Freight Glossary

Additional service charge when performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery such as inside delivery or storage charges.

You are required to contact Crosstown Logistics LLC prior to tender of a shipment to enable Crosstown Logistics LLC and you to establish the time and place of tender, and to make special arrangements, if any, for the shipment.

A bill of lading is a binding contract in the form of a physical document or a digital document image. It contains the terms of the accepting and transporting the shipment. It serves as a receipt for the goods to be delivered by the carrier and contains a definition or description of the goods.

A special service that involves wrapping blankets around goods to cover and cushion from normal impacts which occur during loading, transit, or unloading.

An independent contractor paid to arrange transportation of goods between a shipper and carrier.

Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. 

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.

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.

Any article of commerce. Goods shipped.

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

The business or person who contracts with Crosstown Logistic LLC for carriage of the shipment. 

A steel box suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling, a trailer, transportable tank, flat or pallet. 

The business or person whose name appears on the BOL to bill for a shipment.

Means delivering commodity at any designated location specified by the consignee, when directly accessible to carrier’s vehicle.

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.

Vehicles stopped for loading or unloading is generally two hours. An extra charge will be incurred based on the additional time the truck is stopped after the designated two hours.

The act of sending a driver to their assigned route with detailed instructions and required shipping papers.

A platform where trucks are loaded and unloaded, generally at the same height as the trailer floor.

Vehicle configuration in which a tractor pulls two trailers.

Any tractor, trailer, ramp, or any other equipment used to perform transportation.

Any commodity, goods, cargo, personal items, or property being transported.

Shipping document that gives a description of the freight, its weight, amount charged, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid. Prepaid freight bill is when the charges are paid by shipper. Collect freight bill is paid by the receiver of the goods or a third party.

The combined weight of the vehicle (tractor and trailers) and its goods.

Hazardous material is a substance or material that in a particular amount and form poses an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property.

Explosives, radioactive materials, etiologic agents, flammable or combustible liquids or solids, poisons, oxidizing or corrosive materials, and compressed gases. Visit https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hazardous-materials for more information on Hazardous materials.

Mode of moving shipment by more than one mode of transportation (ground, air, rail or ocean).

Points outside the United States, Washington DC, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Freight that doesn’t fill an entire trailer. Shipment usually weighs less than 10,000 pounds.

A lift on the back of trucks that assists in getting freight on and off the truck. Liftgates are used in place of a loading dock.

The lowest charge for a shipment after discount and/or adjustment. 

Industry standard for classifying freight. Contains rules, descriptions, and rating for all commodities. More information about freight classes and the NMFC can be found at http://www.nmfta.org/.

When the shipping quantities received is more than what is shown on the shipping documents. Overages should be returned to the terminal rather than delivered to the customer unless the driver receives more information from the terminal.

A claim to dispute a discrepancy in charges that can stem from over payment, weight, etc.

Generally, the shipper is responsible for payment may also be handled by a third party indicated as payer on the shipping papers.

Documents related to a shipment that moves through the trucking company’s system.

The party other than the shipper or consignee that will be ultimately responsible for paying the shipping charges.

Shipment from a customer that fills the entire trailer and leaves no space for loading other shipments.

Weight (tons) of a load being transported by a truck.