Resources

| Glossary | Ocean Container Specifications | Air Freight Container Specifications |
| Useful Web Sites | Calculations | Conversion Chart | U.S. Government Contacts |

Glossary

Air Waybill - (AWB) Document issued by airline (or freight agent such as forwarder) to the shipper which acts as a contract to move the designated goods to a specified destination.

Bill of Lading - (B/L) Document issued by a carrier to the shipper which acts as a contract to move the designated goods to a specified destination.

C&F - (Cost and Freight to named destination) INCOTERM replaced by CFR named destination.

C&I - (Carriage and Insurance paid to named destination) INCOTERM replaced by CIP named destination.

CFR - (Cost and Freight to named port) INCOTERM.

CFS - Container Freight Station - Receiving terminal for loading containers.

CIF - (Cost, Insurance and Freight to named port) INCOTERM.

CIP - (Carriage and Insurance Paid to named place) INCOTERM.

CPT - (Carriage Paid To named place) INCOTERM.

Carnet - A customs document issued which usually permits the shipper to move the designated products (i.e. sample goods for a trade show) into a country for a short period without incurring import duties.

Certificate of Origin - Document issued by shipper which states where the goods were manufactured. Certificate is frequently signed/stamped by a local Chamber of Commerce and is frequently required by Customs for importation.

Collection - Payment term where documents are presented to the consignee’s bank. The bank then exchanges the negotiable docs for payment and forwards the payment to the shipper.

Commerce Control List - A list maintained by the Bureau of Export Administration which includes items subject to the export licensing of the BXA.

Commercial Invoice - Bill of Sale from seller to buyer detailing the description, price, payment terms, and shipment terms.

Confirmed Letter of Credit - L/C where the negotiating bank assures payment to the beneficiary/shipper if compliant documents are presented.

Container - Standardized equipment used by air, ocean, rail and truck carriers. Most commonly, ocean containers are 20’ van, 40’ van, 40’ High Cube van with 45’ vans, 20’ and 40’ Flat Racks, 40’ Reefer and 40’ Open Top being some of the less common units. Air carriers use a wide variety of units which fit into the belly compartment or main deck of freighters. The LD-3 container and the M-1 & L-7 main deck pallets are the most common.

Consular Invoice - A commercial invoice which has been signed or stamped at the consulate of the destination country, usually to ensure compliance with customs regulations.

Credit - See Letter of Credit

Customs - The government agency charged with collecting duties and import taxes. Also ensures compliance with import regulations. Also participates in export compliance in some countries.

Customs Broker - Company or individual licensed by the government to prepare and process required docs for entry to the country.

DAF - (Delivered At Frontier named place) INCOTERM

DDP - (Delivered Duty Paid named place) INCOTERM

DDU - (Delivered Duty Unpaid named place) INCOTERM

DEQ - (Delivered Ex Quay named port) INCOTERM

DES - (Delivered Ex Ship named port) INCOTERM

Demurrage - Charge assessed by a carrier or port for detention of equipment or storage beyond allowed time for unloading or pickup.

Dimensional weight — Weight of a shipment based on volume rather than actual weight. International air freight is 1 pound = 166 cubic inches, domestic air freight is 1 pound = 194 cubic inches, ocean freight is 1000 kgs = 1 cubic meter.

Discrepancy - Documents presented for payment under a L/C are non-compliant and do not fulfill L/C requirements.

Documents Against Payment - Payment term where documents are presented to the consignee’s bank. The bank then exchanges the negotiable docs for payment and forwards the payment to the shipper.

Draft - Document which calls for payment of a sum of money to the specified party in a specified amount of time.

Drawback — Return of duty paid on imported goods after goods are re-exported.

Duty - Tax imposed on imported goods by a country. Can be based on the value or the quantity of the imported goods or both. Same as tariff.

EAR - (Export Administration Regulations) Rules issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce to regulate exports from the U.S.

EC - (European Community) European nations that have formed a trading block with common export and import regulations.

ECCN - (Export Control Classification Number) 5 digit number assigned under the CCL to identify controlled commodities.

EXW - (Ex Works named place) INCOTERM

Export Declaration - Document issued by a shipper providing trade data to U.S. Department of Commerce.

Export Management Company - Company which assists manufactures develop overseas markets by providing expertise.

Export Trading Company - Company which takes title to goods and resells the goods internationally.

Express Bill of Lading - Straight Bill of Lading which does not act as the negotiable title to the covered goods.

FAS - (Free Alongside Ship named port) INCOTERM

FCA - (Free Carrier named place) INCOTERM

FOB - (Free On Board named port) INCOTERM

Free Trade Zone - Customs port where goods can be brought into the country for packaging, assembly or display and not be subject to duty while in the FTZ. Goods may then be cleared through customs or re-exported.

Freight Forwarder - Company who acts as an intermediary between the carrier and shipper. They provide documentation and routing assistance.

GATT - (Generalized Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) International trade treaty designed to reduce trade barriers and lower tariff rates among the signing countries.

General Average - If a vessel at sea encounters a disaster and the vessel is damaged or cargo is lost, all shippers with cargo on board pay the vessel owner or owner of the damaged cargo a share of the loss. Usually, marine cargo insurance will cover the loss.

Harmonized System - System used by many countries throughout the world to classify products for import and export.

INCOTERM - Trade terms established by the International Chamber of Commerce which define where responsibility/risk passes from seller to buyer. Most recently updated in 2000.

Intermodal - The use of more than one mode of transport for the carriage of a single shipment. (i.e. truck and air, rail and ocean.) Same as multimodal.

Invoice - Bill of Sale from seller to buyer detailing the description, price, payment terms, and shipment terms.

Irrevocable Letter of Credit - Letter of Credit where the terms cannot be changed or the L/C canceled without the consent of the applicant (buyer) and the beneficiary (shipper).

Letter of Credit - Document issued by a bank on the instructions of the applicant (buyer) in favor of the beneficiary (shipper). Documents authorizes the beneficiary to draw funds from the bank when compliant specified documents are presented.

Multimodal - The use of more than one mode of transport for the carriage of a single shipment. (i.e. truck and air, rail and ocean.) Same as intermodal.

Marine Insurance - Coverage issued to protect against loss or damage for cargo moving via ocean.

NVOCC - (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) Carrier which consolidates cargo from several shippers into one ocean or air shipment. Act as carrier but usually load the cargo on vessels/aircraft owned by other carriers.

Packing List - Document issued by the shipper detailing the description, weight, measurement and packaging of a shipment.

Pro Forma Invoice - Proposed Bill of Sale sent to buyer detailing the terms of an offer to sell. Frequently the basis for issuing an import permit, L/C, or foreign exchange permit.

Quota - Limit imposed by Customs on the amount of a particular commodity permitted to be imported without penalty.

SIC - (Standard Industrial Classification) System used in the U.S. to classify products and services.

SLI — (Shippers Letter of Instruction) Instructions from shipper to freight forwarder or carrier about the handling of a cargo shipment.

Schedule B Number - 10 digit classification system used internationally to identify and classify products for import and export. Publication (Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported from the U.S.) issued annually by the Department of Commerce.

TEU - (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) Unit of measure used by ocean carriers to quantify cargo. 1 TEU = 1 20’ dry container.

Tariff - Tax imposed on imported goods by a country. Can be based on the value or the quantity of the imported goods or both. Same as duty.

UCP 500 - (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, Publication 500) Regulations which detail the rules and practices followed by banks for issuing, advising, negotiating, and amending letters of credit. Issued by the International Chamber of Commerce, most recently updated in 1993.

WTO - (World Trade Organization) International body which provides a forum for the resolution of trade disputes and negotiate the reduction of trade barriers and lower tariff rates among the signing countries.

Ocean Container Specifications

Container typeInteriorDoor
20' Dry ContainerL: 233"
W: 92"
H: 92"
H: 90"
W: 90"
40' Dry ContainerL: 474"
W: 92"
H: 92"
H: 90"
W: 90"
40' High Cube DryL: 474"
W: 92"
H: 105"
H: 101"
W: 92"
45' High Cube DryL: 534"
W: 92"
H: 106"
H: 101"
W: 92"
40' ReeferL: 446"
W: 88"
H: 87"
H: 87"
W: 88"
40' High Cube ReeferL: 456"
W: 90"
H: 98"
100"
W: 92"

Please note that container dimensions do vary. The materials of construction, age of the container, and other factors effect the length, width, and height of the interiors. Always state the dimensions of the cargo when booking the container.

Air Freight Container Specifications
D Container
58" x 42" x 45" (LxWxH)
LD-3 Container (IATA Type 8)
79" x 61" x 64" (LxWxH)
57" x 62" Door (WxH)
M-1 Pallet (IATA Type 2)
125" x 96" (LxW)
LD-7 Pallet (IATA Type 5)
125" x 88" (LxW)

Please note that container dimensions do vary. Dimensions can vary for containers owned by differing airlines and for shipper-owned containers. Always state the dimensions of the cargo when booking the freight.

Useful Web Sites
Address Formats and Salutation Formats of the World http://bspage.com/address.html
Currency Converter http://www.oanda.com/cgi-bin/ncc
Currency Exchange Rate http://www.x-rates.com/index.html
Country Information (U.S. D.O.S.) http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/

Political, Economic, and Social
Economic Statistics(U.S.)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/esbr.html
Holidays of the World
www.tyzo.com/tools
International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/
International legal information
(legal information by country)
www.hg.org/guides.html
Medical conditions (worldwide)
www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
Newspapers of the world
www.thepaperboy.com
Ports of the world
www.mglobal.com/worldports
World time
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
World map
www.maps.com/explore/atlas/

Calculations
Air Freight Ratios
1 Kg = 2.2046 Pounds
1 Pound = .4536 Kg
L x W x H (in.) = Cubic Inches
Divide by 166 = Volume Weight in Pounds
Divide by 366 = Volume Weight in Kgs.

Conversion Chart

(to come)

U.S. Government Contacts
Bureau of Export Admin.
Export licenses, commerce, control & denied persons lists
http://www.bxa.doc.gov
Bureau of the Census (stats) http://www.census.gov
Schedule B Search http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/index.html
2000 Census data http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
U.S. Customs Service http://www.customs.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce
BXA, census, patents, NTIS, etc.
www.doc.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation www.dot.gov
NHTSA (safety info about cars, school buses, air bags, etc.) http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Federal Aviation Administration http://www.faa.gov
Real-time airport status page http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyFAA/index_nc.html
U.S. Department of State
Passports/visas, travel warnings, embassies/consulates
www.state.gov