Logistics lexicon

The proof of delivery is a crucial document in transport that proves the proper delivery of a shipment. In the event of visible damage to the goods or packaging, this should be recorded in the proof of delivery in order to assert possible claims for damages.

​The ADSp, short for General German Freight Forwarder Conditions, is a recommendation that was developed in collaboration between the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Federal Association of German Industry and the Federal Association of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade.

A formal export declaration is required for the export of goods outside the European Union. The export customs office must be informed of the planned export at least 24 hours before loading begins. In addition to the registration, all documents required for export must be submitted in full.

A notification or advice refers to the prior announcement of the collection or delivery by freight forwarding company. This means that the shipping company arranges a corresponding appointment with the shippers or recipients in advance. Appointments can be made electronically, by SMS, by email or manually by telephone. Private recipients or senders are required to provide a notification.

ADR Limited Quantity (LQ) is a term from the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. This describes a threshold above which a certain quantity of a dangerous good is treated as LQ and is subject to certain special transport regulations. This regulation enables the efficient and cost-effective transport of small quantities of dangerous goods, as offered by Logisticoo.

A.TR is a certificate of origin and stands for “Adapted Transit Document” or “Other Technical Regulation” (depending on the context). This certificate is required for trade in certain goods between the European Union and Turkey. It confirms that the goods in question comply with the rules of origin and thus enables preferential tariffs in trade between these two regions.

During encounter traffic, two trucks meet at a previously agreed meeting point and exchange their loading units, be it semi-trailers or swap bodies. After the exchange, the trucks continue their journeys in different directions. This exchange often takes place at motorway rest areas or on a customer's premises, where logistics companies have the opportunity to efficiently transfer goods and optimize their routes.

Co-loading occurs when shipments that share similar routes are grouped together. This can lead to a longer delivery time, but allows costs to be spread across multiple clients because the truck is transporting multiple loads at the same time.

A collier means a unit of packaging or container used for the transport or storage of goods. This unit can be made of different materials such as cardboard, plastic, wood or foam and can come in various shapes such as boxes, pallets, stacking boxes or roll containers. Collisions are used to pack goods or goods safely and securely during transport or in storage rooms.

Cross-docking is a logistics process in which goods are transferred directly from incoming means of transport to outgoing means of transport without being temporarily stored. This reduces storage costs and speeds up delivery times. Effective coordination between the various means of transport and logistics partners is crucial for the smooth running of the cross-docking process.

A depot is a place where goods and materials are stored before they are further processed or delivered to their destination. It acts as a storage facility for goods that are not sold or used immediately, but are held until they are used. Depots have various uses including storage of raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products, goods and equipment.

Disposition refers to the planning, control and monitoring of transport processes and resources in logistics. Dispatchers are responsible for selecting and coordinating means of transport (e.g. trucks, ships, planes), drivers and routes, as well as communicating with customers, suppliers and transport service providers. The main goals of scheduling are to minimize transport costs, adhere to delivery dates and ensure high utilization of the means of transport. Disposition requires good communication, organization and decision-making, as well as the use of planning and control systems.

The Düsseldorf pallet is a pallet that meets all the requirements of industry, transport and trade. With dimensions of 80 x 60 centimeters, it corresponds to the size of half a Euro pallet and is therefore also referred to as a half pallet.

The EORI number (Economic Operators' Registration and Identification) is a unique identifier assigned by the customs authority and used to identify economic operators in the international movement of goods. This number is valid throughout the European Union (EU) and is required to complete customs formalities. The EORI number allows customs authorities to clearly identify economic operators and ensure the smooth flow of customs procedures. Companies operating in the international movement of goods must apply for an EORI number and provide it in customs declarations and procedures.

Express freight is a quick and efficient transport option for urgent and time-critical shipments. Typically offered by courier, express and parcel service providers (CEP), express freight involves the transport of documents, packages and goods with guaranteed delivery within a predefined time frame. This freight can use various modes of transport such as air, road or rail transport and often offers additional services such as shipment tracking, delivery confirmation and priority handling to ensure that shipments arrive at their destination on time and safely.

​Disposable pallets, as the name suggests, are used once for the delivery of goods and, unlike Euro pallets, are not intended for exchange. These pallets are usually made of wood and do not have uniform dimensions.

A Europallet is a standardized wooden pallet that is widely used in the Europool exchange system. The standardized size is usually 1200mm x 800mm. The pallet consists of 11 boards, nine blocks and has an average weight of around 20 to 25 kilograms. Euro pallets are often used in logistics and goods transport, especially in connection with the transport of goods in Europe. They facilitate the exchange and handling of goods in various industries

FCL stands for “Full Container Load” and describes a shipping method in which a single shipper completely fills a container with their cargo. In contrast to LCL transport (Less-than Container Load), with FCL the sender retains sole control over the entire container and its contents. FCL offers a cost-effective option for transporting large quantities of goods as the cost is calculated for the entire container, regardless of the volume or weight of the cargo. FCL also reduces the risk of damage and delays as the container is usually not opened during transport.

​The freight cost calculator allows you to quickly calculate shipping costs online. Below you have the opportunity to compare different types of transport and book the transport you want directly.

The standard delivery in the shipping company takes place in the “Free curbside” mode. The term “curbside” refers to the specific type of delivery. This is limited to loading or unloading only up to the curb or sidewalk at the specified address.

Full Truck Load (FTL) is a transport option offered by Cargoboard. With this option, the transport is carried out by a fully loaded truck that drives directly to the receiving address without any intermediate stops, without any transfer points.

A freight carrier is a company that handles the physical transportation of goods. Unlike a freight forwarder, who organizes and coordinates transportation, the freight forwarder is responsible for owning and operating the means of transportation such as trucks, ships, or airplanes. The carrier also provides the necessary personnel, such as drivers or pilots. The main tasks of a freight carrier include the safe and timely delivery of goods in compliance with all legal regulations.

Dangerous goods refers to substances and objects whose physical, chemical or biological properties may pose a potential risk to the environment, public safety or the health of people and animals. The transport of dangerous goods is subject to strict regulations and requirements, which include special packaging, labeling, documentation and training for those involved in the transport. International dangerous goods regulations vary depending on the mode of transport and include regulations such as ADR (road), RID (rail), IMDG (maritime) and IATA (air transport).

In logistics, “grid box” refers to a special transport container for storage and transport of goods. It consists of a large basket with a sturdy lattice frame and often a wooden base. The grid structure allows ventilation and good visibility of the contents. These stackable boxes save space in the warehouse and during transport. Standard dimensions vary, but are designed to fit into common logistics infrastructures.

Incoterms are international rules developed by the International Chamber of Commerce that define the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers in international trade. They clarify who is responsible for costs and risks in transport, insurance and customs formalities and regulate the transfer of risks and costs in the supply chain. Examples include “EXW” (Ex Works), “FOB” (Free on Board), “CIF” (Cost, Insurance and Freight) and “DDP” (Delivered Duty Paid). Choosing the right Incoterms is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.

Just-in-time (JIT) is a production control concept that focuses on delivering materials or goods exactly at the time of use. It relies on low inventories and close cooperation with suppliers to ensure that required materials or goods are delivered exactly when they are needed. The main goal is to reduce storage costs and increase production flexibility by minimizing inventory levels and precisely adapting deliveries to demand.

A full load, also known as FTL (Full Truck Load), refers to the transport of a load that fills the entire truck. In contrast to partial loads, the entire truck is used for a single load. This transport route is usually more cost-effective than a partial load because the transport costs can be spread over the entire load.

Contract logistics refers to the long-term takeover of complex logistical service packages by transport companies. Various basic services such as storage, handling, transport and order picking are combined. This leads to the service provider becoming a system provider for comprehensive logistics services.

​Refrigerated transport refers to the transport of temperature-sensitive goods such as food, pharmaceuticals or chemicals, where a constant temperature is required throughout the transport. Special refrigerated transport such as refrigerated trucks, refrigerated containers or refrigerated wagons are used to protect the goods from temperature fluctuations and spoilage. Compliance with the cold chain is crucial for the quality, safety and durability of the transported goods and must be monitored and documented accordingly.

A loading meter (LDM) is a unit used in logistics to measure the space required for loading and unloading vehicles or aircraft. The unit measures either horizontally or vertically the width of a truck trailer, aircraft or ship loading area. The use of a loading meter makes it possible to determine the quantities of goods that can be transported on a specific means of transport.

LCL stands for “Less-than Container Load” and describes a shipping method in which multiple shippers combine their loads in a single container. Since the shipments from different senders are transported together, the senders share the costs for the container. LCL is a suitable option for smaller loads that do not fill an entire container and offers flexibility in quantity and delivery time. However, compared to FCL, LCL can result in longer transit times and a higher risk of damage as the container can be opened and the cargoes reloaded at different transshipment points.

The standard delivery in the shipping company takes place in the “Free curbside” mode. The term “curbside” refers to the specific type of delivery. This is limited to loading or unloading only up to the curb or sidewalk at the specified address.

Air freight refers to the transport of goods using cargo aircraft. This method is particularly suitable for time-critical or high-value goods as well as for goods that cannot be transported by sea freight or truck transport due to their nature. While air freight is fast and effective, it is typically more expensive and less environmentally friendly compared to other transportation methods. Organizing air freight transport requires the coordination of airports, airlines and freight forwarders as well as compliance with security and customs regulations.

Local transport refers to transport that takes place within a radius of around 50 kilometers from the transshipment warehouse. As a rule, small vans and trucks with a permissible total weight of 5 to 12 tons are used.

A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) is a company that provides ocean freight services without operating its own ships. NVOCCs purchase cargo space from shipping companies on a large scale at favorable conditions and then sell it on to their customers. You take on the complete organization and handling of sea transport, including booking, documentation, consolidation, customs clearance and freight brokerage. NVOCCs offer their customers flexible transport solutions and the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of groupage, where smaller shipments are grouped into larger loading units. In many cases, NVOCCs also act as freight forwarders and offer additional logistics services.

Outsourcing is the process by which companies outsource certain business processes or functions to external service providers in order to reduce costs, increase efficiency or concentrate on their core competencies. In the field of logistics, outsourcing often includes outsourcing transportation, warehousing, fulfillment or supply chain management to specialized logistics service providers. Companies must carefully consider which processes should be outsourced and how they control and monitor the quality, performance and risks of collaboration with external partners.

A pallet is a flat and wide storage device used for transporting all kinds of goods. Typically made of wood, plastic or metal, it consists of a frame with four legs that form a flat surface. Pallets are easily handled and moved using forklifts or other mechanical lifting devices. They can also be used to store goods outdoors.

When exchanging pallets, which is common for Euro pallets, loaded pallets are exchanged for empty ones when they are picked up. This promotes sustainable use of the pallets as the empty ones can be reused for new loads. The exchange simplifies the process in the supply chain and helps reduce empty runs.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) is a transport method in which vehicles and rolling cargo such as cars, trucks or trains drive on their own axle onto a specially designed ship (RoRo ship) and leave again after the crossing. RoRo ships are equipped with ramps and large, open decks to make loading and unloading the vehicles easier. This method is an efficient and cost-effective solution for international shipping of vehicles and rolling cargo as it eliminates the need for containers or special packaging and reduces port handling times.

In the transport and logistics sector, groupage is referred to as the bundling of several shipments into one common load for transport. If you send your goods as groupage, this means that up to 5 pallets or a total weight of a maximum of 3 tonnes can be bundled and transported.

​Heavy cargo transport refers to the transport of oversized, heavy or bulky goods that require special equipment, vehicles and permits. These include machines, systems, components or wind turbines. Due to the special transport requirements such as height, width, length and weight, the planning and implementation of heavy goods transport is complex and requires careful coordination of everyone involved. Specialist logistics service providers in heavy goods logistics have the necessary expertise, equipment and network to carry out heavy goods transport safely, efficiently and in accordance with national and international regulations.

Sea freight is the transportation of goods across sea or ocean routes using cargo ships or container ships. This transportation method is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly for large quantities of goods over long distances. Typical sea freight includes container goods, liquid and dry bulk goods and general cargo. Sea freight processes include handling goods in ports, organizing transport and complying with international regulations and safety standards.

The term track and trace refers to the ability to check the current status of a delivery. Shipment tracking is often used to track the progress of packages. At Cargoboard you can use it to check the current location of your goods, track the time of collection and get an estimated delivery time.

​A less-than-truckload (LTL) load, also known as less-than-truckload (LTL), refers to the transportation of goods in which the shipper does not have enough goods to fill an entire truck or container. LTL loads combine goods from different shippers into a single vehicle or container, sharing costs and resources. This option is particularly cost-effective for smaller businesses or those with lower shipping volumes, as you only pay for the space you actually use. However, transit time may be longer for partial loads as multiple stops and reloads may be required to deliver all cargo to its destinations.

​A transit warehouse serves as a short-term storage facility in the supply chain to enable the efficient handling and distribution of goods. This is where goods are temporarily stored before they are transported further or consolidated with other shipments. Transit warehouses also play a role in customs clearance for goods that have not yet been cleared.

A Unit Load Device (ULD) is a standardized container or pallet system in air transport that is used to bundle, transport and unload freight efficiently and safely. ULDs allow cargo to be consolidated into one stable unit, helping to reduce loading times, labor and potential damage to cargo. They are designed to be easily stored on airplanes. ULDs come in various sizes and types that can be used for both general cargo and specialized cargo such as dangerous goods or refrigerated goods.

A transshipment point is a logistical facility where goods are transferred from one mode of transport to another. This can take place at ports, airports, train stations, shipping terminals or logistics centers. Transshipment points are used to receive, sort, temporarily store and prepare goods for further transport. They play a central role in logistics by establishing the connection between different modes of transport, senders and recipients, thus enabling supply chains to run smoothly.

If you want to ship goods to a third country, customs clearance is required in most cases. This means that both German and foreign customs require certain customs documents for a certain value of goods. Details and concrete steps can be found on the following page.

Customs is a government agency responsible for monitoring and controlling the movement of goods across borders. The main tasks of customs include collecting import and export duties, enforcing trade restrictions and combating smuggling. Customs authorities operate at international borders, ports and airports to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in the cross-border movement of goods. Companies that import or export goods typically must complete customs paperwork and pay any applicable duties, taxes or fees. Customs plays a crucial role in the logistics industry by ensuring the smooth flow of goods between countries while protecting national interests and security.

Customs clearance is the process of meeting legal and regulatory requirements when importing and exporting goods across national borders. This includes the preparation and transmission of necessary documents, the calculation and payment of customs duties and taxes, and compliance with import and export restrictions. Freight forwarders, freight forwarders and customs brokers assist companies with customs clearance to ensure proper compliance.

The customs tariff number, also known as the Harmonized System Code (HS Code), is an internationally standardized system for classifying goods and products, developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Customs tariff numbers are used to identify goods during import and export as well as to determine customs duties, taxes and trade restrictions. Each customs tariff number consists of at least six digits that categorize the respective goods based on their description and characteristics. The first two digits represent the product group, the next two digits represent the product subgroup, and the last two digits represent the specific item.