Glossary

Accessorial Charges (also called “Assessorial Charges”): Charges made for performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery such as inside delivery or storage charges.

Air Freight Forwarder: An air freight forwarder provides pickup and delivery service under its own tariff, consolidates shipments into larger units, prepares shipping documentation, and tenders shipments to the airlines. Air freight forwarders do not generally operate their own aircraft and may therefore be called "indirect air carriers." Because the air freight forwarder tenders the shipment, the airlines consider the forwarder to be the shipper.

Bill of Lading (B/L): A bill of lading is a binding contract that serves three main purposes: (1) a receipt for the goods delivered to the carrier for shipment; (2) a definition or description of the goods; and (3) evidence of title to the relative goods, if “negotiable.” Download a BOL (BOL Shipper.pdf or BOL Shipper.xls)

Breakbulk Terminal: Consolidation and distribution center.

Cartage Agent: A carrier that performs pickup or delivery in areas that Roadway does not service.

Freight is in the possession of Cartage Agent: Cartage agents use their own paperwork while transporting the shipment. Its contact information will appear in our tracking system.

Cargo Claim: A “Cargo Claim” is a demand made upon a transportation company for payment due to freight loss or damage alleged to have occurred while shipment was in the possession of carrier. Under the terms and conditions the Uniform Bill of Lading, all cargo claims must be filed within 9 months. Check the status or file a cargo claim.

Overcharge Claim: “Overcharge Claims” are demands upon a transportation company for the refund of an overcharge from the erroneous application of rates, weights, and assessment of freight charges.

Commodity: Any article of commerce. Goods shipped.

Consignee: The person or place where a shipment will be transferred for the last time (destination); the individual or organization to whom the freight is addressed.

Delivery Receipt: Document dated and signed by consignee or its agent at the time of delivery stating the condition of the goods at delivery. The signed delivery receipt is returned to the driver for retention at the terminal as proof of delivery. The customer retains the remaining copy.

Effectively Occupy: The terms "effectively occupying," "effective occupancy," "effective cube," and similar terms refer to the line-haul equipment space required to transport a shipment. The effective occupancy of a shipment shall include any unused space in the same piece of line-haul equipment, which the transportation company determines that the shipment causes, for any reason, to be unusable for the purpose of transporting other freight. "Cubic feet" shall be determined by multiplying the greatest dimensions of length, width and height of space the shipment effectively occupies (as defined herein) in inches and dividing the total by 1,728 cubic inches (one cubic foot). All fractions under one-half inch will be dropped, all fractions of one-half or greater will be extended to the next full inch.

Expedited Shipment: A shipment that is identified as an urgent shipment without paying a guaranteed rate. We will do our best to deliver as soon as possible but there will be no implied guarantee on a certain delivery date.

Freight: Any commodity being transported.

Freight Bill: Shipping document that gives a description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid. If bill is prepaid, freight charges are paid by shipper. If bill is collect, freight charges are paid by the receiver of the goods or a third party.

FTL (Full Truck Load): is in contrast to LTL in which only one shipment from one shipper is loaded in a trailer.

Full Visible Capacity: "Full Visible Capacity" is defined as that quantity of freight which, in the manner loaded, so fills a vehicle that no additional article in the shipping form tendered identical in size to the largest article in the shipment can be loaded in or on the vehicle; or that maximum quantity of freight that can be legally loaded in or on a vehicle due to weight limitations.

Guaranteed Shipment: A shipment that pays a higher rate but is guaranteed to deliver by a certain date, or otherwise, the shipment is delivered for free (if delivery is after the guaranteed day).

Hazardous Material: Hazardous materials are defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law. A substance or material may be designated as hazardous if the transportation of the material in a particular amount and form poses an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property. Hazardous material includes: explosives, radioactive materials, etiologic agents, flammable or combustible liquids or solids, poisons, oxidizing or corrosive materials, and compressed gases. For more information, go to the U.S. DOT web site at https://hazmat.dot.gov.

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload): Freight from several shippers loaded onto one trailer. Each shipment usually weighs less than 10,000 pounds.

Minimum Charge: The lowest charge for which a shipment will be handled after discount and/or adjustment.

National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC): Industry standard tariff published by motor carriers, which contains rules, descriptions, and rating for all commodities. Used to classify freight for the purpose of rating the freight bill. More information about freight classes and the NMFC can be found at https://www.nmfta.org/. To determine the classification of your freight, contact your local service center.

Payment Terms: Generally, the shipper is responsible for payment of prepaid shipments and the consignee is responsible on collect shipment. Payments may also be handled by a third party indicated as payor on the shipping papers.

PRO: An acronym for "progressive rotating order." A PRO number is assigned to each shipment and serves as a tracking number.

Rate Schedule: Our general rate schedule.

Release: All shipments shall be paid before departure from last terminal (or border in its case). Shipments for “bill to customers” with open credit line will be automatically released. Shipments will be releases once payment is received.

Release With Caution: Under special circumstances a shipment might be released from the last terminal (or border in its case) with caution, meaning that it will not be released once it arrives at final destination until full payment is provided.

Rules of rates: Rules governing the rates of our services. (Rules Rate Schedule.pdf or Rules Rate Schedule.doc)

Terms And Conditions: Terms, rules and conditions governing our services.

Terms Rate Schedule: Terms and conditions governing the rates of our services

Shipping Documents: Papers accompanying a shipment as it moves through. Visit our Forms Library for required forms.