Terms - BF Global Group

A

AEO - C:

AEO Customs

AEO - F:

AEO Full (C & S)

AEO - S:

AEO Safety & Security

AES America:

The Automated Export System (AES) is the automated system for filing export declarations from American shippers.

AES EU:

Automated Export System (AES) for export

AFSA:

Air Freight Security Adviser

Air Waybill (AWB):

This air waybill covers the entire journey from the airport of departure to the airport of arrival.

Airline Terminal Fee:

As remuneration for handling the cargo, an airline terminal fee is charged for all air shipments.

AMS:

The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic information transmission system managed by the US Customs and Border Protection. Often, when an AMS must be created, an ISF must also be done.

Anti-Dump:

In certain cases, customs imposes an anti-dumping duty. This duty exists to ensure that products are not sold on the European market at a (too) low price. Such an anti-dumping duty is imposed at the request of the European market. Customs levies this anti-dump at import. Note that a reduction is often possible if the exporter is admitted.

AO/IC:

Administrative Organisation and Internal Control

AO/IM:

Administrative Organisation and Internal Management

APS:

Generalised System of Preferences (English: GSP)

APSAWB Number:

This stands for Air Waybill number. Each consignment note has its own consignment note number. This makes it easier for carriers to assign orders.

ATA

ATA Carnet: Admission Temporaire – Temporary Admission.

ATR

Association Turkey, customs document in trade between EU Member States and Turkey, exemption from import duties

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), (EU):

A certificate that indicates that your company is ‘in control’ of the (customs) goods flows. The company describes the procedures it follows and has a form of security (e.g. audits). It must be demonstrable that the company continues to work ‘compliantly’ and in accordance with safety instructions.

B

B/L

Bill of Lading – “consignment note” for sea freight.

Bill of Lading (BL):

The shipping document originally used exclusively for shipments by sea.

Blank Sailing:

Also known as a blank departure, it is a departure that has been cancelled by the shipping line, which may mean that a port is skipped or that the entire series is cancelled. Blank departures can arise for various reasons.

Blind Shipment:

A blind shipment is when the recipient of a shipment does not know who the sender is.

Block Pallet:

One of the most commonly used types of pallets. This pallet has dimensions of 100 by 120 cm. The term industry pallet is also used.

BOI:

With a BOI, you can get a decision from an individual EU Member State about the origin of your goods.

Bonded Goods:

Goods that are stored in a bonded warehouse.

Bonded Warehouse:

A storage place for goods not yet cleared, subject to import duties.

BTI:

Binding Tariff Information.

BTW No.:

Every company must be registered for BTW (Dutch VAT).

BTW:

Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde = Value Added Tax in Dutch.

Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF):

BAF takes ship fuel into account and fluctuates based on the price of oil.

C

CAIN:

A CAIN is a customs-assigned importer number. If an importer imports into the US as a registered foreign importer and does not have an EIN, a CAIN can be requested. Foreign importers importing into the US without an EIN need a CAIN.

Cargo Ready Date (CRD):

The date when the cargo is expected to be available for loading.

Carrier:

The party that transports the cargo.

CBM:

CBM is a volume measurement often seen in connection with air and LCL shipments or with an FCL shipment to indicate how full the container is.

CBP (Customs and Border Protection):

The CBP examines the import documents of a shipment and selects shipments for examination.

CCC:

Community Customs Code.

CDS (Customs Declaration Service):

Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is the UK government’s new electronic system for handling customs declaration processes.

Certificate of Origin (CO):

The certificate of origin (abbreviated as CO) is one of the preference certificates. When exporting to certain countries, a certificate of origin must be provided if the value for an exemption is exceeded. When exporting to countries where a preferential agreement exists, lower or no customs duties apply with such a certificate.

CFS (Container Freight Station) Cutoff:

A CFS cutoff is the date by which an LCL shipment must be checked in the CFS before the shipment can depart.

CFS (Container Freight Station) Fee:

A container freight station (CFS) is where LCL cargo is consolidated (at origin) and deconsolidated (at destination). The CFS charges a fee for this service, based on the volume of the cargo.

CFS (Container Freight Station):

A container freight station is a warehouse specialising in consolidating and deconsolidating cargo. A CFS always costs extra.

Chargeable Weight:

This is the weight that is billed. A distinction is made between the gross or actual weight and the volumetric weight. The highest weight is charged.

Chassis:

A chassis is a piece of lorry equipment used to transport FCL shipments.

CIM:

For international rail transport, you use the international consignment note CIM for agreements between carrier and sender. CIM stands for ‘Contrat de Transport International ferroviaire des Marchandises’. The CIM agreement regulates what must be in the railway consignment note. The responsibility for the consignment note lies with the sender. The document contains mandatory law, meaning you must follow the rules. If you deviate from the rules, you cannot rely on agreements from the COTIF convention. This is the overarching convention for international rail transport.

CITES:

CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

CIV:

Commercial Invoice.

CMR:

CMR stands for ‘Convention Relative au Contrat de Transport International de Marchandises par Route’. The term consignment note is also frequently used. This document contains all information about the goods transport by road. The CMR must always be present in the vehicle during transport.

CN

Combined Nomenclature (Reg. EEC No. 2658/87), also known as HS code.

Co-Loader:

A co-loader consolidates LCL shipments.

Collo / Colli:

A package or packaging unit of goods shipped as a whole. Colli is the plural of collo.

Commercial Invoice:

A commercial invoice is a document used for customs declaration, along with the packing list or for insuring your goods. Both can be easily and quickly organised through Explect Online.

Consignment Note:

The recording of the agreement on, of, for the transportation of goods. The shipper or client agrees with the carrier that the carrier takes a certain cargo and transports it to the delivery address (to the addressee). The consignment note contains the information needed to execute the agreement. The consignment note must always be present in the vehicle during transport.

Consolidation:

Combining various cargoes into one shipment to save on transport costs. In road transport and in sea and air freight, this is also called groupage.

Container:

A special unit for transporting cargo. The container is sturdy and stackable. A well-known example is a sea container. Most containers are 20 feet or 40 feet long by 8 feet high, but other heights such as 45, 48 and 53 feet long are becoming more common. The maximum height is 9.5 feet. Transporting containers by road is called container trucking. Among the Incoterms, there are various ones that begin with a C, such as CPT, CIP, CFR and CIF.

Continuous Customs Bond:

A customs guarantee is required to import goods into the United States, as a form of insurance to protect the US Treasury. A continuous customs bond covers all your import shipments for a year.

COO (Country of Origin):

Country of origin is the determination for trade purposes where your goods are manufactured or produced.

Customs Bond:

A legal document that confirms that all required import duties, customs duties and taxes have been paid in America.

Customs Broker:

A customs broker is an agent that assists importers and exporters in preparing documents for clearing goods through customs.

CY (Container Yard) Cutoff:

Container yards have a deadline by which a container must be loaded in order to be loaded onto the scheduled ship.

D

Demurrage:

Demurrage is charged if the container is not picked up from the port before the Last Free Day.

Detention:

Detention, also called per diem, is a fee charged for the extra days that a container is outside the port beyond the free days.

Dock / Loading and Unloading Dock:

A place in or against a building where a lorry can load and unload. Here, the loading space of the lorry is often at the same height as the floor of the dock, allowing for direct loading and/or unloading.

DR

Direct Representation – authorisation from the client for the import and export clearance of goods (only for clients based in NL).

DS:

Declaration System

Duty Drawback:

Tax refund, also known as a drawback, is an export incentive programme allowing US importers, exporters and manufacturers to recover, wholly or partially, certain duties, taxes and fees paid on imported goods or domestically produced flavour extracts, medicinal or toilet preparations, bottled distilled spirits and wines.

DV1

(only for clients based in NL)

E

EFTA (EVA):

European Free Trade Association (Dutch: EVA countries).

EGL:

Excise Goods Location

EIN (Employer Identification Number):

An EIN is used by the US federal government to identify business entities in the US.

EORI:

Economic Operator Registration and Identification. A registration and identification number for market participants is a registration and identification number of the European Union for companies that import or export goods into or from the EU.

EU-A:

Export declaration – to countries outside the EU but within Europe (e.g. EFTA countries, Turkey and the UK).

Euro Pallet:

Standard pallet with the dimensions 120 by 80 centimetres.

EX-A:

Export declaration – to non-European destinations.

Exchange Pallets:

Euro pallets are also often called exchange pallets. Since there is a deposit on the pallet, they need to be exchanged. If you don’t have Euro pallets, they are often charged through.

Export Declaration:

An export declaration is a document filed for export at the export port.

Export Licence:

An export licence grants the right to carry out an export transaction of restricted or controlled goods.

Export:

Goods that are produced or made in the Netherlands and exported abroad.

Express Bill of Lading:

Besides the original B/L – a document usually issued in triplicate – practice also demands variations on it, such as the Express (Release) Bill of Lading. In this case, the carrier, at the sender’s request, does not print the original (paper) B/L but shares a digital copy with the sender.

External Transit (T1):

The external customs transit procedure standardly allows non-Union goods to be transported from one point to another within the customs territory of the Union, suspending customs duties and other charges. T1 usually refers to the actual document that enables this movement.

EXW:

The Incoterms also include EXW.

F

FCA FAS FOB:

The Incoterms include FCA, FAS and FOB. You can also download our sheet on Incoterms.

FCL (Full Container Load):

When one party provides enough goods to fill a complete container, it is referred to as a “Full Container Load”.

FIOD:

Tax and Customs Administration / Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service.

Freight Forwarder:

This is Explect, the organiser of the shipment of goods between the shipper and the actual carrier or transporter. The freight forwarder arranges the transport for its customer. Arranging transport by charters from A to B is called forwarding. Within the Freight Forwarders, there are different types. Explect is often placed under Digital Freight Forwarder or Next-Gen Freight Forwarder.

FTL (Full Truck Load):

This is also referred to as a “complete load” or “full load”. Here, a lorry is entirely filled with a cargo that is transported to one recipient.

Fuel Surcharge:

Fuel surcharge, also known as Diesel Oil Surcharge (DOS), means that extra costs for fuel must be paid by the customer. The amount depends on the oil price. This surcharge was introduced because of price developments in the energy market in recent years.

FYCO:

Physical inspection by customs.

G

GFR:

General Fiscal Representation

GIS:

General Inspection Service

Golden Week:

Golden Week is a Chinese holiday in October.

Groupage Route (Groupage Transport):

Although there is no official term for it, groupage transport means “the transportation of consolidated shipments, generally originating from multiple senders to multiple recipients”. In other words, in groupage transport, packages and/or pallets belonging to multiple parties are transported in one lorry trailer to achieve a fuller trailer and save on transportation costs.

GSP:

Generalised System of Preferences (Dutch: APS)

H

HBL:

The House Bill of Lading is issued by a freight forwarder or consolidation organisation for a single shipment, with the names, addresses and specific description of the shipped goods.

HC:

High cube containers are 30 centimetres higher than regular standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. Thus you gain in height, making these container types particularly suitable for lightweight or bulky cargo. High cube containers are available in steel and aluminium in types 40-foot and 45-foot.

HS and HTS Codes:

The Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System, also known as the Harmonised System of Tariff Nomenclature, is an internationally standardised system of names and numbers to classify traded products.

I

ICT:

Intracommunity transaction.

ID:

Import duties.

Incoterms®:

Incoterms® are an agreement between the seller and the buyer, stipulating who manages the payment and handling of goods. Incoterms include Ex Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA), Free Alongside Ship (FAS), Free On Board (FOB), Carriage Paid To (CPT), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Cost and Freight (CFR), Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF), Delivered At Place (DAP), Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU), Delivered Duty Paid (DDP).

Intermodal Freight Transport:

A combination of different modes, such as sea freight and road transport, in the same intermodal transport unit, with consecutive types of transport without the goods themselves being moved when changing the mode of transport. For example, the goods remain in the same container throughout the transport. This container is not opened during the journey.

Intermodal Freight Transport:

IP/R

Inward Processing (Refund System)

IP/S B

Inward Processing (Suspension System)

ISF:

An Importer Security Filing (ISF) documents 12 details about a shipment imported via the ocean to the United States. It is required by US Customs and Border Protection.

L

LC:

A letter of credit, also known as documentary credit or bankers’ credit, is a payment mechanism used in international trade to provide an economic guarantee from a creditworthy bank to an exporter of goods.

LCL:

LCL is a method of shipping by sea and is recommended if your shipment is not large enough to fill a container.

LDM (Loading Metre):

A standard unit of measurement in road transport. A loading metre is 1 metre of the loading space of a lorry in length. With a lorry width of 2.40 metres, 1 loading metre corresponds to 2.4 square metres (2.40 metres width by 1 metre length).

Length Goods:

Long objects that, due to their circumference, cannot fall within the standard parcel or packages, are called length goods or “bundles”. Examples of length goods are pipes, tubes and ladders.

LFR:

Limited Fiscal Representation

Loading Rate:

The percentage of the available loading capacity or loading volume that is actually utilised. This can be expressed in distance (number of km), weight (number of kg), or in cubic metres.

Loading Unit:

A standardised unit in which cargo can be transported. Examples include containers, swap bodies and pallets.

LOI:

A Letter of Indemnity (LOI) is a document provided by the sender stating that the sender takes responsibility for any damage or loss caused by a breach of contract.

Low Loader:

A specific type of trailer used for transporting tall (non-divisible) objects. The loading space is extra-low to the ground, so a higher load can be carried. A low loader is usually chosen when transport with a regular trailer would be higher than permitted by traffic regulations or when problems might arise while passing under bridges.

LTL:

LTL is used for smaller shipments that do not fill a lorry themselves.

M

MBL:

A Master Bill of Lading is issued by the carrier (owner or operator of the ship) and represents the transportation agreement between the shipper and the carrier. It is important to note that the freight shipper only receives a Master Bill of Lading if they work directly with a main carrier or a freight forwarder.

MSDS:

Material Safety and Data Sheet.

Multimodal (Goods Transport):

An MSDS is required for all hazardous or even potentially hazardous shipments. The supplier is responsible for providing all hazmat documentation.

O

OB:

Sales tax in the Netherlands (see also: BTW)

P

Pallet:

Elevated platform to make lifting and stacking goods easier. Pallets are usually made of wood and often have the dimensions 100 by 120 cm (block pallet) or 80 by 120 cm (Euro pallet).

R

Re-Export:

Goods that are cleared through Dutch distribution centres and delivered to other countries. Unlike transit, re-export is part of imports and exports because they have (temporarily) been owned by a resident after arrival in the Netherlands.

S

Shipper:

A party that has its cargo transported by a carrier; in other words, the customer of the logistics service provider.

Storage:

This is the storage of goods; it is often combined with transshipment, also known as storage and transshipment.

T

T1:

For the transport (from/to) of non-Community goods (goods from outside the European Union).

T2:

For the transport (from/to) of Community goods.

T2LF:

For the transport of community goods to another EU destination, but via “non-Union” territory.

TAPA:

Transported Asset Protection Association

TEU:

TEU is the standard size of a container and stands for Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit. Typically, a container is 20 feet (approximately 6 metres = 1 TEU); 40 feet (2 TEU = 1 FEU).

Transit:

The flow of goods transported from one country to another over Dutch territory, but remaining in foreign ownership. The transit then does not form part of Dutch import and export.

Transshipment:

The moment when the goods are transferred or transported from one mode of transportation to another.

U

Unloading Location:

The place where the goods are unloaded from a lorry.

V

VAT:

Value Added TAX (in the Netherlands: BTW).

W

Waiting Hours:

When loading and unloading goods, a certain time is set that is the maximum allowed. This is often indicated in the general terms and conditions. For example, with an FCL shipment, you often have 2 hours free for loading and unloading. Suppose you need 3 hours to unload, then you will be charged 1 waiting hour.