We know how confusing some of our terminology is, so we’ve put together this handy glossary to help – give us a call on 0800 38 96 771 if you’d like to run through anything further!
- 3PL – Third Party Logistics. This is when a company uses the services of a third party to outsource certain elements of their distribution and fulfilment services
- Abnormal Load – An abnormal load can mean one of 4 things:
- A vehicle with a weight more than 44,000Kg
- A vehicle with a single non-driving axle load of more than 10,000Kg OR a single driving axle of more than 11,500Kg
- A vehicle with a wifth that exceeds 2.9 metres
- A vehicle with a rigid length that exceeds 18.65 metres
- Access point -A safe location you can drop off and pick up parcels from
- B2B – Used in the logistics sector to define when goods are being couriered from one business to another
- B2C -– Used in the logistics sector to define when goods are being couriered from a business to a domestic consumer
- Cargo – Another name for goods being couriered
- Carrier – A phrase to describe the company in charge of moving goods from one place to another
- Consignment – Another phrase that describes goods being couriered
- Consolidated freight – This is typically used where goods are combined to make up a full container/lorry/pallet load. This allows for lower shipping rates.
- D2D – Door to Door – This is an acronym used to describe the courier process of collecting an item from one location and delivering it to its final destination
- Dimensional weight – This is a way of commercially pricing freight based on the calculations taken from the length, weight and height of the package
- EMV (Chip & PIN) certified – We are certified to take EMV (Europay, MasterCard & Visa) payments
- Freight – Another word for goods transported in bulk
- Fully integrated same day delivery service – Our fully integrated same day delivery service means we collect and deliver goods on the same day, using the methods of transport required to achieve that goal
- Haulage – A phrase used to describe commercial transport of goods
- IATA – The International Air Transport Association. This group is responsible for setting global standards of aviation safety, security, efficiency and responsibility
- Integrator – A courier company that uses an integrated network of transportation to deliver items, such as sea, air and road.
- Intermodal – This is where the shipping process of goods uses two different methods, such as both road and rail, to reach the final destination.
- Landed cost – The total price of a product being couriered that includes the original price, transportation fees, customs, duties and taxes, insurances, handling, crating etc.
- Logistics – An overall phrase for the industry that deals with the commercial transport of goods to end users
- Physical weight – The physical weight of an object being shipped
- POD – Proof of Delivery. This is part of the tracking service offered by the majority of couriers that allows for the customer to see their goods have been delivered
- Point of origin – This is the location where a courier receives the shipment from the sender
- Pro-forma invoice – This confirms the price of a shipment to the buyer and is issued by the courier
- Remote area – This phrase describes collection/drop off locations that are far outside an urban area, such as isolated communities or islands. These lack the mass transport links that are seen in urban areas and as such are harder to access.
- Restricted items – Some carriers have a list of items they will not ship. This can be due to risk, cost or radioactivity, for example. DO GOFERS HAVE A RESTRICTED ITEMS LIST?
- Shipment value – This is the value of a shipment which forms the basis of how much it will cost to ship, including the carrier’s liability for loss, damage or delay.
- Stripe Simple Payments – We support Simple Stripe Payments, which supports all major credit cards. Stripe is the latest payment gateway that offers fast and secure service.
- Surcharge – This is an additional charge that may be added on to the cost of a shipment. There are a range of surcharges that include levels of insurance, fuel surcharge, or War Risk.
- Tracking – This service allows customers to see where and when their parcel is in transit.
- Transit insurance – This covers goods being moved from one place to another against loss, theft or damage
- Volumetric weight – See “Dimensional Weight”
Overseas Shipping
- FDA – The US Food and Drug Administration. The FDA regulate food safety and imports.
- Dutiable – Dutiable, imported goods are subject to customs duty
- FCC – The US Federal Communications Commission. The FCC regulate interstate communications such as television, satellite and radio.
- Harmonisation Code – Also known as a “tariff code”, these are an international standard to classify products. These are then used to apply rates of import duty.
- Import duty – A tax collected on imported goods. Typically based on the value of the goods. This is also known as “import tax”, “customs duty” or “import tariff”
- Import licence – This is an official document that allows the import of goods into another country
- Import tax – See “Import duty”
- Port of entry – This refers to the port/airport at which goods enter a country. The goods will be inspected by customs officials and any import duties and taxes applied.
- Port of exit – This refers to the port/airport at which goods exit a country
- Quarantine – Certain items may be quarantined until they can be inspected when being shipped overseas, such as certain wood or food products.
- SED – Shipper’s Export Declaration. Used for official US export control services for items valued at over $2,500.
- War risk – This may be a surcharge added by couriers if a shipment is being delivered to a country at high risk of war.
- Warsaw convention – An international convention that regulates the international aircraft carriage of goods (as well as persons and luggage)
