shipment Notice | Advance Shipping Notice – (ASN) is a notification of pending pick-ups/ deliveries, similar to a Packing List. It is usually sent in an electronic format and is a common EDI document. | ASN |
| Arrival | Arrival Time and Arrival Location of the Cargo. | |
| Buy rate | The amount paid to a carrier to move goods from A to B | |
| Cargo | Cargo defines all the goods carried in the transport process and referred to in a Transport Instruction. | |
Carrier | The party that physically transports goods from one place to another. | |
Carton | Typically a cardboard or plastic box used for storage or shipping of goods. | |
| Chain of Responsibility | The chain of responsibility is a policy concept used in Australian transport legislation to place legal obligations on all parties in the transport supply chain or across transport industries generally. | |
| Consignee | In a consignment view / scenario, the entity who will receive the physical shipment. | |
| Consignment | A Consignment is a logical grouping of goods (one or more physical entities (Logistics Units) that is intended to be transported as a whole from a Consignor to a Consignee by a Carrier or freight forwarder via one or more modes of transport, subject to one single transport contract. Identical to Shipment if Consignor is the Shipper / Original Consignor and the Consignee is the Receiver (Final/Ultimate Consignee). | |
| Consignment Item | A Consignment Item is a (collection of) Logistic Units that can be identified (uniquely) within the consignment and may be treated/handled in the same way during transportation (and associated administrative processes). | |
| Consignment Note | Document prepared by a Consignor and countersigned by the Carrier as a proof of receipt of Consignment for delivery at the destination. It is generally neither a contract of carriage nor a negotiable instrument. | |
| Consignor | In a consignment view / scenario, the entity who will ship the physical shipment. | |
| Container | Shipping container is the metal box in which goods are transported via ship/truck/rail around the world. Different types of containers are used to ship different types of goods (i.e. refrigerated containers). | TEU |
| Contract of carriage | A contract between a carrier of goods and the consignor & consignee. Contracts of carriage typically define the rights, duties and liabilities of parties to the contract, addressing topics such as acts of God and including clauses such as force majeure. | |
| Cross-dock | A transportation terminal which transfers received items directly from inbound to the outbound shipping dock. Storage only occurs temporarily during unloading and loading as no long-term storage is provided. | |
| Departure | The act of leaving. Departure Time and Departure Location of the cargo. | |
| Despatch Advice | The Despatch Advice message enables a shipper to provide information about the content of a shipment to a receiver. | |
| Destination | In XML this is an Arrival + a Location. | |
| Driver | The person who will be undertaking the trip. | |
| Drop Off | The location where an item can be left | |
| Electronic Data Interchange | Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards are used in electronic business messaging to improve the speed and accuracy of information sent between trading partners. | EDI |
| Electronic Product Code Information Service | EPCIS is a GS1 standard that enables trading partners with disparate applications to share information about the physical movement and status of products as they travel throughout the supply chain – from business to business and ultimately to consumers. It helps answer the “what, where, when and why” questions to meet consumer and regulatory demands for accurate and detailed product information. | EPCIS |
| Estimated Time of Arrival | The estimated time for the arrival of a shipping unit | ETA |
| Export | Shipment of goods to a foreign country | |
| Export Declaration | A government document declaring designated goods to be shipped out of the country. To be completed by the exporter and filed with the Government. | |
| Freight Forwarder | Often used for international shipping, a Freight Forwarder is the party that arranges the carriage of goods including connected services and/or associated formalities on behalf of the shipper (consignor) or consignee. Freight Forwarder usually consolidates freight from many shippers to obtain low, large volume transportation rates from carriers. | |
| Full Container Load | A full container-load shipment is when a shipper contracts the transportation of an entire container. | FCL |
| Global Data Dictionary | The repository of definitions and Attributes of all data elements used within the EAN UCC Business Message Standards. | GDD |
| Global Identification Number for Consignment | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify a logical grouping of Logistic or transport Units that are assembled to be transported under one transport document (e.g. HWB). The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix and the Freight Forwarder's or Carrier's transport reference. The GINC is assigned by the Freight Forwarder or Carrier of the Logistic Units. | GINC |
| Global Individual Asset Identifier | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify an Individual Asset. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix and Individual Asset Reference. The GIAI identifies individual assets such as trucks and containers. It does not contain a classifying element as in the GRAI but always includes a unique serial component. Therefore, a GIAI always identifies each instance of an individual asset. The GIAI is assigned by the asset owner. | GIAI |
| Global Location Number | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify physical Locations or Parties. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, Location Reference, and Check Digit. | GLN |
| Global Positioning System | The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on the earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to 4 or more GPS satellites. | GPS |
| Global Product Classification | A GS1 System standard for the classification of products. | GPC |
| Global Returnable Asset Identifier | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify Returnable Assets. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, Asset Type, Check Digit, and optional serial number. The main purpose of the GRAI is to identify the asset class. This means that the same GRAI is assigned to all assets of the same type. The GRAI also provides an optional serial number. If each instance of the returnable asset needs to be identified, then the optional serial number must be used. The asset owner assigns a GRAI to each returnable asset. The GRAI is assigned for the lifetime of the asset. Examples include: special pallets, containers, beer kegs, gas cylinders, crates. | GRAI |
| Global Shipment Identification Number | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify a grouping of Logistics Units that comprise a shipment from one consignor to one consignee (buyer) referencing a despatch advice. The GSIN is assigned by a seller (sender) of the goods not by the Carrier. | GSIN |
| Global Trade Item Number | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify Trade Items. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, an Item Reference and Check Digit. | GTIN |
| Gross Weight | Entire weight of goods, packaging and freight container ready for shipment. | |
| GS1 Application Identifier | The field of two or more digits at the beginning of an Element String that uniquely defines its format and meaning. | AI |
| GS1 Company Prefix | Part of the GS1 Identification Keys consisting of a GS1 Prefix and a Company Number, both of which are allocated by GS1 Member Organisations. GS1 Member Organisations assign GS1 Company Prefixes to entities that administer the allocation of GS1 Identification Keys. These entities may be, for example, Transport Providers, Shippers, Manufacturers and Distributors. | |
| HAZ MAT | An industry abbreviation for “Hazardous Material.” | |
| In Bond | Cargo moving under Customs control where duty has not yet been paid. | |
| Individual Item | An individual item is an individual trade product or batch of similar trade products | |
| In Gate | The transaction or interchange that occurs at the time a container is received by a rail terminal or water port from another carrier | |
| Intermodal | Transportation process that involves multiple modes of transportation (i.e. road, rail). | |
| Journey | The act of travelling from one place to another. (i.e. Leg). | |
| Last mile | The final leg of the supply chain delivery process where merchandise is delivered to an end customer (business or residential) | |
| Lead Time | The amount of time that precedes the start of work on a task. | |
| Leg | Describes a path or journey between a single departure location and a single arrival location. A freight movement between a consignor and a consignee may involve multiple legs of different transport modes, for example road, rail then road. For the purposes of tracking freight movements, there are no intermediate locations in a leg. | |
| Less than Container Load | A Less than Container Load shipment is when a shipper contracts the transportation of a partial container load. | LCL |
| Less than Truckload | When a shipper contracts the transportation of freight that will not require an entire truck. LTL carriers typically carry multiple shipments for different customers in single trucks. | LTL |
| Linehaul | Terminal-to-terminal (depot-to-depot) long distance freight movements in transportation. These long distance moves are distinguished from local freight movements. | |
| Load | The physical Logistic Units on a Transport Unit. | |
| Logistic Service Buyer | An entity, which purchases a combination of many different logistics services from another entity. | LSB |
| Logistic Service Client | An umbrella term for entities that purchase logistics services from another entity. Can be a retailer, manufacturer, material supplier, freight forwarder, distribution centre, etc. | LSC |
| Logistic Service Provider | An umbrella term for entities that provide logistics services for another entity. Can be a carrier, freight forwarder or distribution centre. | LSP |
| Logistic Service Seller | An entity, which provides a combination of many different logistics services for another entity. | LSS |
| Logistic Unit | Logistic unit is an item of any composition established for transport and/or storage which needs to be managed through the supply chain. Logistic units take many forms, a single box containing a limited number of products, a pallet of multiple products, or an intermodal container containing multiple pallets Ideally each Logistic Unit has an SSCC. | |
| Manifest | A list of freight carried on a Transport Means, e.g. vehicle. May be a list of Logistics Units and/or Trade Items. | |
| Material Handling Equipment | Equipment use to handle and move goods, such as; Forklifts, belts and pallet jacks | MHE |
| Out Gate | Transaction or interchange that occurs at the time a container leaves a rail or water terminal. | |
| Packing List | A packing list is a document that includes details about the contents of a package. The packing list is intended to let transport agencies, government authorities, and customers know the contents of the package. These details help each of these parties handle the package accordingly. | |
| Package | An object or group of objects wrapped in paper or packed in a box | |
| Pallet | A portable platform on which goods are placed for storage (i.e. warehouse) or transporting (i.e. vehicle). | |
| Parcel | An item or collection of items packaged in order to be carried or shipped. | |
| Pick-up | The act of calling for freight at the consignor’s shipping platform | |
| Point of Origin | The place at which a shipment is received by a carrier from the shipper | |
| Proof of Delivery | A method to establish the fact that the recipient received the items sent by the shipper. | |
| Receiver | In a Shipment scenario, a party who engages in receiving goods. The Receiver is also the Final/Ultimate Consignee. | |
| Receiving Advice | Receiving Advice is used to report to the shipper the receipt of a shipment by the receiver. | |
| Reverse Logistics | A service that supports the disposal of used, damaged or outdated products and reusable packaging by the end user. These items are retrieved from the end user, consolidated and returned to a centralized receiving location. | |
| Roll On/Roll Off | A method of transport which allows wheeled vehicles to be loaded and discharged without cranes. | Ro/Ro |
| Route | The manner in which a shipment moves (i.e. the carriers handling the freight and the points at which the carriers interchange) | |
| Serial Shipping Container Code | The GS1 Identification Key used to identify Logistics Units. The key comprises an Extension digit, GS1 Company Prefix, Serial Reference, and Check Digit. | SSCC |
| Sell rate | The amount charged to a shipper to move goods | |
| Shipment | A Shipment is an identifiable collection of one or more traded items available to be transported together from the Shipper (Original Consignor/ Shipper), to the Receiver (Final/Ultimate Consignee). Typically the Shipment is the entity communicated between trading partners in the Despatch and Receiving Advice. Ideally each Shipment has a GSIN. | |
| Shipment Item / unit | A Shipment Item is a (collection of) Trade Items and/or Logistic Units that can each be identified (uniquely) within a Shipment. | |
| Shipper | In a Shipment scenario, a party who engages in shipping goods. The Shipper is also the original Consignor. | |
| SLAM | Scan, Label, Apply and Manifest used in Amazon warehouses at the end of the packing process to Scan a package to ensure weight is as expected and scan any barcodes, print shipping Label for the package, Apply the label and then update Manifest. See https://blog.postmen.com/3-killing-features-of-amazon-fulfillment-warehouses/ | |
Stevedore | Individual or firm who contracts to load or unload the ship. | |
Stuffing | Putting cargo into a container | |
Sub-Contractor | An external party whom a logistics service provider hires to perform a specific task as part of an overall transport movement. For example a freight forwarder may hire a road subcontractor to perform one road leg of a larger movement where it is more cost effective or they have insufficient resources of their own to perform that task. | |
Terminal | An assigned area in which containers are prepared for loading into a truck, train, vessel or airplane or are stacked immediately after discharge from a truck, train, vessel or airplane. | |
Third Party Logistics | A company that provides logistics services to other companies for some or all of their logistics needs. It typically includes warehousing and transportation services. Most 3PL’s also have freight forwarding licenses. | |
Trade Item | A Trade Item is any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain. A Trade Item can be retail or non-retail and is usually the item bought, sold or managed at a Warehouse level (not Retail). Ideally each Trade Item has a GTIN. | |
Transit | The act or method of carrying items from one place to another | |
| Transport Broker | An agency that obtains large-volume transportation rates from carriers, and resells this capacity to shippers. Unlike freight forwarders, Transport brokers do not handle freight. | |
| Transport Equipment | Transport Equipment is defined as a piece of high-value equipment used to hold, protect or secure cargo for transportation purposes (i.e. trailers, wagons, intermodal containers. The recommended key to identify Transport Equipment is the GIAI. | |
Transport Instruction | The Transport Instruction communicates the arrangements (through the agreed conditions) of the movement of the goods (including collection and delivery) between all parties involved and providing the information necessary to perform the handling of the goods. | TI |
Transport Management System | A type of software for managing transport operations. This typically includes booking, tracking, routing , mapping, EDI. | TMS |
Transport Means | A Transport Means is a particular device (with its own engine/power) used to convey goods or other objects from place to place during logistics cargo movements. | |
Transport Mode | The mode by which the freight will travel, e.g. road, rail, sea, air. May be specified on each leg of a multi-leg movement, or the LSB may only specify the main mode at the Shipment level and the LSS will determine the mode of the individual legs. | |
Transport Movement | The transport movement information specifies details of the movement of goods such as mode and means of transport, locations, departure, and arrival date(s) and time(s). | |
Transport Status Notification | A Transport Status Notification is an EDI document providing information on the status and movements of a transport related object. | TSN |
Truckload/Full Truckload | A truckload shipment is when the shipper contracts an entire truck for direct point-to-point service. | TL/FTL |
Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit | Method of measuring capacity in units of containers that are twenty feet long. A 40 foot long container measures 2 TEUs. | TEU |
Voyage | The transportation of cargo from port(s) of loading to port(s) of discharge | |
Warehouse | A place for the recept, delivery, consolidation, distribution, and storage of goods/cargo. | |
Wharf | A structure built on the shore of a harbor extending into deep water so that vessels may lie alongside. |