Geniemove >> Glossary of shipping terms >> Auto transport glossary
Auto Transport Glossary
Always Afloat- Always Afloat (In some ports the ship aground when approaching, or at berth.)
- Against All Risks
- Against All Risks (insurance clause)
- Association of American Railroads
- Abaft
- A point beyond the midpoint of a ships length, towards the rear or stern.
- Abandont
- A proceeding wherein a shipper/consignee seeks authority to abandon all or parts of their cargo.
- Abatement
- A discount allowed for damage or overcharge in the payment of a bill.
- ABI
- U.S. Customs' "Automated Broker Interface," by which brokers file importers' entries electronically. .
- Aboard
- Referring to cargo being put, or laden, onto a means of conveyance.
- Absorption
- One carrier assumes the charges of another without any increase in charges to the shipper.
- Acceptance
- A time draft (or bill of exchange) that the drawee (payer) has accepted and is unconditionally obligated to pay at maturity.
- Broadly speaking, any agreement to purchase goods under specified terms.
- Accessorial Charges
- Charges that are applied to the base tariff rate or base contract rate, e.g., bunkers, container, currency, destination/delivery.
- Acquiescence
- When a bill of lading is accepted or signed by a shipper or shipper's agent without protest, the shipper is said to acquiesce to the terms, giving a silent form of consent.
- Acquittance
- A written receipt in full, in discharge from all claims.
- ACS
- U.S. Customs' master computer system, "Automated Commercial Systems."
- Act of God
- An act beyond human control, such as lightning, flood or earthquake.
- Ad Valorem
- A term from Latin meaning, "according to value."
- Administrative Law Judge
- A representative of a government commission or agency vested with power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, take testimony, and conduct hearings of cases submitted to, or initiated by, that agency. Also called Hearing Examiner.
- Admiralty (Adm)
- Refers to marine matters such as an Admiralty Court.
- Advance
- To move cargo up line to a vessel leaving sooner than the one booked. (See "Roll.")
- Advanced Charge
- Transportation charge advanced by one carrier to another to be collected by the later carrier from the consignor or consignee.
- Adventure
- Shipment of goods on shipper's own account. A bill of adventure is a document signed by the master of the ship that carries goods at owner' risk.
- Advice of Shipment
- A notice sent to a local or foreign buyer advising that shipment has gone forward and containing details of packing, routing, etc. A copy of the invoice is often enclosed and, if desired, a copy of the bill of lading.
- Advising Bank
- A bank operating in the seller's country, that handles letters of credit in behalf of a foreign bank.
- Affreightment, Contract of
- An agreement by an ocean carrier to provide cargo space on a vessel at a specified time and for a specified price to accommodate an exporter or importer.
- Aft
- Movement toward the stern (back end) of a ship.
- Agency Tariff
- A tariff published by an agent on behalf of several carriers.
- Agent (Agt.)
- A person authorized to transact business for and in the name of another person or company. Types of agent are: (1) brokers, (2) commission merchants, (3) resident buyers, (4) sales agents, 5) manufacturer's representatives.
- Aggregate Shipment
- Numerous shipments from different shippers to one consignee that are consolidated and treated as a single consignment.
- Agreed valuation
- The value of a shipment agreed upon in order to secure a specific freight rate.
- Agreed Weight
- The weight prescribed by agreement between carrier and shipper for goods shipped in certain packages or in a certain number.
- A.I.D
- Agency for International Development.
- Air Waybill
- The forwarding agreement or carrying agreement between shipper and air carrier and is issued only in nonnegotiable form.
- All In
- The total price to move cargo from origin to destination, inclusive of all charges.
- Alongside
- A phrase referring to the side of a ship. Goods delivered "alongside" are to be placed on the dock or barge within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded.
- Alternative Rates
- Privilege to use the rate producing the lowest charge.
- Ambient Temperature
- The temperature of a surrounding body. The ambient temperature of a container is the atmospheric temperature to which it is exposed.
- American Bureau of Shipping
- U.S. classification society which certifies seagoing vessels for compliance to standardized rules regarding construction and maintenance.
- AMS
- The U.S. Customs' "Automated Manifest System."
- Anti-Dumping Duty
- A tariff imposed to discourage sale of foreign goods, subsidized to sell at low prices detrimental to local manufacturers.
- Any Quantity (A.Q.)
- Usually refers to a rating that applies to an article regardless of size or quantity.
- Apparent Good Order
- When freight appears to be free of damage so far as a general survey can determine.
- Appraisement
- Determination of the dutiable value of imported merchandise by a Customs official who follows procedures outlined in their country's tariff, such as the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930.
- Appraiser's Stores
- The warehouse or public stores to which samples of imported goods are taken to be inspected, analyzed, weighed, etc. by examiners or appraisers.
- Arbitrary
- A stated amount over a fixed rate to one point to make a rate to another point.
- Average
- See insurance.
- Arrival Notice
- A notification by carrier of ship's arrival to the consignee, the "Notify Party," and - when applicable - the "Also Notify Party." These parties in interest are listed in blocks 3, 4 and 10, respectively, of the Bill of Lading.
- ASC X12
- American Standards Committee X12 responsible for developing EDI standards for the United States.
- Assignment
- A term commonly used in connection with a bill of lading. It involves the transfer of rights, title and interest in order to assign goods by endorsing the bill of lading.
- Astern
- Behind a vessel
- Move in a reverse direction..
- A.T.A.
- American Trucking Association.
- ATDNSHINC
- Any time Day or Night Sundays & Holidays Included.
- Athwartships
- A direction across the width of a vessel.
- Avoirdupois Pound
- Same as 0.4535924277 kilograms.