Jargon buster


Deciphering those acronyms and expressions

1844: Swiss customs form       
185’: American slang for the volume a standard ‘Lift Van’ can contain – 185cuft.  The gross volume is normally 210cuft       
5 Pallet Motor: A truck / lorry that has 5 side doors for storage containers 
7.5t / 16t / 17t / 7.5r / 16r / 17r: Various truck sizes ie 7.5t = 7.5 tonne truck and so forth  
A.G.WT: Actual gross weight of a vehicle       
Ad.Val Ad Valorem: A port charge mainly used in South Africa     
ADR: A European agreement for the international safe carriage of dangerous goods     
ADS: Abels distribution system       
AEI (Air Express International): See DHL       
AFD: Postcode finder       
AFM (Air freight module): The outer case that the cartons are packed into for shipping by airfreight.  A thin pallet base (so as not to increase volumetric weight) that allows safe movement by the airline consolidator and a tri-wall carton or wooden case over wrap which is waterproof       
AMS (Automated manifest system): For clients moving to USA the customers UK and US address, passport number, date of birth and full name must be provided the shipping line
AOQ: Acceptance of quotation       
Artic (Articulated truck): this is a large vehicle consisting of a tractor unit (front) and trailer       
ASL: A shipping freight company which assists Abels with import customs clearance and providing UCR numbers       
AWB (Airway Bill): shipping document for sending goods by air produced by the airline       
BAC (Bunker adjustment charge): this is a charge for fuel       
BAF (Bunker adjustment factor): this is a charge for fuel       
BAR: British Association of Removers  (see our profile of BAR)     
Barrow: Metal frame with two wheels which tilts and enables the crew to carry heavy items       
BOL (Bill of Lading): Sea freight shipping document produced by the shipping line.  Normally original which means Abels remain in control of the container       
BSI: British Standards Institution, the accreditor for Abels quality assurance (ISO9001)(see our profile on quality assurance)       
C3: UK customs form       
CABAF (Currency and bunker adjustment factor): charges for fuel and money conversions       
CAC (Currency adjustment charge): charge for money conversions       
CAF (Currency adjustment factor): charge for money conversions       
CAPLIS: European fual card which is also used for tolls       
Cargo Dues: A port charge mainly used in South Africa       
CAS (Currency adjustment surcharge): surcharge relating to money conversion       
CFC / HFC’s / HCFC’s: Gases used in pre-charged equipment such as fridges and freezers.        
CIF: Cost insurance and freight value       
CLM: Customer liaison manager       
Consolidator: Company that brings together a number of shipments for one destination to qualify for better shared container rates.         
Container: This contains customer’s goods when being shipped and can be either 20ft or 40ft.  20ft holds 30cum or 1050cuft of effects       
CPV: Common procurement vocabulary       
CSA: Customer service advisor       
CSM: Customer service manager       
CUFT: Cubic feet       
CUM / m3: Cubic metres (35cuft to a cum)       
DA: Destination agent – removals company in the destination country        
Dart Tag: Sticker displayed in vehicles to allow crossing of the Dartford Tunnel / Bridge       
Debtor: Who is paying the bill (private individual or company)       
Demurrage: Charge by shipping line for the rent of the container after the free period (usually 3 – 10 days)       
Derangement: Electrical or mechanical item not working on arrival with no external evidence of damage to item or packaging       
DHL Danzas: The airline that Abels usually import and export airfreight through (also called AEI)   
DHL Invoice: Terminology FSH Fuel charge      
CHH: Handling charge      
AWH: Documentation fee      
SSF: War risk      
SXF: Security fee      
NSH: NES / AMS fee      
Dolly: Wheels used to manoeuvre goods       
DUCR: See UCR       
Effects: Property belonging to our client       
ETA: Estimated time of arrival       
ETD: Estimated time of departure       
EXP: Export pack       
EXPLSC: Export pack and load shipping container       
EXPLSK: Export pack and load storage container       
Export: Goods being shipped out of the UK       
Express Release: Relates to Waybill’s when on ‘Express Release’ – the person named in the consignee section can take ownership of the container when it arrives at port of destination       
FAC: Freight agents commission       
Faim: The quality accreditation from FIDI. Abels is audited by Ernst & Young (see our profile of FIDI FAIM)       
FCL: Full container load – for 20ft and 40ft containers       
FIDI: International Furniture Movers Federation  (see our profile of FIDI)     
FMI Freight Movers International: – a company used by Abels which specialises in LCL shipments       
FOB (Free on board): No additional charges apart from freight (i.e. haulage / doc’s / THC’s etc have been included)       
Forwarder: Consolidator or agent who is shipping the goods       
FOT (Free on truck): No charges to hand out from warehouse       
FSA (Financial Services Authority): – UK financial regulator – regulates insurance in removals and shipping (see our profile of FSA)        
GBP: Great British Pound       
General average: Maritime law states that all parties in a vessel share the costs of loss of goods or expenditure in an emergency to save the vessel.  A customer can insure their freight and packing costs with Abels to cover this risk       
GDP (Gross domestic product): A country’s economic output       
GIT: Goods in transit – usually relates to insurance       
GPG (Groupage): – a container which is shipped with a combination of several clients’ effects in       
Gross: Weight / volume when packed into a module or outer crate       
GST (General Service Tax): – Australian version of VAT, currently at 10%       
HAWB: House airway bill       
HHG / HHGFAA: House Hold Goods Association of America – now known as the International Association of Movers (see our IAM profile page)    
Hot Box: Carton we use for placing all small items within i.e. keys, fittings etc so they don’t get lost        
HT (Heat treated): Used in conjunction with crates, the wood has a stamp on it as proof       
Import: Goods coming into the UK       
IIP: Investors In People – a training accreditation which Abels has held for over 15 years (see our profile of IIP)       
IPT: Insurance Premium Tax (currently 5%)       
ISO 9001 – 2008: A quality standard that Abels is audited to ensuring commitment to quality (see our quality assurance page)       
IT: Information technology       
LBS: Pounds (Weight)       
LCL (Less than container load): – packed goods are loaded into ‘Lift Vans’, these can be any size but a standard ‘Lift Van’ holds 185cuft and gross volume 210cuft.  These are then taken to a shipping consolidator and loaded into a 20ft or 40ft container.  This is considered a direct and fast shipping method, only slightly slower than FCL       
LEZ / Congestion Charge Low Emission Zone: charged when entering London       
Lift Van: Wooden transit crates       
MAWB: Master airway bill       
MTC (The Movers Trading Club): – the company that sets freight rates       
NCWT: Net Cubic Weight – per 100lbs.  So based on actual weight of box or convert at 7lbs per cuft       
NES: New export system and UCR       
Net: Actual weight / volume       
NOR: None operating reefer – see Reefer       
NVOCC (None Vessel Operating Common Carrier): – a shipping line that does not run its own fleet of vessels (you often pay more THC’s for this shipment) they just book space on the main shipping lines vessels       
OA (Origin agent): Removal company starting the process       
OBL (Original / ocean bill Of lading): Shipping lines documentation for sea shipments       
OFT:  Office of Fair Trading       
OOS: Out Of Store       
P/L: Part Load       
P/L or P&L: Pack and load (on quote / costing sheets)        
PBA: Packed by Abels       
PBO: Packed by owner       
POA: Where all distribution trips are planned within TPS       
POD: Port of departure       
POD (Proof of delivery): Signed documentation confirming the receipt of the goods.  Abels always send POD’s to our agent when we undertake an import delivery and we must receive a POD from our overseas agent following an export (this is a FIDI requirement)       
POD (Payment on delivery): (an uncommon occurrence) but its when crews receive payment in cash only from a customer at the time of the delivery       
POE: Port of entry       
PSC (Port Service Charge): Port fees for handling a container       
Quay Rent: Charge by a port for space occupied in the container park after rent free period (3 – 10 days)       
Reefer: Normally a 20ft container – a non-operating refrigeration container       
Rigid: Non-articulated lorry        
Road Train: Rigid lorry pulling a trailer behind – this offers the largest removal vehicle possible in UK/EU       
RO / RO Roll On / Roll Off: Refers to cars being loaded onto a vessel in the manner much the same as a ferry, except it is shipped overseas unaccompanied.  Cheaper than in a container       
Skate: Four wheels on a piece of rubber covered wood 40x30cm’s – used to move furniture        
Shoe: Similar to a skateboard which fits under the side of a Grand Piano for transportation       
Shuttle: Use of a smaller vehicle due to tight access to allow the loading of a shipping container or larger removal vehicle       
SIS: Sort in store       
STC (Said to contain): Crew use this when owners have packed and marked the boxes.  The crew write: STC – Clothing PBO       
Storage Box / Container: Wooden storage container used for the general storage of personal effects.  Internal dimensions 84 x 60 x 88 inches       
Suite Box: Wooden storage box that allows a three-seat sofa to be stored with two armchairs  stored above it (on their feet) this prevents damage to the pieces and the material       
T2L: Customs form       
T&C: Terms and Conditions       
‘T’ Card: Mode of communication to operations department regarding a customer’s move       
Telex Release: see Express Release       
TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit):  1 TEU = 20ft container, 2 TEU = 40ft container       
THC: Terminal Handling Charge       
Through-Bill of Lading: If we ship to an in-land terminal (not a sea port) then we would ship on a ‘Through-Bill’ to that terminal i.e. Atlanta GA USA – we would ship on a ‘Through-Bill’ via Savannah (see the MTC FRF)       
Tranship: See “shuttle”.       
Transhipment: Where a container is loaded on a vessel and then arrives into another international port and is then removed from the original vessel and loaded on to another vessel for onforwarding        
Transit: method of move: road, sea or air       
UAT: Fuel service card       
UCR (DUCR) (Unique consignment reference): Abels contact ASL with our client ID and they provide this number i.e. 9DCR -8GB597333307000-AE12345-98765 -  8=year / GB597…AE-=always the sa
me / 12345=ASLs number / 98765=Abels client ID       
USC: Unload shipping container       
USD: United States Dollar       
UTS (United Transport Systems): Group of worldwide removal companies, of which we are a member.  Called Unigroup Worldwide UTS       
VAT: Value Added Tax       
Volumetric weight: Used mainly for airfreight as we are charged on weight or volume, whichever is the greater, i.e. 10cuft gross with an actual weight of 30kgs (10 (cuft) x 4.72kgs = 47.20kgs) therefore the airline will charge on 47.20kgs rather than on 30kgs.  OR 10cuft gross with an actual weight of 60kgs (10 (cuft) x 4.72kgs = 47.20kgs) therefore the airline will charge on 60kgs rather than 47.20kgs       
Waybill: In-houses schedule and an express release shipping document not an original, similar to BOL       
Wharfage: A port charge       
W/M: Weight / Measure.  Meaning per cubic meatre / 1000kgs – whichever is greater