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Transport and logistics glossary
The terms the tools take for granted, explained in five languages and linked to the tool, the rule and the practice where they appear.
48 terms
A
ADR
ADR 2025 · Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route
UNECE international agreement governing the carriage of dangerous goods by road; current edition, 2025.
AETR
European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road Transport
UNECE agreement on driving and rest times that applies to international road transport outside the EU.
Air waybill (AWB)
AWB · MAWB · HAWB
The air cargo transport document, evidence of the contract and receipt of the goods; it is not a document of title.
Axle load
The weight carried by each axle of the vehicle; limits are national and can be exceeded even when the total mass is legal.
B
C
Cargo transport unit (CTU)
CTU · CTU Code
A container, swap body, semi-trailer or wagon loaded as one unit; the CTU Code (IMO/ILO/UNECE) says how to pack cargo into it.
Carrier
The party that undertakes to perform the carriage and answers for the goods from taking over until delivery.
Centre of gravity
The point where the cargo weight concentrates; the CTU Code wants it within ±5 % of the length centre and under the 60/40 rule.
Chargeable weight
Chargeable weight · CW
The greater of gross weight and volumetric weight; the basis on which freight is invoiced.
CIF
Cost, Insurance and Freight
Sea-only Incoterm: the seller pays freight and insurance to the destination port, but risk passes once the goods are on board.
CMR consignment note
CMR · e-CMR
The international road transport document, evidence of the contract and of the carrier’s receipt of the goods.
Consignee
The party to whom the goods must be delivered under the consignment note; the one who inspects them and notes reservations on receipt.
Consignor
Shipper · Sender
The party that contracts the carriage and hands the goods to the carrier; answers for packaging and for the data on the consignment note.
Container types
20’ DC · 40’ HC · Reefer · Open top · Flat rack
The usual families of sea container: 20’, 40’, 40’ high cube, reefer, open top and flat rack.
D
Daily rest
11 hours of rest in each 24-hour period, reducible to 9 h three times between two weekly rests (Reg. 561/2006, art. 8).
DAP
Delivered at Place
Any-mode Incoterm: the seller delivers at the named place, ready for unloading; the buyer clears import.
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid
The only Incoterm where the seller clears import and pays duties and taxes; the maximum obligation for the seller.
Demurrage and detention
D&D · Demurrage · Detention
Shipping-line charges when the container exceeds its free days: demurrage inside the terminal, detention outside.
Density
Kilograms per cubic metre of a shipment; decides whether it is charged by weight or by volume in each mode.
Driver CPC
CPC · CAP · Certificado de Aptitud Profesional · Code 95
The mandatory qualification for professional drivers in the EU: initial qualification plus 35 h of training every 5 years (Dir. 2022/2561).
Driving time
Limits under Reg. 561/2006: 9 h daily (10 h twice a week), 56 h weekly, 90 h in two consecutive weeks (art. 6).
E
F
FCA
Free Carrier
Any-mode Incoterm: the seller clears export and delivers to the carrier nominated by the buyer.
FOB
Free on Board
Sea-only Incoterm: the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the port of shipment; risk passes to the buyer there.
Freight forwarder
Forwarder · Forwarding agent
The professional who organises transport end to end on the customer’s behalf: modes, documents, customs and follow-up.
Full container load (FCL)
FCL · Full container load
A shipment that takes a whole container for one customer, packed and sealed by the shipper.
G
I
IMDG Code
IMDG · International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
The IMO code for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea, mandatory under the SOLAS Convention.
Incoterms
Incoterms 2020 · ICC rules
The 11 ICC rules (2020 edition) that allocate costs, risk and formalities between seller and buyer; contractual, not law.
L
Less than container load (LCL)
LCL · Less than container load
A sea shipment that shares a container with other customers’ cargo; consolidated at a warehouse and charged by weight or measure (W/M).
Limitation period
Time to bring a CMR claim before the courts: one year, or three in case of wilful misconduct or equivalent default (art. 32).
Limited quantities (LQ)
LQ
The ADR chapter 3.4 exemption: dangerous goods in small inner packagings travel under reduced requirements.
Loading metre (LDM)
LDM · Lademeter · Linear metre
One metre of trailer length at full width; the pricing unit of road transport, with a convention of about 1,750 kg per LDM.
T
Tachograph
Tacho · Smart tachograph
The device recording driving, other work, availability and rest; the evidence of compliance with Reg. 561/2006.
Tare
Tare weight
The weight of the empty container or vehicle; added to the cargo’s gross weight to get the total mass.
TEU
Twenty-foot equivalent unit
The unit equal to one 20-foot container; a 40’ counts as 2 TEU. It measures the capacity of ships, ports and lines.
Transport manager
Verkehrsleiter · Gestor de transporte
The person who effectively and continuously manages the transport activity of an operator authorised under Regulation 1071/2009.
V
Verified gross mass (VGM)
VGM · SOLAS VGM
The verified total weight of a packed container, mandatory before loading on the ship under SOLAS VI/2, by Method 1 or Method 2.
Volumetric weight
Dimensional weight · DIM weight
The shipment’s volume converted into kilograms with a factor: 1:6000 in IATA air, 1:5000 in express.