Terms	Definitions
Arbitrary	Transportation to final destination beyond base port by feeder vessel or other methods.
ANERA	Acronym for Asia North America Eastbound Rate Agreement conference of ocean carriers that agree to sell at same rate.
All Risk	Refers to freight insurance coverage, but it does not cover war, strikes, and riots. See War Coverage.
Alongside	Freight delivered "alongside" the ship and closes enough to the ship’s cranes, if any.
Automated Broker Interface (ABI)	Part of ACS that permits transmission of data pertaining to merchandise being imported into the United States. Qualified participants include brokers, importers, carriers, port authorities, and independent data processing companies referred to as service centers.
Automated Clearinghouse (ACH)	Part of ACS and paperless program that allows electronic funds transfer for payment of estimated duties, taxes, and fees on imported merchandise.
Automated Commercial System (ACS)	A system of software programs between Customs and brokers to communicate. These programs are design with the ultimate goal of paperless transaction between Customs and brokers, i.e. ACH and ABI.
BAF	Acronym for Bunker Adjustment Factor, which is the fluctuation of fuel cost.
Bill of Lading (B/L)	Serves as receipt, evidence and contract of transportation between the shipper and the carrier. Carrier will not release freight without payment of freight.
Bonded Warehouse	Customs approved warehouse for storage and/or manufacture of goods. Duties assessed and due when goods enter the U.S. for consumption. No duties due if re-exported.
C&F	Incoterm for Cost of goods and Freight See Incoterms
CY/CY	Shipping term meaning from Container Yard to Container Yard A Shipping term for Container Yard, which is a storage or transfer station for ocean containers before or after loading vessels.
CY/DOOR	Container Yard/DOOR Shipping from origin CY point to consignee’s door point
CAF	Acronym for Currency Adjustment Factor, which is the fluctuation of currency exchange.
CFS	Acronym for Container Freight Station, which is a facility for cargo loading and unloading of ocean containers.
CHB	Acronym for Customs House Broker, which is a company or individual licensed by U.S. Customs to do business as an agent with U.S. Customs.
CIF	Acronym for Cost, Insurance, and Freight See Incoterms
Caged	Stored at bonded warehouse
Cargo Selectivity System (CSS)	It is how Customs selects freight or documentation to be examined. Examinations are chosen by the risk of importer and manufacturer or activities with certain tariff numbers.
Carnet	Customs document, valid for one year, used for merchandise imported for temporary basis.
Commercial Invoice	A document between the sellers to the buyer indicating description of goods, price sold and country of origin.
Consignee	To whom goods have been consigned on the bill of lading.
Consolidator	A company that consolidates freight owned by varies parties into one container.
Consular Invoice	Certified by a foreign country via embassy or consular office in the U.S.
Customs Broker	An individual or company licensed by U.S. Customs as a broker between Customs and an importer.
Customs Clearance	The process to obtain Customs authorizes to release freight and pay duties. Customs is required to follow the laws of other agencies, i.e. FCC, FDA and ATF.
Customs Import Value	Customs, not the importer or exporter, determines the transaction value of the goods.
DDP	Deliver Duty Paid See Incoterms
DDU	Deliver Duty Unpaid See Incoterms
Demurrage	Storage fees
Deposit of Estimated Duties	Applies in antidumping duties entries which duties must be paid to Customs upon entry.
Documents Against Acceptance (D/A)	Shipper releases all documents to the bank for control and releasement of payment for goods. The bank releases documents when the consignee accepts of attached draft. Usually a deferred payment date is involved.
Documents Against Payment (D/P)	Shipper releases all documents to the bank for control and releasement of payment for goods. The bank releases documents when the consignee pays the value of the draft. No deferred payment date is involved.
Drawback	Duties payment refunded because freight is re-exported or for similar circumstances.
Duty	A tax applied to goods imported.
Entry Summary System	Summary of merchandise categorize by HTS and monies due U.S. Customs.
Ex-Dec	See Shipper’s Export Declaration
Ex-Factory	Indicates that the buyer responsible for transportation from door of factory.
Ex Works	The buyer responsible for transportation from door of the agreed location, i.e. warehouse or distribution center.
Federal Maritime Commission	Federal Maritime Commission is a U.S. government agency that regulates the prices for import and export of ocean containers.
Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU)	Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit is the value of one forty-foot container. Two twenty-foot containers equal one forty-foot equivalent.
Free On Board (FOB)	See Incoterms
Freight for All Kinds (FAK)	Freight All Kinds – terms for consolidated freight and require three or more commodities.
Freight Forwarder	A licensed business under FMC and/or IATA to coordinate the traffic of freight and related business.
Gross Weight	Total weight of containers with inner packing included.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)	Harmonized Tariff Schedule is the international coding system for commodities.
Incoterms	International freight terms used to specify the responsibility of cost between a seller and a buyer.
Insurance Certificate	Proof of insurance and coverage
Integrated Carriers	Carriers that have a combination of transportation methods, i.e. sea, rail, and truck.
Intermediate Consignee	It can be a bank or forwarding agent.
Intermodal	Shipping containers by more than one mode of transport, ie. rail and ocean vessel.
Letter of Credit	Bank guarantees payments to shipper/seller if all terms are sufficed.
NVO	Non-Vessel Operating acts as a carrier by buying space with carriers that have vessels and licensed by FMC.
NVOCC	Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier acts as a carrier by buying space with carriers that have vessels and licensed by FMC.
Packing List	Document listing breakdown of packing and/or piece count.
Political Risk	Refers to freight insurance coverage and/or currency fluxuation.
Pro Forma Invoice	An invoice composed in lieu of original invoice.
Quotas	Quantity of one HTS item allowed into the U.S. at either higher or lower rate of duties.
Shipper's Export Declaration (SED or Ex-Dec)	Shipper’s Export Declaration is a form required by Census bureau for export statistical purposes. It consist mainly of shipper name, IRS number, consignee name, HTS, value and shipping details.
Shipper Letter of Instructions (SLI)	Shipper Letter of Instruction is a carbon form that services as Ex-Dec and/or bill of lading instructions. It consists mainly of shipper name, IRS number, consignee name, HTS, value and shipping details plus freight terms.
Tare Weight	The weight of an empty container.
Tariff	A tax and/or duty assessed by Customs based on origin and commodity.
Temporary Importation Bond (TIB)	Temporary Importation Bond is for shipments entering the U.S. on temporary basis.
Through Bill of Lading	One bill of lading that covers receipt of the container from all points, i.e. rail transit and ocean transit.
Transshipment	A port of call for an ocean vessel or airplane before final destination of containers. Sometimes the containers are transloaded onto another vessel or airplane.
Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)	Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit is the value of one twenty-foot container. Two twenty-foot containers equal one forty-foot equivalent.
War/Strike Clause	Freight insurance coverage for risks of war, strikes, and riots. See All Risks
With Average	A freight insurance term meaning that a shipment is protected from partial damage whenever the damage exceeds 3 percent (or some other percentage). If the ship is involved in a major catastrophe, such as a collision, fire or stranding, the minimum percentage requirement is waived and the insurance company pays for all of the damage.

The terms are international shipping terms, Incoterms and/or banking terms. The definitions described on this page are intended for easy reference and not intended for legal definition.