Freight, shipping and chartering glossary

Type Meaning
FAS (Free Alongside Ship)

The meaning of it is that the delivery is completed for the supplier when the product is on the quay for loading on a vessel hired by the recipient. FAS is intended only for transporting goods by sea or inland waterway.

Flow Rack

A storage method where a product is presented to picking operations at one end of a rack and replenished from the opposite end.

Freight Class

A type of cargo has been given certain characteristics that dictate how much it costs to transport them.

For-Hire Carrier

A carrier that provides transportation service to the public on a fee basis.

Freight Forwarder

An enterprise that provides services to facilitate the transport of shipments. Services can include documentation preparation, space and equipment reservation, warehousing, consolidation, delivery, clearance, banking and insurance services, and agency services. The forwarder may facilitate transport by land, air, ocean, or may specialize in one mode of transport. Also called Forwarder or Foreign Freight Forwarder.

Feeder

A grain container or reservoir constructed around the hatchway between two decks of a ship which when filled with grain automatically feeds or fills in the vacant areas in the lower holds.

Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU)

Conventional unit for measuring the capacity of freight vehicles. Also referred to as 2 TEU.

Freight Prepaid

The freight and charges to be paid by the consignor.

Feeder Service

Cargo to/from regional ports are transferred to/from a central hub port for a long-haul ocean voyage.

FTL (Full Truckload)

Transportation of cargo that completely fills the truck.

Forwarder’s Cargo Receipt (FCR)

A document issued by a freight forwarder to the shipper that serves as certification of the receipt of cargo.

Feeder Vessel

A short-sea vessel which transfers cargo between a central hub port and smaller "spoke" ports.

Fumigation

If consolidated into a container, the surcharge applied to the disinfection of the container.

Fill Rate

The percentage of order items that the picking operation actually found.

Free Time

The period of time allowed for the removal or accumulation of cargo before charges become applicable.

Fuel Surcharge Mechanism (FSC)

Drayage fuel.

Fixed Costs

Costs that do not fluctuate with the business volume in the short run.

Fumigation Certificate

A document that serves as confirmation that any wooden packing materials (ie, pallets) used in a cargo shipment have been fumigated.

Freight Bill

The carriers invoice for payment of transport services rendered.

Fair Value

The value of the carrier's property; the calculation basis has included original cost minus depreciation, replacement cost, and market value.

FOB (Free On Board)

A supplier has organized land delivery, completed port formalities, and performed loading on ship’s board.

FCL (Full Container Load

An ocean shipping mode, in which the entire container is intended for one supplier and occupies a full container (regardless of size).

Forklift Truck

A machine-powered device used to raise and lower freight and to move freight to different warehouse locations.

Field Warehouse

A warehouse that stores goods on the goods' owner's property while the goods are under a bona fide public warehouse manager's custody. The owner uses the public warehouse receipts as collateral for a loan.

Freight Quotation

A quotation from a carrier or forwarder covering the cost of transport between two specified locations.

Free Trade Zone

A port designated by the government of a country for duty-free entry of any non-prohibited goods. Merchandise may be stored, displayed, used for manufacturing, etc., within the zone and re-exported without duties.

Fixed Quantity Inventory Model

A setup wherein a company orders the same(fixed) quantity each time it places an order for an item.

Freight

Goods being transported from one place to another.

Fair Value

The value of the carrier's property; the calculation basis has included original cost minus depreciation, replacement cost, and market value.

Fumigation

If consolidated into a container, the surcharge applied to the disinfection of the container.

Flexible-Path Equipment

Materials handling devices that include hand trucks and forklifts.

Freight Bill

The carriers invoice for payment of transport services rendered.

FAS (Free Alongside Ship)

The meaning of it is that the delivery is completed for the supplier when the product is on the quay for loading on a vessel hired by the recipient. FAS is intended only for transporting goods by sea or inland waterway.

Fumigation Certificate

A document that serves as confirmation that any wooden packing materials (ie, pallets) used in a cargo shipment have been fumigated.

Flow Rack

A storage method where a product is presented to picking operations at one end of a rack and replenished from the opposite end.

Freight Carriers

The freight companies that physically transport “carry” the freight on behalf of shippers.

FCA (Free Carrier)

Supplier produced, packed, and prepared the cargo to be shipped. Goods are received by the buyer’s carrier, which picks up the load from the seller’s place. You can call FCA conditions “buyer’s pick-up."

FOB (Free On Board)

A supplier has organized land delivery, completed port formalities, and performed loading on ship’s board.

Freight Charge

The rate established for transporting freight.

FCL (Full Container Load

An ocean shipping mode, in which the entire container is intended for one supplier and occupies a full container (regardless of size).

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The US Department of Health and Human Services Agency, one of the federal executive departments.

Freight Class

A type of cargo has been given certain characteristics that dictate how much it costs to transport them.

Feeder

A grain container or reservoir constructed around the hatchway between two decks of a ship which when filled with grain automatically feeds or fills in the vacant areas in the lower holds.

For-Hire Carrier

A carrier that provides transportation service to the public on a fee basis.

Freight Collect

The freight and charges to be paid by the consignee.

Feeder Service

Cargo to/from regional ports are transferred to/from a central hub port for a long-haul ocean voyage.

Forklift Truck

A machine-powered device used to raise and lower freight and to move freight to different warehouse locations.

Freight Forwarder

An enterprise that provides services to facilitate the transport of shipments. Services can include documentation preparation, space and equipment reservation, warehousing, consolidation, delivery, clearance, banking and insurance services, and agency services. The forwarder may facilitate transport by land, air, ocean, or may specialize in one mode of transport. Also called Forwarder or Foreign Freight Forwarder.

Feeder Vessel

A short-sea vessel which transfers cargo between a central hub port and smaller "spoke" ports.

Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU)

Conventional unit for measuring the capacity of freight vehicles. Also referred to as 2 TEU.