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Logistics glossary.

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57 terms explainedEnglish + Español

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Freight & logistics, from A to Z

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57 terms found

Air freight

Air freight

Transporte aéreo

The movement of goods on aircraft, using dedicated freighters or available cargo capacity on passenger flights. Planning considers speed, chargeable weight, cargo acceptance and airport handling rather than flight time alone.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

AWB — Air Waybill

AWB — guía aérea

The air cargo transport document recording the carriage agreement between shipper and carrier. It identifies the shipment, routing and handling information; unlike a negotiable ocean bill of lading, it is not a document of title.

Definition & shipping advice
Shipping documents

B/L — Bill of Lading

B/L — conocimiento de embarque

A transport document acknowledging receipt of goods and recording the terms of carriage. In ocean shipping, certain forms can also serve as documents of title; the function depends on the type issued.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Booking

Booking / reserva de espacio

A reservation request or confirmed allocation of transport capacity with a carrier. A booking confirmation identifies the intended movement and operational conditions, including cargo details, equipment and receiving deadlines.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Carrier

Transportista

The party that undertakes the carriage of goods. Depending on the shipment, this can be an airline, an ocean carrier or a trucking company, with responsibilities defined by the transport contract.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

CBM — Cubic meter

CBM — metro cúbico

A unit of volume used to describe the space occupied by cargo. For a rectangular package, multiply length, width and height measured in meters; for multiple packages, add their individual volumes.

Definition & shipping advice
Shipping documents

Certificate of origin

Certificado de origen

A document used to state or certify the origin of goods. The required format and supporting evidence depend on the destination and trade arrangement; origin is not necessarily the country from which the goods are shipped.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

Chargeable weight

Peso cobrable

The weight used to rate a shipment. For many air cargo services, it is based on the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, subject to the applicable tariff, rounding and minimum charges.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight

CIF — costo, seguro y flete

An Incoterms® rule for sea or inland waterway transport where the seller pays carriage and arranges the required insurance to the named destination port. Risk transfers on board at origin, rather than when goods arrive at destination.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Cold chain

Cadena de frío

A sequence of storage, handling and transport steps designed to keep goods within a required temperature range. Monitoring and coordinated handoffs help protect temperature-sensitive products throughout their movement.

Definition & shipping advice
Shipping documents

Commercial invoice

Factura comercial

A seller-issued document describing the commercial transaction, including the goods, parties, quantities and values. It supports shipment documentation and customs review, and should agree with the other records describing the cargo.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Consignee

Consignatario / destinatario

The person or company designated to receive a shipment in its transport documentation. Correct consignee details help coordinate arrival notices, cargo release and delivery at destination.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Consolidation

Consolidación de carga

Combining separate shipments into a shared transport unit or movement. Sharing capacity can make smaller shipments more economical, while requiring coordinated receiving dates, compatible cargo and destination handling.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Cross-docking

Cross-docking

Transferring received goods to outbound movements with little or no extended storage. It depends on synchronized inbound and outbound schedules, clear shipment identification and suitable handling capacity.

Definition & shipping advice
Shipping documents

Customs clearance

Despacho aduanero

The process of presenting shipment information and meeting applicable customs requirements for import or export. Depending on the goods and destination, it can involve document review, inspection, release and settlement of applicable charges.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Cutoff

Cutoff / cierre de recepción

The last accepted time for a required shipment step, such as delivering cargo or submitting documentation for a departure. Cargo, documentation and other operational requirements can have separate cutoffs.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

Dangerous goods

Mercancías peligrosas

Articles or substances that can present transport risks to people, property or the environment. Acceptance depends on classification, packaging, marking and documentation requirements for the selected mode and carrier.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

DAP — Delivered at Place

DAP — entregado en lugar

An Incoterms® rule where the seller delivers at the named destination with goods on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading. The buyer handles unloading and import clearance, including applicable import charges.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

DDP — Delivered Duty Paid

DDP — entregado con derechos pagados

An Incoterms® rule where the seller delivers at the named destination, import-cleared and ready for unloading, and bears the applicable import duties and taxes. The seller must be able to meet destination import requirements.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Deconsolidation

Desconsolidación

Separating a consolidated load into its individual shipments after arrival at a handling facility. Each shipment is identified and prepared for its next movement or collection by the receiving party.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Demurrage

Demurrage / demora en terminal

In container shipping, a charge commonly associated with a loaded container remaining inside a terminal beyond the agreed free time. The applicable tariff determines the counting method, exceptions and responsible party.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Detention

Detention / demora de equipo

In container shipping, a charge commonly associated with keeping carrier equipment outside the terminal beyond the agreed free time. Some tariffs combine detention and demurrage, so the specific equipment terms should be checked.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

Dimensional weight

Peso volumétrico

A pricing measure that converts the space a shipment occupies into an equivalent weight. It is calculated from package dimensions using a service-specific divisor; units and divisors must match the carrier tariff.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Door-to-door transport

Transporte puerta a puerta

A service scope that connects pickup at the origin address with delivery to the destination address. The quotation should identify which handling, customs and destination charges are included in that scope.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

Drayage

Acarreo de contenedores / drayage

A short-distance container movement connecting a port or rail terminal with a nearby warehouse, depot or other facility. Appointments, equipment availability and container return deadlines affect its planning.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

EXW — Ex Works

EXW — en fábrica

An Incoterms® rule where the seller makes goods available at the named place, without an obligation to load the collecting vehicle or clear export. The buyer arranges the onward movement and related formalities.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

FCA — Free Carrier

FCA — franco transportista

An Incoterms® rule where the seller delivers export-cleared goods to the buyer-designated carrier at the named place. At the seller premises, delivery includes loading; at another place, the goods arrive ready for unloading from the seller vehicle.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

FCL — Full Container Load

FCL — contenedor completo

An ocean shipping arrangement in which a container is allocated to one shipper or shipment rather than shared with unrelated loads. The cargo does not have to fill every part of the container for the movement to be FCL.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

FOB — Free On Board

FOB — franco a bordo

An Incoterms® rule for sea or inland waterway transport where delivery and risk transfer occur when goods are on board the buyer-nominated vessel at the named port of shipment. For container handover at a terminal, FCA is often more appropriate.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Freight forwarder

Agente de carga / transitario

A company that organizes cargo movements on behalf of a shipper. It can coordinate carriers, consolidate shipments and arrange supporting services without necessarily operating the aircraft, vessel or truck itself.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

FTL — Full Truckload

FTL — camión completo

A trucking arrangement that allocates a truck or trailer to one shipment or customer. It is generally chosen for larger loads or dedicated capacity, even when the cargo does not physically fill the trailer.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Fulfillment

Fulfillment / preparación de pedidos

The operational process of completing customer orders, from receiving the order through picking, packing and dispatch. Depending on the service agreement, it can also include inventory updates and returns handling.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Gross weight

Peso bruto

The weight of goods together with the packaging included in the stated measurement. Shipment records should clarify whether pallets or other handling materials are included, so quotations and equipment planning use consistent figures.

Definition & shipping advice
International trade

Incoterms®

Incoterms®

ICC trade rules used in sales contracts to allocate delivery tasks, costs and risks between seller and buyer. The chosen rule should include a named place or port and the edition; it does not by itself determine payment terms or ownership transfer.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

Intermodal transport

Transporte intermodal

Moving goods with more than one transport mode while keeping the cargo in the same loading unit during the transfer. A container can move between vessel, train and truck without unpacking its contents at each connection.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Inventory

Inventario

The goods held by a business and the records used to track their quantities, locations and status. Reliable inventory information connects receiving, storage and order fulfillment decisions.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

Last-mile delivery

Entrega de última milla

The final distribution stage from a local facility to the receiving address. Delivery appointments, access restrictions, unloading equipment and recipient availability can determine the service requirements.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Logistics

Logística

Planning and coordination of the movement, storage and delivery of goods. Logistics connects transportation, inventory, documentation and information so a shipment can reach its destination with the agreed conditions.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

LTL — Less than Truckload

LTL — carga terrestre parcial

Ground freight in which multiple shipments share truck capacity. Rating and routing depend on factors such as cargo dimensions, weight, handling characteristics and service requirements; it is distinct from ocean LCL.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Net weight

Peso neto

The weight of the goods themselves, excluding packaging. It describes product quantity by weight, while gross weight and dimensions provide additional information needed for transport and handling.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Ocean freight

Transporte marítimo

The transport of goods by sea, commonly using containers or specialized vessel capacity. Planning considers cargo volume, sailing schedules, port handling and the inland movements needed at each end.

Definition & shipping advice
Shipping documents

Packing list

Lista de empaque / packing list

A shipment document explaining how goods are packed, such as package counts, contents, dimensions and weights. It supports receiving and inspection, but does not replace the commercial invoice.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Pallet

Paleta / pallet

A platform used to group packages into a load that can be handled with suitable lifting equipment. Dimensions, construction, stackability and load condition influence storage space and transport planning.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

Perishable cargo

Carga perecedera

Goods whose quality or useful life can deteriorate with time or unsuitable environmental conditions. Transport planning coordinates packaging, handling windows and any required temperature range throughout the shipment.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Picking

Picking / selección de mercancía

Selecting the correct items and quantities from inventory to fulfill an order. Clear product identification and location records help reduce errors before goods move to packing and dispatch.

Definition & shipping advice
Ground transportation

POD — Proof of Delivery

POD — comprobante de entrega

A record acknowledging that a shipment was delivered. It commonly captures the delivery date, receiving party and any noted exceptions, helping teams reconcile shipment status and investigate discrepancies.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Shipper

Remitente / expedidor

The party identified as sending the cargo in the transport documentation. The shipper provides shipment details and prepares or arranges the goods for collection; it may be the seller, a manufacturer or another authorized party.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Supply chain

Cadena de suministro

The network of suppliers, producers, logistics providers and customers involved in bringing a product to market. It covers sourcing and production as well as the physical distribution of goods.

Definition & shipping advice
Logistics essentials

Transit time

Tiempo de tránsito

The expected duration between two specified points in a shipment journey. Port-to-port transit and total door-to-door time measure different stages, so the start and end points should always be stated.

Definition & shipping advice
Ocean freight

Transshipment

Transbordo

The transfer of cargo from one vessel or transport service to another at an intermediate point. Connections expand route options, while adding handling steps and dependence on the connecting schedule.

Definition & shipping advice
Air freight

ULD — Unit Load Device

ULD — dispositivo unitario de carga

An aircraft container or a pallet and net assembly used to group and secure cargo for flight. Compatibility depends on the aircraft and equipment type, so an ordinary warehouse pallet is not automatically an aircraft ULD.

Definition & shipping advice
Warehousing

Warehousing

Almacenamiento

Receiving, safeguarding and organizing goods in a storage facility until they are needed for dispatch or another operation. Warehouse services can include inventory records, order preparation and coordination of outbound movements.

Definition & shipping advice

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Editorial references

Original definitions by TLI Miami. For further technical detail, consult these industry resources.

Examples are illustrative. Service scope and requirements depend on the cargo, route and agreed terms. Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.

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