Freight forwarding glossary

Guide information

Audience: every role - CS, Sales, Operations, Documentation, Accounting

Reading time: not read start to finish - look up one term at a time, under a minute each

Use this page to: confirm what a term on a screen, report or document means before you act on it or repeat it to a customer or carrier

Quick reference for sea freight, air freight, road freight, and CFS terminology used throughout the Freight Forwarding Management documentation.

Note

The guides explain specialist terms when they first appear. Use this glossary to check a term or abbreviation before you use it with a customer, carrier, or colleague. It is especially useful for:

• New staff (CS, Sales, Documentation) who need a quick lookup while reading the guides.

• Implementation teams who need to cross-reference how Viindoo labels terms against industry standards.

• End users who want to confirm an abbreviation seen in a report or dashboard.

Notation in the guides: the first occurrence of a term is written in full with abbreviation as Full Name (abbreviation); subsequent occurrences use only the abbreviation.

Ports & Transport

Carrier

The company providing the booked transport service for a leg. Depending on the mode, this may be a shipping line, an airline, or a road transport company. Use the specific name when the context is clear; do not use shipping line for air or road transport.

Pre-carriage

The inland move from the pickup point to the export port or cargo terminal, before the main transport begins.

Main carriage

The primary transport leg between the origin and destination ports or terminals. It may be by sea, air, or road, depending on the service.

On-carriage

The inland move from the destination port or cargo terminal to the delivery point, after the main transport arrives.

POL (Port of Loading)

The export port - where the container is loaded onto the vessel.

POD (Port of Discharge)

The destination port - where the container is discharged from the vessel.

CY (Container Yard)

The container yard at the port where containers are staged before loading or after discharge.

CFS (Container Freight Station)

The warehouse where LCL cargo is consolidated into or deconsolidated out of a container - used for both export stuffing and import breakdown.

FCL (Full Container Load)

Cargo booked and handled as a full container rather than as shared LCL space. The container does not need to be physically filled to capacity.

LCL (Less than Container Load)

Consolidated cargo sharing a container - multiple shippers share one container and pay freight based on volume or weight.

T/S (Transshipment)

Cargo transferred through an intermediate port - the container is discharged and reloaded at a third port before reaching the POD.

Consolidator

A forwarder that aggregates multiple house shipments into one master shipment to purchase freight from a carrier at a combined rate. For LCL and air consolidation, the consolidator is responsible for the master booking, cutoffs, and cost allocation per house.

Co-loader

A partner forwarder that accepts LCL cargo from another forwarder to include in their own master shipment. Used when a company sells a lane it does not self-consolidate.

ULD (Unit Load Device)

Specialized pallets or containers used to load cargo onto aircraft. Forwarders typically manage piece counts, house references, and Chargeable Weight; ULD assignment is usually handled by the airline or air cargo terminal.

Deadlines (Cutoffs & Free Time)

CY Cutoff

The deadline for delivering a container to the CY - missing it means a missed vessel and a Roll Over to the next sailing.

SI Cutoff

The deadline for submitting the Shipping Instruction to the carrier - the carrier issues the MBL based on this submission.

VGM Cutoff

The deadline for submitting Verified Gross Mass - containers without a confirmed VGM are not permitted on board under SOLAS regulations.

CFS Cutoff

The deadline for delivering cargo to the CFS - applies to LCL; missing it means missing the master shipment.

Free Time

The period the carrier or terminal allows before specified container charges can apply. The start event and day-counting rules vary, so check the carrier’s notice for each shipment.

Last Free Day

The last date covered by the free-time allowance for the shipment. Confirm the arrival date, number of free days, and counting rule with the carrier or its agent before sharing this date with the consignee.

Detention Start

In Viindoo, this field is Free Time End + 1, calculated from the shipment ATA and configured free days. Confirm the carrier’s actual detention allowance and billing dates separately; the displayed date does not establish the carrier’s chargeable days.

Documents

SI (Shipping Instruction)

The instruction a forwarder sends to the carrier - the carrier uses this to issue the MBL.

HBL (House Bill of Lading)

The bill of lading the forwarder issues for the transport it arranges for its customer. Check it against the carrier’s Master Bill of Lading and the agreed shipment details.

MBL (Master Bill of Lading)

The bill of lading the main carrier issues for the main transport. A forwarder may use it alongside one or more House Bills of Lading, depending on how the cargo is arranged.

Consignment

Cargo accepted for transport under a carrier’s contract or transport document. Its exact meaning depends on the mode and document; in these guides, the Viindoo freight job is called a shipment.

HAWB (House Air Waybill)

The air waybill a forwarder issues to the shipper (the air freight equivalent of an HBL).

MAWB (Master Air Waybill)

The air waybill the airline issues to the forwarder (the air freight equivalent of an MBL).

D/O (Delivery Order)

The release document issued at the destination port - the consignee presents this to take delivery of the cargo.

VGM (Verified Gross Mass)

The verified total weight of a packed container - mandatory under the SOLAS convention.

SM1 (Weighing Method 1)

Weighing the entire packed container on a calibrated weighbridge. The result is the VGM directly. Preferred method because it is the most accurate.

SM2 (Calculation Method 2)

Summing the individually weighed cargo pieces (each with a separate weight certificate) plus the container tare weight. Used when a full-capacity weighbridge is not available.

EIR (Equipment Interchange Receipt)

The container handover receipt between the port/depot and the truck - confirms Gate-out or Empty Return.

Arrival Notice

The notification a forwarder sends to the consignee advising that the cargo has arrived, with delivery instructions and charges due.

Outturn Report

The cargo condition report produced at a CFS after deconsolidation of an LCL container - records the actual condition of each house shipment.

Telex Release

Electronic B/L release: the carrier instructs its destination agent to release the cargo to the consignee without presentation of an original paper B/L. Commonly used when shipper and consignee have settled payment or operate within a trusted network.

VNACCS/VCIS

Vietnam Customs’ electronic customs declaration system. In the current Viindoo Freight module, customs declarations are processed outside Viindoo; Viindoo stores shipment data, documents, and customs clearance milestones for operational cross-reference.

Container Execution Milestones

Empty Pickup

The truck collects an empty container from the depot or port and brings it to the warehouse for stuffing. This is the first milestone in the export flow.

Stuffing

Loading cargo into the container at the warehouse or CFS and sealing it. VGM can only be submitted after Stuffing is complete.

Gate-in

The container enters the CY at the export port - the prerequisite for loading onto the vessel and the point at which a Container Exception can be recorded if an issue occurs.

Loaded on Vessel

The container is lifted onto the vessel - the final milestone in the export flow, and the date the carrier records as on board on its MBL.

Arrived

The vessel/container arrival milestone. In Viindoo, container free-time dates use the shipment’s ATA and configured free days; marking a container Arrived does not set the shipment ATA. The carrier’s demurrage period may start from discharge instead of vessel arrival, so check the applicable terms.

Customs Cleared

The destination customs authority grants clearance - the prerequisite for the container to leave the port.

Gated Out

The full container exits the destination terminal. Under separate demurrage/detention terms, this normally ends the demurrage period and starts the detention period. Chargeable days depend on the agreed free time and tariff.

Unstuffed

Cargo is unloaded from the container at the warehouse or CFS. This milestone may be skipped for FCL direct delivery.

Empty Return

The empty container is returned to the carrier’s depot - the final milestone in the import flow and the point at which detention stops accruing.

Charges & Incoterms

THC (Terminal Handling Charge)

Port handling charge - billed per container and varies by port and container size.

DEM (Demurrage)

The fee charged by the carrier for holding a container at the port beyond the free time allowance.

DET (Detention)

The fee charged by the carrier for holding a container outside the port beyond the free time allowance - calculated from Gate-out until Empty Return.

W/M (Weight or Measurement)

Industry term for freight priced on whichever is larger between weight and volume. Not a label on any Viindoo screen - Viindoo applies the same principle under two different names depending on the mode of transport: Revenue Ton for ocean LCL, below, and Chargeable Weight for air, further below.

Revenue Ton

The freight-basis quantity for ocean LCL pricing: the greater of (total weight in kg / 1,000) and total volume in CBM. Not a separate field on the shipment or booking - it is the Quantity on the Ocean LCL charge line. For example, cargo weighing 850 kg and measuring 5 CBM has a chargeable quantity of 5 revenue tons. If a minimum charge applies, confirm the minimum in the rate agreement before quoting.

Chargeable Weight

The billing weight used primarily in air freight. Calculated as the greater of Gross Weight and Volumetric Weight. Incorrect dimension or weight declarations will cause per-kg quotes and invoices to differ significantly from the airline’s figures.

CIC (Container Imbalance Charge)

A surcharge carriers apply to compensate for repositioning empty containers between trade lanes.

FOB (Free On Board)

Incoterm: the shipper bears cost and risk until cargo is on board the vessel at POL; the consignee bears the remainder.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)

Incoterm: the shipper covers cost, insurance, and freight to POD; risk transfers at POL.

CPT (Carriage Paid To)

Incoterm: the shipper pays freight to a named destination; risk transfers when cargo is handed to the first carrier.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

Incoterm: the shipper bears all costs, duties, and risk to the named delivery point in the buyer’s country - the highest level of shipper responsibility under Incoterms.

Tip

You read Revenue Ton correctly when: the Ocean LCL charge line of House 1 of the Hai Phong - Singapore LCL export shows Quantity 5.0 (850 kg, 5 CBM), not 0.85 or 850.

Roles & Classification

Shipment Role

Classifies a shipment as Direct (a standalone shipment, not part of any consolidation), Master (Consol) (a shipment that groups cargo for one sailing or flight - the result of Consolidation, below), or House LCL (one shipper’s cargo inside a Master). Locked once the shipment already has a House linked to it or is itself linked to a Master. These are shipment-record roles; they are separate from load mode (FCL/LCL) and from House or Master bill-of-lading documents.

Carriage Role

Identifies where a transport leg or quoted service sits in the journey: Pre-Carriage is the move to the origin port or cargo terminal, Main Carriage is the primary transport, and On-Carriage is the move from the destination port or terminal to delivery. A quoted service line uses the same role as the leg it prices.

Exception Scenarios

Roll Over

Cargo misses its vessel due to a missed cutoff or carrier overbooking and is rescheduled to the next sailing. The container and cargo are intact - only the voyage and ETD change.

Not Loaded

A container fails to board the vessel due to a container, cargo, or documentation issue: broken seal, overweight, or incorrect paperwork. The root cause must be resolved before placing a new booking.

Shut Out

Carrier terminology for a container excluded from a sailing. Can result from a Roll Over (carrier-initiated) or a Not Loaded (container fails to qualify).

Container Exception

The exception status recorded in Viindoo when a container encounters an issue on the export flow. Two types: Rolled Over and Not Loaded. Applies to export direction only.

Short Shipment

Cargo quantity is less than declared - identified when re-weighed at a CFS or reported in an Outturn Report at the POD.

Consolidation

Grouping multiple LCL shipments from different shippers into one master shipment under one container.

Deconsolidation

Breaking down a master shipment into individual house shipments at the POD - mandatory before delivering to each LCL consignee.

Dashboard & Reporting

Spreadsheet Dashboard

A dashboard type in Viindoo built on the Spreadsheet engine - displays data as KPI scorecards, charts, and tables. Read-only: you cannot edit data directly; use filters and drill-down to explore.

Scorecard (KPI Card)

A summary metric tile in the top row of a Spreadsheet Dashboard. Each card measures one specific business indicator (shipment count, revenue, profit, etc.).

Delivery Status

The actual delivery status of a shipment: Early (arrived ahead of schedule), On Time (arrived as scheduled), Late (ETA has passed without arrival), In Transit (en route, on-time or late not yet determined). It is recalculated when the shipment’s ETA, state or tracking changes, not by the passing of time alone.

Tracking Alert Status

The Tracking Alert of a shipment, set from its latest tracking update: On Track, At Risk (signs of potential delay such as a slow vessel or port congestion), Off Track or On Hold. Do not confuse with Delivery Status - this is a separate alert used for proactive risk monitoring.

Profitability Report

The shipment profit report - one row per shipment, with revenue counted from confirmed sales order lines and cost counted only from posted vendor bills. Early in a shipment’s life its profit can therefore read higher than the Gross Profit on the Charges tab.

Period Filter

The global time filter on a Spreadsheet Dashboard, Last 90 Days by default. On the Freight Dashboard it narrows every KPI scorecard by creation date - including current-state counts such as Total Shipments and Delayed - and the Delayed & At Risk Shipments list by ETA; only the Expected Arrival Timeline chart ignores it.

Troubleshooting

I searched a form for “Revenue Ton” or “W/M” and found no such field

Symptom: none of the shipment, booking or charge forms show a field labeled Revenue Ton or W/M.

Cause: neither is a Viindoo field label - both are industry terms for how a price is set, not screen labels. See W/M above for where each one actually shows up.

Fix: for ocean LCL, read the Quantity column of the automatically generated Ocean LCL charge line; for air freight, read the Chargeable Weight (kg) field.

Shipment Role shows as read-only and cannot be changed

Symptom: the Shipment Role radio buttons (Direct / Master (Consol) / House LCL) do not respond to clicks.

Cause: the role locks once the shipment already has a House linked to it, or is itself linked to a Master - by design, once consolidation has started, a shipment cannot switch role.

Fix: this is expected; create a new shipment if a different role is needed.

Common Port & Carrier Codes (Vietnam)

Sea carriers: COSCO, Evergreen, ONE, Maersk, CMA CGM, SITC, Wan Hai, HMM, Yang Ming.

Air carriers: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, Korean Air Cargo.

Frequently used UN/LOCODE port codes:

Code	Port	Country
VNHPH	Hai Phong	Vietnam
VNSGN	Ho Chi Minh City	Vietnam
VNDAD	Da Nang	Vietnam
CNSHA	Shanghai	China
CNYTN	Yantian (Shenzhen)	China
SGSIN	Singapore	Singapore
KRPUS	Busan	South Korea