Glossary

ADR

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) was concluded at Geneva in 1957 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and came into effect on 29 January 1968.

Ambient Temperature

Ambient temperature in the context of temperature controlled transport is the air temperature outside of the vehicle.

ATA Carnet

The ATA (Admission Temporaire) Carnet is a document accepted by countries that are part of the Admission Temporaire (ATA) (Temporary Admission) Conventionand overrides the requirement for a normal Customs declaration at border points and the deposit of a guarantee, bond, or cash deposit in the country of temporary import. It can be used for a trip covering more than one country and include multiple exits and re-entries in the country of origin during the period the document is valid. In the UK, ATA carnets are issued by Chambers of Commerce.

BIFA

British International Freight Association whose aims are "To provide effective representation and support for the UK international freight services industry; to promote good practice and total quality in the provision of freight services by all members, and to encourage the membership to observe the highest standards of professional competence".

Bonded Warehouse

A HM Revenue and Customs authorised warehouse for storage of goods which are liable to excise duty and where payment is deferred until the goods are removed.

Box trailer

Fixed rigid box on a frame with rear doors.

CAF

Currency Adjustment Factor - a surcharge to cover currency fluctuations.

CMR

(Convention Marchandises Routiers) the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road - incorporated into UK law by the Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965. It applies to all contracts of carriage of goods by road between two countries where at laest one country is a signatory to the convention.

Consignee

The party to whom something is sold or shipped. The buyer receiver or importer.

Consignor

The party from whom the consignment has been received for shipment, the seller, shipper, or exporter.

Curtain sided trailer

A Curtain Sided Trailer is built on a fixed frame on a flatbed with a solid roof rear end doors and side PVC curtains which can be pulled back for loading / unloading.

Demurrage

Excessive standing time at a loading/unloading point / customs house / border crossing

DGN

Dangerous Goods Note.

DGSA

Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. The Transport of Dangerous Goods (Safety Advisers) Regulations 1999 require organisations involved in carriage or loading and unloading of dangerous goods to appoint a DGSA who must pass relevant examinations.

EFTA

European Free Trade Association membership countries are Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Gross weight

The overall weight of a consignment, including goods and packaging.

Groupage

is where cargo from multiple customers is consolidated into the same trailer or container. This term is used mainly in short sea combined road and sea freight and ferry freight operations. Whilst the term LCL or LCL Consolidation is used in Ocean Freight.

Hague-Visby Rules

A set of international rules for the carriage of goods by sea agreed in Brussels in 1924 and amended by the Visby Amendments in 1968. They are incorporated into UK law by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971.

IMDG

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code was compiled as a code for the international transport of dangerous goods by sea. It covers packing, container traffic and stowage, with particular emphasis on keeping apart incompatible substances.

Lien

A lien is a claim made upon goods for the payment of a debt.

Open Cover Insurance Policy

A marine insurance policy that applies to all shipments made by an exporter over a period of time rather than to one shipment only.

SDR

is short for Special Drawing Rights and is an international unit of currency created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the existing official reserves of member countries. It is used to calculate compensation as a result of liability claims. It is quoted in the 'Financial times' and on their website at http://markets.ft.com/ft/markets/researchArchive.asp?report=PSP&cat=CU

Tilt trailer

A removable frame built onto a flatbed trailer with drop leaf sides and a PVC cover which can be folded back for loading / unloading

TIR

European convention for the international movement of cargo by road whereby sealed trailers or containers can cross national frontiers without inspection. From the French "Transport International par la Route."