Air Waybill
A bill of lading which covers both domestic and international flights transporting goods to a specified destination. Technically, it is a non-negotiable instrument of air transport which serves as a receipt for the shipper, indicating that the carrier has accepted the goods listed therein and obligates itself to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions.
 
Bill of Lading
A document prepared by the shipper issued by a carrier that governs the shipment of goods from one point to another. Bills of lading convey a variety of instructions about the shipment, ranging from a description and quantification of the goods being shipped, to the routing of the shipment (defining the points of origin, destination or place of transshipment, if any), to the name, address and local telephone numbers of the consignee and/or notify parties. The most important function, however, that a bill of lading performs is to transfer title of the goods. In order for the goods to be retrieved, the consignee (or, in the case of negotiable bills of lading, the bona fide holder of the bill of lading) must surrender at least one original to the carrier. Without an original bill of lading, the goods will not be released. The carrier stores unreleased cargo in a warehouse, accruing fees commonly referred to as demurrage charges.  Also see Air Waybill, Inland Bill of Lading, Ocean Bill of Lading, Through Bill of Lading.
 
Clean Bill of Lading
A receipt for goods issued by a carrier with an indication that the goods were received in "apparent good order and condition", without damages or other irregularities. Compare Foul Bill of Lading.
 
House Bill of Lading/Air Waybill
The House Bill of Lading/Air Waybill (HB/L- HAWB) is issued by an IAC or NVOCC. It is the contract for carriage between the shipper and the NVOCC/IAC. Generally, the IAC HAW are identical to the IATA form bill of lading and contain provisions concerning notice, limits on liability, etc. Like a MB/L - MAWB, the purpose of the HB/L- HAWB is to (1) provide proof of the contract for carriage; (2) act as a receipt for the goods shipped; (3) act as the freight invoice; and (4) act as an insurance certificate, if insurance is requested. In the case of ocean they are generally documents of title. The effect of the HB/L - HAWB is to bind the parties to the contract to the terms and conditions of carriage, which are found on the face and reverse side of the air waybill. In the case of international shipments, the Warsaw Convention requires the issuance of a signed air waybill.
 
Master Ocean Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Generally speaking, a master ocean bill of lading (MB/L) is a document of title. Therefore, anyone with possession of the ocean bill of lading is entitled to possession. In contrast, a master air waybill (MAWB) is a receipt and evidence of the contract, but not a title document. The purpose of the air waybill is to (1) provide proof of the contract for carriage; (2) act as a receipt for the goods shipped; (3) act as the freight invoice; and (4) act as an insurance certificate, if insurance is requested. A master air waybill is issued by a carrier or a freight forwarder /IAC, acting as an agent of the airline. At the same time, the freight forwarder or an IAC is also the agent of the shipper. The effect of the MAW is to bind the parties to the contract to the terms and conditions of carriage, which are found on the face and reverse side of the air waybill. In the case of international shipments, the Warsaw Convention requires the issuance of a signed air waybill.
 
Straight Bill Of Lading
A non-negotiable bill of lading in which the goods are consigned directly to a named consignee.
 
Through Bill of Lading
A single bill of lading covering both the domestic and international carriage of an export shipment. An air waybill, for instance, is essentially a through bill of lading used for air shipments. Ocean shipments, on the other hand, usually require two separate documents, - an inland bill of lading for domestic carriage and an ocean bill of lading for international carriage.
 
Bonded Warehouse
A building authorized by Customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.
 
Booking Request (Received from shipper)
It is a reservation request from the factory (the shipper) to the land carrier company to book a transportation service.  This booking request maybe made through fax, telephone, email, or web portal.  It is acceptable as long as the land carrier provide a printed record for the activity
 
Broker
Any person who sells transportation without actually providing it. A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.
 
Brokerage or "brokerage service"
is the arranging of transportation or the physical movement of a motor vehicle or of property.  It can be performed on behalf of a motor carrier, consignor or consignee.
 
Bulk Shipments 
Shipments which are not packaged, but are loaded directly into the vessel's holds. Examples of commodities that can be shipped in bulk are ores, coal, scrap, iron, grain, rice, vegetable oil, tallow, fuel oil, fertilizers, and similar commodities.
 
Business License
A proof the company has rights to be in the business of operating commercial transportation services.
Cargo
Goods or any property of every description which may be carried by an airline with an airway bill (AWB), and under IATA terms or by sea line with a bill of lading (B/L)
 Cargo Location System
A systematic way that tracks the cargo.  The system composes of a set of operating procedures that may or may not involve the application of the computer system
 Cargo Loading / unloading procedures
This document / instruction illustrates the proper procedures to load and unload of cargo to and from a vehicle or a container.  For example, this instruction should describe the role of the supervisor and loaders at loading / unloading, where to put the incoming cargo or when and where to stage the outgoing cargo before the truck arrives, what departments the shipping documents go to when a loading / unloading is completed, and who to contact when there is a problem during the process.