DLC / KNOWLEDGE
Logistics glossary
Clear terminology for planning, booking and managing your transport.
Shipment & transport
Explained
- Groupage
- Shipments from different customers travel together on one route.
- Part load
- A shipment occupies only part of the available vehicle or loading space.
- Full load
- A vehicle is used mainly for one shipment or route.
- Direct transport / Express
- Goods travel directly from sender to recipient without regular groupage transshipment.
- General cargo
- Individual packages such as pallets, cartons or crates carried through distribution networks.
- Package
- One unit ready for shipping, such as a pallet, carton or crate.
Dimensions & capacity
Explained
- Euro pallet
- A standard pallet with a base measuring 120 × 80 cm.
- Pallet space / FP
- The space occupied by one Euro pallet in the vehicle. One pallet space generally equals 0.4 loading metres.
- Loading metre
- One metre of usable loading length across the full internal width of the vehicle.
- Load volume
- Available space in a vehicle, usually expressed in cubic metres.
- Payload
- The weight a vehicle can carry in addition to its own weight.
- Total weight
- The vehicle's own weight plus cargo and other loads.
Vehicles & equipment
Explained
- Articulated truck
- A tractor unit with an interchangeable semi-trailer, usually providing about 13.6 m of loading length.
- Rigid truck
- A rigid truck with a permanently connected cab and load body.
- Truck and trailer
- A rigid truck with a separately coupled trailer.
- Curtainsider
- A flexible, side-opening body allowing loading from the side, rear or above.
- Box body
- A closed, rigid load body protecting against weather and unauthorised access.
- Refrigerated vehicle
- A vehicle with active temperature control for fresh or frozen goods.
- Tail lift
- A hydraulic platform at the rear of a vehicle that lifts goods between the ground and load bed.
- Pallet truck
- Equipment used to move pallets over short distances.
- Truck-mounted forklift
- A compact forklift carried on the vehicle for use at the customer's premises.
- Loading crane
- A vehicle-mounted crane for independent loading or unloading.
- Low loader
- A vehicle with an especially low load bed for tall or heavy cargo.
Dates & handling
Explained
- Collection notification
- Advance notice to the sender of the planned collection date.
- Delivery notification
- Advance notice to the recipient of the planned delivery date.
- Time window
- An agreed period during which collection or delivery is to take place.
- Fixed appointment
- A binding appointment requiring particular punctuality.
- Transit time
- The time between collection and expected delivery.
- Loading and unloading
- Picking up or setting down the goods at the relevant location.
Goods & safety
Explained
- Standard goods
- Packaged, non-temperature-controlled goods without special dangerous goods or security requirements.
- Temperature controlled
- Goods that must be transported within a specified temperature range.
- Fresh goods
- Sensitive goods carried chilled, but normally not frozen.
- Frozen goods
- Goods kept continuously frozen, usually at around −18 °C or below.
- Dangerous goods
- Substances or objects involving specific risks and statutory transport requirements.
- UN number
- A four-digit number uniquely identifying dangerous goods.
Prices & documents
Explained
- Base price
- Price from the rate matrix and calculated distance, before optional surcharges.
- Surcharge
- An extra charge for a special service, increased risk or particular requirement.
- Price on request
- The price is calculated individually after the route or service has been reviewed.
- Consignment note / CMR
- A transport document containing details of the sender, recipient, goods and transport order.
- Delivery note
- A document showing the contents and quantity of a delivery.
- POD
- Proof of Delivery: confirmation of delivery, often including a signature, name and time.
- Pallet exchange
- The return or exchange of exchangeable load carriers at collection or delivery.