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Exact Express^® Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W
Abbreviations | Reference Symbols | Rules & Conditions

A

Advanced Charge–the amount of freight or other charge on a shipment advanced by one transportation line to another, or to the shipper to be collected from the consignee.

Agent–a person authorized to transact business for and in the name of another.

Aggregate Shipments–numerous shipments from different shippers to one consignee that are consolidated and treated as a single consignment.

Application of Rates–the points from, to or between to which the rates and routes shown in the publication, pricing agreement or customer contract apply.

Arrival Notice–a notice to the consignee of the arrival of a shipment.

Assign–to transfer to another party.

B

Base Amount–the applicable rate multiplied by the weight.

Basing Rate–a rate used only for the purpose of constructing other rates.

Bill of Lading–a commercial shipping document which serves three distinct purposes in connection with the carriage of goods. An itemized list of goods contained in a shipment. It is a receipt from Yellow for the goods, represents the contract for carriage and serves as a document of title.

Straight Bill of Lading–a non-negotiable document by which a transportation company acknowledges receipt of a shipment and contracts for its movement. The surrender of the original straight bill of lading is not required by transportation lines on delivery of the shipment except when necessary for the purpose of identifying the consignee.

Order Bill of Lading–a negotiable document by which a transportation line acknowledges receipt of a shipment and contracts for its movement. The surrender of the original straight bill of lading, properly endorsed, is required by transportation lines on delivery of the shipment in accordance with the terms of the bill of lading.

Bonded Warehouse–a warehouse approved by the Treasury Department used for storing goods until duties are paid or goods are otherwise properly released.

Business Hours–8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays.

C

Capacity–amount of goods that can be carried in a truck or trailer expressed in terms of weight and measurement.

Capacity Load–that quantity of goods which, in the manner loaded, fills a vehicle to the extent that no additional article in the shipping form tendered identical in size to the largest article in the shipment can be loaded.

Carrier’s Freight Terminal–the shipment depot or station of the carrier at which shipments are ordinarily loaded or unloaded.

Cargo–the lading of a motor vehicle.

Cartage–shipment hauling between locations in the same city, town, suburb or local area.

Claim–a written demand made on a transportation provider for payment because of loss or damage alleged to have occurred while shipment was in the provider's possession. Demand of a refund due to overcharge.

Classification (rating)–the class to which an article is assigned for the purpose of applying transportation charges.

COD–cash or check paid for goods at delivery, which may include the cost of shipping.

Collector of Customs–a representative of the U.S. Treasury Department acting for the government in connection with foreign traffic.

Combination Rate–a rate made by combining two or more rates in different publications.

Combination Through Rate–a through rate made by combining two or more rates in different publications.

Commercial Zone–a geographical area of commercial influence of a specified point.

Commodity–any article of a shipment. Goods shipped.

Commodity Rate–a rate applicable to an article described or named in the publication containing the rate.

Connecting Carrier–a carrier that has a direct physical connection with another or forms a connecting link between two or more carriers.

Consignee–the person or organization to whom goods are shipped.

Cubic Foot–1,728 cubic inches.

Cubic Capacity–the carrying capacity of a truck according to measurement in cubic feet.

CWT–per hundred weight.

D

Delivery–the act of transferring possession, such as the transfer of property from shipper to carrier, one carrier to another or carrier to consignee.

Destination–the place to which a shipment is consigned.

Detention–a charge made for a vehicle held by or for shipper or consignee for loading or unloading, for forwarding directions or for any other purpose.

Direct–by the route of a single carrier.

Distribution–generally considered to be the act of delivering less-than-truckload shipments inside a city or an area beyond.

Diversion–any shipment relinquished to the shipper, consignee or his agent at point of origin or intermediate point or before the shipment has reached its final or ultimate destination

Dock–the platform where trucks are loaded and unloaded.

Doubles Trailer–A trailer not exceeding twenty-nine (29) feet in length.

Dunnage–the material used to protect or support shipments in or on trucks.

Duty–a tax levied by a government on the import, export, use or consumption of goods.

E

En route–on the way.

Entry (Customs)–a statement of the kinds, quantities and values of goods imported together with duties due, if any, declared before a customs office or other designated officer.

Exclusive Use of Trailer–a shipper's request made on the bill of lading for the complete use of a trailer.

Export–any traffic having a subsequent movement to a foreign country.

Extended Service–a service Yellow offers in addition to goods transportation, such as stopping in transit to complete loading or to partially unload or storage.

F

Freight All Kinds (FAK)–the abbreviation applied to a pooling of different commodities for simplification of rating or pricing.

Fixed Charges–charges that do not vary with an increase or decrease in traffic.

Fork Lift–a machine used to pick up and move goods loaded on pallets or skids.

Free Time–the period allowed the owner to accept delivery before storage charges begin to accrue.

Freight–merchandise hauled by a transportation line.

Freight Bill–Document for common carrier shipment, giving description of the freight, amount of charges, taxes and whether prepaid or collect. Charges paid by the shipper are called prepaid freight bills. Charges collected at designation are called destination or collect freight bills.

G

G.B.L.–Government Bill of Lading.

Gross Weight–the weight of an article together with the weight of its container and the material used in packing. As applied to a truck, the weight of the truck together with the weight of its entire contents.

H

Hazardous Material (HM)–a substance or material which has been determined by the Department of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce. A complete listing of hazardous material can be found in 49 CFR 172.101.

Hundred Weight–a statement of weight meaning 100 pounds, abbreviated CWT.

I

Import–any traffic having previous movement from a foreign country.

In-Bond–shipments moving under U.S. Customs Bond.

Inland Carrier–a transportation line that hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland points.

Interchange–transfer of freight from one carrier to another.

Interline–between two or more carriers.

Interstate–traffic having origin in one state and destination in another state.

Intrastate–traffic having origin, destination and entire transportation within the same state.

J

Joint Traffic–traffic handled by more than one carrier.

K

Knocked Down–an article taken apart, folded or telescoped so as to reduce its normal cubage when set up or assembled by 33 1/3 percent.

Knocked Down Flat–an article taken apart, folded or telescoped so as to reduce its normal cubage when set up or assembled by 66 2/3 percent.

L

Lading–that which constitutes a load. The shipments in a vehicle.

Legal Holidays:

LTL (Less-than-Truckload)–a quantity of goods less than that required for the application of truckload rate.

Line haul–the movement of goods between cities, excluding pickup and delivery service.

Local Reconsignment–reconsignment in the local (direct) delivering area of the original destination terminal. Local deliveries are those points served direct and are within twenty-five (25) miles of the original destination point.

Local Terminal–a local facility of a transportation line.

Loose–not packed.

M

Marks–letters, numbers or characters placed on a package for identification.

Maximum Rate–the highest rate that may be charged.

Memorandum Bill of Lading–the third part of a multiple-set bill of lading.

Mileage Rate–rates applied according to distance.

Minimum Charge–the least charge for which a shipment will be handled.

Minimum Rate–the lowest rate that may be charged.

Mixed Truckload–a truckload of different articles combined into a single shipment.

Mode–means of transportation by one of the following methods: air, water, highway or rail.

Motor Vehicle–any vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used on the highways to transport passengers or property.

N

National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)–a publication for motor carriers containing rules, descriptions and ratings on all goods moving in commerce.

Nested–packed one within another.

Net Linehaul Charges–determined by multiplying the weight of each item in the shipment times the applicable rates, less any discounts, plus any applicable premiums.

Net Weight–the weight of an article exclusive of packaging or dunnage.

Notice–information given, signifying the accomplishment of an act, such as the placement of a trailer for loading or unloading.

O

Overage–excess goods over the quantity thought to have been shipped, or more than the quantity shown on the shipping document.

P

Packing List–a detailed inventory of items contained in a shipment.

Pallet–a small wooden, paper or metal platform usually with top and bottom, on which packaged goods are placed to facilitate movement by some type of shipment-handling equipment.

P & D–shipment pickup and delivery.

Pickup–service of a carrier in calling for and collecting goods to be transported over its line.

Point of Entry–a port at which foreign goods are admitted into the receiving country. Ports of entry are officially designated by the government.

Point of Origin–the terminal that picks up goods from a shipper.

Prepaid–a term denoting that transportation charges have been paid or are to be paid at the point of shipment.

Prior to Tender of Delivery–before shipment has been loaded on delivery vehicle (in cases where shipment is transferred to city delivery vehicle for delivery) or before shipment has been dispatched for delivery (in cases where shipment is not transferred to city vehicle for delivery).

Private Residence–apartments, churches, schools, camps and other such locations not generally recognized as commercial locations and shall apply to the entire premises, except any part of the premises where commercial or business activity is conducted that involves the sales of services, products or merchandise to the walk-in public during normal business hours.

PRO–a number issued to each shipment by the carrier and used for computer tracking of the shipment to its destination.

Prohibited Articles–articles that will not be handled.

Proof of Delivery–(also called P.O.D.) the copy of the freight bill signed by receiver at time of delivery.

Proportional Rate–a rate specifically published to be used only as a factor in making a combination through rate.

R

Rate–the charge for transporting goods.

Rate Basis Number–number used to determine rates applicable between two points.

Rate Basis Point–point on which rates are made or at which the rate is divided; or point to which other points are assigned for purposes of determining rates.

Rate Scale–a table of rates graduated according to distances or zones.

Reconsignment–a change in the route, made in a consignment before the arrival of the goods at their billed destination; or any change made in a consignment after the arrival of goods at their billed destination when the change is made under conditions that make it subject to Yellow reconsignment rules and charges.

Released Value–value of goods set by shipper in consideration of rate to be charged.

Reshipment–goods reshipped under conditions that do not make the act subject to the reconsignment rules and charges of the carrier.

Restricted Articles–articles handled only under certain conditions.

Return to Shipper–any shipment returned to the same location at which it was originally tendered to the carrier.

Route–the course or direction that a shipment moves.

S

Seal–a device for fastening or locking the doors of a truck.

Scale of Rates–numerous rates adjusted with reaction to each other.

Semi-Trailer–a vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests on, or is carried by, a towing vehicle.

Set-Up–a term denoting complete assembly of an article or an assembled article.

Shipment–one or more pieces of freight with the same shipper or consignee.

Shipper–company or individual who initiates the transport of goods.

Shipping Order–The Yellow copy of the bill of lading.

Shipper Load and Count–the process by which the shipper places goods into the Yellow trailer at his own site. With shipper Load and Count, there is no opportunity for joint check of the goods by shipper and Yellow. The shipper is responsible for the proper loading and verification of the goods being shipped.

Split Pickup or Delivery–picking up or delivering volume shipments at more than one place within the confines of origin or destination points.

Storage–a charge made on property stored.

Storage-in-Transit–storage of property at a point other than the origin or destination of a shipment under application of a through rate.

Store Door Delivery–the movement of goods to the consignee's place of business.

Straight truck–the power unit and goods storage is on one vehicle.

T

Tare Weight–the weight of a container and the material used for packing.

Tender–to offer goods for transportation or to offer to place trucks for loading or unloading.

Terminal–a building for the handling and temporary storage of freight, pending transfer between locations.

Third Party–a payor of the freight charges shown on the bill of lading that is neither the shipper or consignee.

Through Rate–a rate applicable from point of origin to destination. A through rate may be either a joint rate or a combination of two or more rates.

Tonnage–the number of tons of goods handled.

Tractor–motive power used to pull one or more shipment-carrying vehicles.

Truckload (TL)–quantity of goods required to fill a truck. When used in connection with shipping rates, the quantity of goods necessary to qualify shipment for a truckload rate.

U

U. S. Mainland–the 48 contiguous states.

V

Valuation, Actual–actual value of goods required to be shown on the bill of lading by shippers, where rate applied depends on that fact.

Vehicle–either a trailer that does not exceed 50 feet in length, or 2 trailers, each of which does not exceed 29 feet in length.

W

Warehouse–a place for the receipt and storage of goods.

Waybill–description of goods sent with a common carrier shipment (Same as freight bill).

Abbreviations

Reference Symbols