Drayage Glossary

An EDI 204 is a load tender. It's the document a customer sends to offer a shipment to a transportation provider. Once it's received, the carrier or broker can review the order, accept it, and begin planning the move.

An EDI 210 is an electronic freight invoice. After the move is complete, it's sent to the customer with the transportation charges so the shipment can be billed and paid.

An EDI 214 is a shipment status update. It's how carriers communicate events like pickups, deliveries, delays, arrivals, or departures back to the customer without someone having to send emails or make phone calls.

A 3PL manages transportation or logistics services on behalf of its customers. Depending on the company, that may include transportation, warehousing, customs coordination, inventory management, or other supply chain services.

A 4PL manages the entire logistics operation rather than individual shipments. Instead of simply arranging transportation, they oversee multiple providers and coordinate the customer's complete supply chain.

An accessorial is any charge beyond the normal linehaul rate. Accessorials are created by something outside of a standard container move, like waiting, extra trips, storage, chassis usage, exams, or customer requests.

Under the agency model, an independent transportation company operates under the authority of a larger carrier. The agent manages the local operation and customer relationships while the parent company provides the operating authority, insurance, technology, and administrative support.

An API allows two systems to exchange information automatically. Instead of someone typing the same information into multiple systems, the data moves electronically between them in real time.

An appointment is a reserved time to pick up or deliver a container. Some terminals and customers require appointments, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Missing an appointment can delay the move by hours or even days.

An Arrival Notice lets the importer know the shipment has arrived or is about to arrive. It provides the information needed to begin the import process, obtain releases, and arrange pickup.

A container is available when everyone ahead of the trucking company has finished their job. Customs has released it, any government holds are gone, and the terminal has processed it for pickup. Just because the vessel arrived doesn't mean the container is available.

A bare chassis is a chassis without a container mounted on it. Drivers may reposition bare chassis between terminals, depots, or customer locations as part of normal operations.

The Beneficial Cargo Owner, or BCO, is the company that actually owns the cargo being shipped. Even if other companies arrange the transportation, the BCO is the party receiving the benefit of moving the freight.

The Bill of Lading is the primary shipping document for an international shipment. It identifies the cargo, shipper, consignee, ports, and container information while serving as the transportation contract between the shipper and the steamship line.

A blank sailing occurs when a steamship line cancels a scheduled vessel departure. Containers booked on that sailing are moved to a later vessel, often delaying the shipment by days or even weeks.

Bobtail is when a truck is operating without a chassis or container attached. In drayage, this usually happens while traveling to pick up equipment or repositioning between moves.

A Bill of Lading (BOL) is the shipping document that describes what is being moved, who is shipping it, and where it's going. It follows the shipment through its journey and provides the information needed to move and deliver the freight.

A booking number is the reservation number assigned by the steamship line when space is reserved on a vessel. Before a container exists physically, the booking is what identifies the shipment.

Capacity is the amount of freight the transportation network can handle at a given time. In drayage, capacity refers to how many containers a carrier can move with available drivers and equipment, and it fluctuates based on demand, port conditions, and equipment availability.

Carrier haulage means the steamship line arranges the inland transportation as part of the ocean booking. The steamship line selects and pays the dray carrier, and the cargo owner has less control over who moves the container or when.

CBP is U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They decide whether imported cargo can enter the country, whether it needs additional review, and when it can be released.

A CES is a Centralized Examination Station. It is the approved facility where containers are taken when CBP orders a physical exam. The dray carrier may be involved in moving the container there, but CBP and the exam station control the inspection process.

A Container Freight Station (CFS) is a warehouse where cargo is loaded into or unloaded from containers. It's commonly used for less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments where freight from multiple customers is consolidated or separated.

A chassis is the wheeled frame that allows a shipping container to be moved over the road. The container sits on top of the chassis, while the tractor pulls the entire combination.

A chassis split occurs when the chassis needed for a container isn't located where the container is picked up or returned. The driver must make an additional trip to obtain or return the chassis, resulting in additional time and cost.

A chassis split happens when the container and chassis are in different locations, requiring the driver to make an extra trip to connect the two. Chassis splits add time, miles, and labor that aren't included in a normal move.

Chassis usage is the daily charge for using a pool chassis. The charge continues until the chassis is returned, which is why prepulls, yard storage, and delayed empty returns often result in multiple days of chassis charges.

A chassis usage fee is the daily charge for using a pool chassis. The fee begins when the chassis is picked up and continues until it's returned, even if the container isn't moving during that time.

The check digit is the last number in a container number. It's mathematically calculated to verify that the container number was entered correctly and helps prevent data entry errors.

A Commercial Invoice is created by the seller and shows what was sold, who bought it, and its value. Customs uses it to determine duties, taxes, and verify the shipment information.

The consignee is the party receiving the shipment. For imports, this is usually the customer taking delivery of the container once it has cleared Customs.

The consignor is the party shipping the cargo. They're responsible for sending the freight to the consignee and are often referred to as the shipper.

A shipping container is the box that allows freight to move by truck, rail, and vessel without unloading the cargo in between. Everything in marine container logistics revolves around moving that one piece of equipment from origin to destination.

Every shipping container has a unique identification number that follows it throughout its entire lifecycle. It's the primary unit identifier used for tracking, billing, customs, and terminal operations.

The container prefix is the first four letters of the container number. It identifies the company responsible for the container and is one of the quickest ways to determine which steamship line or leasing company owns the equipment.

Container Tracking is the process of following a container from booking through empty return. Every status update tells the operations team what has happened, who owns the next step, and whether the shipment is moving as expected or needs attention.

The Container Yard is the storage area within a marine terminal where containers wait to be picked up, loaded onto a vessel, or transferred within the terminal.

A corridor is a major transportation route where large volumes of freight move between regions. Corridors often combine highways, railroads, ports, and distribution centers that support the flow of containerized cargo.

A crosstown move is the transfer of a container between two different rail ramps within the same metropolitan area. This usually happens when the inbound railroad is different from the outbound railroad needed for the shipment's next move.

The customs broker is responsible for getting the shipment through Customs. They file the entry, work with CBP and other government agencies, and notify the importer when the shipment is released. If Customs has not cleared the shipment, that is a customs broker issue, not a trucking issue.

A customs broker is responsible for getting imported cargo through Customs. They file the required paperwork, work with CBP and other government agencies, and notify everyone when the shipment has been released.

A Customs Entry is the shipment information the customs broker submits to CBP so imported cargo can be reviewed and legally admitted into the United States. Until the entry is accepted and the shipment is released, the container can't continue through the import lifecycle.

A Customs Hold means CBP has stopped the shipment from moving while they review the cargo, documents, or import information. The dray carrier cannot pick up the container until the hold is removed.

A cutoff is the last time a container can complete a required step before missing its scheduled departure or appointment. Missing a cutoff can delay the container by days and trigger additional costs.

A Container Yard, or CY, is the area within a marine terminal or rail facility where containers are stored before pickup, after delivery, or while waiting for their next move.

Dataset matching is the process of matching information between two different systems by comparing shared identifiers like container numbers, booking numbers, or reference numbers. It allows data from one source to be linked to the correct record in another system without manual lookup.

A delivery appointment is the scheduled time the customer has agreed to receive the container. Customer appointments often determine whether a move can be completed the same day or requires a prepull.

A Delivery Order is the document that authorizes the dray carrier to pick up an import container. Without a valid delivery order and any required releases, the terminal won't release the container.

A daily fee charged by the steamship line when an import container is not picked up from the terminal within the allowed free time period.

Demurrage is what happens when an import container sits at the terminal too long. Once the Last Free Day passes, charges begin accumulating until the container leaves the terminal.

Demurrage is charged when an import container stays at the port or rail terminal after its Last Free Day. The charges continue until the container is picked up and leaves the facility.

The destination ramp is the rail terminal where the container is unloaded from the train and made available for pickup by the dray carrier.

Detention is charged when an empty import container isn't returned to the steamship line before its free time expires. The steamship line charges detention because their equipment is being held longer than allowed.

A door move is transportation directly between a customer's facility and another location, such as a port, rail terminal, warehouse, or consignee. Instead of the customer moving the container between facilities, the transportation provider manages that portion of the container's lifecycle.

A dray carrier moves containers between ports, rail ramps, depots, warehouses, and customer facilities. They're responsible for executing the over-the-road portion of the container's journey while managing appointments, equipment, and customer expectations.

Drayage is the movement of an ocean container between ports, rail ramps, warehouses, depots, and customer facilities. It's the portion of the container's journey that happens over the road before or after moving by vessel or rail.

Driver assist is charged when the driver performs work beyond simply picking up or delivering the container. This may include helping load or unload cargo, moving freight by hand, or assisting the customer with work that isn't part of a standard dray move.

Driver dispatch is the process of assigning a driver to a move and giving them everything they need to complete it, including locations, appointments, equipment requirements, and special instructions. A good dispatch answers the driver's questions before they have to ask them.

Driver ETA is the driver's estimated arrival time at the next stop. Dispatchers and customer service use ETAs to keep customers informed and identify potential delays before they become bigger problems.

A drop is when the driver leaves the container at the customer's location and departs without waiting for loading or unloading. The container stays at the facility until it's ready to be picked up.

The standard enclosed shipping container used for most freight. If someone simply says "container," this is usually what they're referring to. 20s, 40s, 45s, etc.

A dry run occurs when the driver arrives ready to complete the move but can't because the container, paperwork, customer, or facility isn't ready. The driver still spent the time and miles, even though the move couldn't be completed.

A dual transaction allows a driver to complete both an empty return and an import pickup during the same terminal visit. Instead of making two separate trips, the driver completes two stages of two different container lifecycles in a single gate transaction, improving efficiency and reducing congestion.

Dwell time is how long a container remains at one location before moving to the next step. Extended dwell at a terminal or facility can trigger storage charges and delay the container's availability for pickup.

The Earliest Return Date (ERD) is the first day an export container can be delivered to the terminal. Delivering before the ERD means the terminal won't accept the container, so timing the delivery correctly is critical for export moves.

EDI is a standardized way for companies to exchange business documents electronically. While it isn't real-time like an API, it's still widely used throughout transportation to exchange orders, shipment updates, invoices, and other information between companies.

An Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) is the document issued when a container or chassis enters or leaves a terminal, rail, or depot. It records the equipment number, date and time of the interchange, and the condition of the equipment at that moment.

An empty depot is a facility where empty containers are stored, inspected, repaired, and returned to the steamship line. Many empty returns are made to depots instead of the terminal, depending on the steamship line's instructions.

An empty notification tells the dray carrier the customer has finished unloading and the container is ready to be picked up for return. Until the carrier receives that notification, the empty return can't be scheduled.

Empty repositioning is the movement of an empty container to another location where it's needed for future shipments. Once one container's lifecycle ends with an empty return, the steamship line may reposition it so another customer's lifecycle can begin.

An empty return is the final step of an import move. After the container is unloaded, it must be returned to the terminal or depot designated by the steamship line before detention charges begin.

An equipment imbalance occurs when one market has more containers than it needs while another doesn't have enough. Steamship lines reposition empty equipment to restore balance so future import and export container moves can continue without delays.

ETA is the best estimate of when something will arrive. It could be a vessel, train, truck, or container. ETAs change constantly, so operations teams treat them as estimates, not promises.

ETD stands for Estimated Time of Departure. It's the estimated time a vessel, train, or truck is expected to leave its current location and helps everyone downstream plan their next move.

An export is cargo leaving one country for another. The export lifecycle begins when the empty container is picked up, continues through loading and delivery to the port or rail, and ends when the container is ingated before sailing.

Export drayage begins when an empty container is picked up for loading and ends when the loaded container is ingated at the port or rail. The goal is to get the shipment loaded and delivered before the vessel or rail cutoff.

An FDA Hold means the Food and Drug Administration needs to review the shipment before it can move. This usually involves food, beverages, medical products, or other cargo the FDA regulates.

A FIRMS Code is the unique identifier assigned to a bonded facility, terminal, rail ramp, or warehouse by U.S. Customs. It tells customs exactly where imported cargo is physically located and is commonly required on customs entries and shipment documentation.

A flat rack is a container with no side walls and, in some cases, removable end walls. It's designed for machinery, oversized freight, or cargo that can't fit inside a standard container.

A flip is moving a container from one chassis to another. This usually happens because of equipment restrictions, customer requirements, maintenance issues, or changing chassis ownership.

A freight bill is the detailed breakdown of the transportation charges for a shipment. Depending on the company, it may serve as the invoice or support the invoice by showing how the charges were calculated.

A freight forwarder manages the transportation of cargo on behalf of the shipper. They coordinate the different providers involved in the shipment and make sure the cargo moves from origin to destination as planned.

A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a designated area where imported cargo can be stored, handled, or processed before officially entering U.S. commerce. This allows companies to delay or reduce certain customs duties until the cargo leaves the FTZ.

A fuel surcharge is an adjustment added to transportation charges to help offset changes in fuel prices. It increases or decreases as fuel costs change over time.

Gate In is the event recorded when a truck enters a terminal or facility. It marks the beginning of the visit and is often used to calculate turn times.

Gate Out is the event recorded when a truck leaves a terminal or facility. It marks the completion of the visit and usually means the container has left the terminal.

A generator set provides electrical power to a refrigerated container when it's moving over the road or rail and isn't connected to external shore power.

GPS tracking shows where a truck or driver is located in real time. It helps dispatchers, customer service, and customers understand where the shipment is and provides more accurate ETAs throughout the move.

Gross profit is what's left after subtracting the cost of moving the container from the revenue billed to the customer. Every preventable delay, extra trip, or unrecovered accessorial reduces gross profit.

A grounded container has been placed directly on the ground or stacked in the yard and requires lifting equipment to load it onto a chassis before it can leave the terminal.

A grounded rail container has already been taken off the train and placed in the yard. Before it can leave the rail, someone has to put it on a chassis.

A high cube container is one foot taller than a standard container, providing additional cubic capacity for lighter or taller cargo. The 40' High Cube is the most common container used in international shipping today.

A hook is when the driver returns to pick up a container that was previously dropped. Depending on the shipment, the driver may be picking up a loaded export or an empty import after unloading.

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) is the organization that develops standards and best practices for the North American intermodal industry. They also administer the UIIA and help create the standards used throughout container transportation.

An import is cargo entering a country from another country. For a dray carrier, the import lifecycle usually begins when the container becomes available for pickup and ends when the empty container is returned to the steamship line.

Import drayage begins when an import container becomes available for pickup and ends when the empty container is returned. During that time, the dray carrier is responsible for moving the container while managing appointments, free time, equipment, and customer expectations.

A container that does fit within the normal dimensions of a Flat Rack or Open Top container.

Ingate is the transaction where equipment is returned to a terminal, rail ramp, or depot. For imports, this usually refers to returning the empty container after delivery.

An inland port is an intermodal facility located away from the ocean that connects rail and truck transportation. Instead of moving cargo directly through a seaport, containers can be transferred inland and distributed closer to their final destination.

An Intensive Exam is a full physical inspection of the cargo. The container is moved to an exam facility, opened, unloaded, inspected, and reloaded before it can be released. This usually creates significant delays and additional charges.

Interchange is the point where responsibility for the equipment changes from one company to another. Every interchange creates a new owner for that portion of the move.

An Interchange Receipt documents when responsibility for a container or chassis transfers from one party to another. It records the condition of the equipment and becomes the official record if damage or billing questions come up later.

Intermodal is the movement of a container using multiple modes of transportation without unloading the cargo. A single container may travel by vessel, rail, and truck while remaining sealed throughout its lifecycle.

An Intermodal Equipment Provider, or IEP, owns or manages the chassis used in intermodal transportation. They maintain the equipment and make it available to participating motor carriers.

Intermodal rail is the movement of containers by train between major rail terminals. It allows containers to travel long distances efficiently before a dray carrier handles the local pickup or delivery.

An invoice is the bill sent to the customer after the move is complete. It includes the transportation charges and any supporting documentation needed to justify the charges.

ISF stands for Importer Security Filing and is often called "10+2." It is shipment information that must be filed before cargo is loaded onto a vessel headed to the United States. It is normally handled by the importer or customs broker, not the dray carrier.

An ISO container is simply a container built to international standards. Because every ship, railroad, terminal, and chassis is designed around those standards, the same container can move around the world without being repacked.

A tank container is a stainless steel tank mounted inside a container frame, designed to transport bulk liquids, chemicals, and food-grade products internationally.

Landed cost is the total cost of getting a container from origin to its final destination. It includes the transportation charges plus any accessorials like chassis, storage, detention, demurrage, exams, or other costs incurred along the way.

Landing gear are the support legs found on trailers—not containers. Shipping containers do not have landing gear; they rely on a chassis for support during over-the-road transportation.

Last Free Day is the final day a container can remain at the terminal without incurring storage charges. Missing the LFD can quickly become expensive, making it one of the most closely watched dates in import drayage.

A layover is charged when a driver loses an entire workday waiting because the move can't continue. This can happen due to delays at the customer, terminal, rail, or because required information isn't available.

The container getting lifted on or off the chassis.

Linehaul is the base transportation charge for moving the container from one location to another. It doesn't include additional charges like chassis usage, detention, prepulls, storage, or other accessorials.

A live load means the driver waits while the customer loads the container. Once loading is complete, the driver delivers it to the port, rail, or customer specified on the order.

A live unload means the driver waits while the customer unloads the container. Once it's empty, the driver leaves with the container and continues to the empty return or next assignment.

A local move is a single pickup and delivery completed without storing the container overnight. The container is picked up, delivered, unloaded or loaded, and the move is completed the same day whenever possible.

Spring loaded locking pin on the front of the chassis securing the container on top of the chassis.

The manifest is the vessel's list of containers. It tells everyone what's onboard, where it's going, and gives Customs visibility into what's arriving.

Margin is the difference between what the customer pays for the move and what it costs the dray carrier to complete it. Good operations protect margin by preventing unnecessary delays and accessorials that can't be recovered.

A marine terminal is where containers move between the vessel and the truck. It's where imports are discharged, exports are loaded, and where most dray carriers pick up and return containers.

A marine terminal is the facility where containers move between the vessel and the truck. It's where import containers are picked up, export containers are delivered, and containers wait until they're available to move.

Merchant haulage means the cargo owner is responsible for arranging the container's inland transportation. The shipper or consignee selects and pays the dray carrier directly, rather than having the steamship line arrange the move.

A motor carrier is the trucking company responsible for physically transporting freight over the road. In drayage, the motor carrier performs the container move between the terminal, rail, depot, and customer.

A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) arranges ocean transportation without operating its own vessels. They purchase space from steamship lines and sell transportation services to their customers under their own Bill of Lading.

Ocean carrier is another name for the steamship line. In day-to-day operations, people use the two terms interchangeably.

OCR converts printed documents or images into readable data. Instead of someone manually typing information from a Bill of Lading, Delivery Order, or work order, OCR identifies the text so it can be used by software.

Off-hire is the location where the steamship line wants the empty container returned instead of its original terminal. Off-hire locations can change daily and often create additional miles and costs that should be communicated to the customer.

An open top container has a removable roof instead of a solid steel top, allowing oversized cargo to be loaded from above by crane.

A container that does not fit within the normal dimensions of a Flat Rack or Open Top container.

Outgate is the moment the container leaves the terminal. From that point forward, the trucking company is responsible for executing the move and getting the equipment returned on time.

An overweight charge applies when the loaded container exceeds legal road weight limits or requires additional work to move legally. Depending on the situation, the shipment may require permits, transloading, or additional equipment before it can move.

A Packing List describes what's inside the shipment and how it's packed. Unlike the commercial invoice, its purpose is to identify the contents, quantities, weights, and packaging rather than the value of the goods.

Per diem is the daily charge assessed by the steamship line when their container isn't returned before the allowed free time expires. The longer the equipment is kept, the more the charges increase, making equipment management one of the most important parts of import drayage.

Per diem free time is the number of days the steamship line allows its container to remain outside the terminal before detention charges begin. The clock usually starts when the container is outgated and ends when the empty container is ingated at the designated return location.

A PGA Hold means another government agency besides CBP has stopped the shipment for review. PGA stands for Participating Government Agency and can include the FDA, USDA, EPA, or other agencies depending on the cargo.

PierPass is a fee and traffic management program used at many Southern California terminals to help reduce congestion and fund extended gate operations. Whether it applies depends on the terminal, cargo, and transaction.

A Proof of Delivery (POD) confirms the container was delivered to the customer. It typically includes the delivery date, time, location, and signature or other confirmation that the shipment was received.

A pool chassis is shared equipment managed by a chassis pool and available for use by participating trucking companies. Most drayage operations use pool chassis rather than owning their own fleets.

A port authority is the government or public agency responsible for overseeing a port and the surrounding waterfront. Port authorities are typically organized around a geographic region rather than a specific terminal. They manage the long-term development, infrastructure, and operation of the port, while individual marine terminals are often operated by private terminal operators under lease or agreement.

A port dray is the truck movement between a marine terminal and another location, such as a warehouse, rail terminal, depot, or customer. It represents the over-the-road portion of the container's lifecycle after arriving from or before departing on a vessel.

The Port of Discharge is the port where the container is unloaded from the vessel. For import drayage, this is typically where the dray carrier's responsibility begins.

The Port of Loading is the port where the container is loaded onto the vessel and begins its ocean journey.

Port Storage refers to storage charges assessed by the terminal for containers occupying space beyond the included free time. Depending on the terminal and billing practices, these charges may be separate from or combined with demurrage.

A prepull is when the dray carrier picks up a container before the scheduled delivery because it can't be delivered the same day. The container is stored in the carrier's yard until the delivery appointment, which usually adds chassis usage and yard storage charges.

Rail billing is the process of assigning a shipment to a specific rail movement and destination. Before a container can move through the rail network, the shipment must be properly billed to the correct ramp and consignee.

A rail dray is the truck movement between a rail terminal and another location, such as a warehouse, marine terminal, depot, or customer. It represents the truck portion of the container's lifecycle before or after the rail movement.

Rail free time is the number of days a container can remain at the rail terminal before storage charges begin. Once the container becomes available, the clock starts ticking. If it isn't picked up before free time expires, rail storage charges begin accumulating until the container leaves the terminal.

Rail Last Free Day is the final day a container can remain at the rail ramp before storage charges begin. Rail free time is often shorter than port free time, making it critical to schedule pickup quickly.

A rail ramp is the facility where containers are loaded onto or unloaded from trains. For rail imports, it's the location where the dray carrier picks up the container after it's been released.

A rail route is the path a container follows through the rail network between origin and destination. The chosen route determines which railroads, ramps, and inland terminals the container moves through before pickup or delivery.

A rail terminal is where containers move between the railroad and the truck. Import containers are picked up here after arriving by train, and export containers are delivered here before continuing by rail.

Railroads move containers between major markets using the intermodal rail network. In marine drayage, they transport containers over long distances before the dray carrier completes the first or final miles of the shipment.

A reefer is a temperature-controlled container used to transport cargo that must remain within a specific temperature range, such as food, pharmaceuticals, or chemicals.

A release means Customs and any required government agencies are finished with the shipment. It does not always mean the container is available for pickup. The terminal still has to process the release and make the container available before the trucking company can retrieve it.

A Release Number is a unique number used to confirm the shipment has been released for pickup. Depending on the customer or steamship line, the terminal may require the release number before allowing the container to outgate.

Revenue is the total amount billed to the customer for moving the container, including the linehaul and any approved accessorial charges. It doesn't represent profit because the carrier still has costs to pay.

Rework is the process of redistributing or adjusting the cargo inside a container so it can be transported safely or legally. It's commonly required when the weight is unevenly distributed or the shipment exceeds axle weight limits.

A sailing is a scheduled vessel departure. Exporters work to make a sailing, while importers track sailings to know when their containers are expected to arrive.

A scale fee covers the cost of weighing a container to verify its legal road weight. Containers are often scaled when the weight is unknown or close to legal limits.

A Sea Waybill works much like a Bill of Lading but doesn't transfer ownership of the cargo. Since an original document usually isn't required for release, shipments can often move through the process faster.

A Seal Number is the identification number printed on the security seal attached to the container doors. It helps verify the container wasn't opened during transit and is checked during pickup and delivery to confirm the shipment remained secure.

A shipping lane is the ocean route vessels regularly follow between ports. The shipping lane determines how the container moves across the ocean before it reaches the dray carrier.

A single transaction is a terminal visit where the driver either picks up a container or returns one, but not both. Completing the other part of the move requires another trip to the terminal.

A status event is any update that changes where a container is in its lifecycle. Events like vessel arrival, availability, pickup, delivery, and empty return each represent a status change that tells the operations team what has happened and what needs to happen next.

A steamship line owns or leases the containers and operates the vessels that move cargo across the ocean. They control the container before pickup and continue making decisions about the equipment until the empty container is returned.

A steamship line is the company responsible for moving your container across the ocean. They own or lease the container, operate or contract the vessel, determine free time, decide where empties are returned, and control much of what happens before the dray carrier gets involved.

A stop-off is an additional pickup or delivery made during the same move. Because the driver spends extra time and miles completing another stop, an additional charge is usually applied.

Storage is a general term for charges incurred when a container or cargo remains at a facility longer than the allowed free time. Depending on where the equipment is sitting, storage may be charged by the terminal, rail, depot, or another facility.

A street interchange is when responsibility for a container is transferred directly from one trucking company to another without returning it to the steamship line. Both carriers and the equipment owner must approve the interchange before it can happen.

A street turn allows a driver to use an empty import container for an export load instead of returning it to the steamship line first. When it works, it eliminates an empty return and saves both time and miles.

Telematics is the information collected directly from the truck. It can include GPS location, speed, engine performance, idle time, fuel usage, and other operating data that helps companies manage drivers, equipment, and fleet performance.

A terminal operator runs the day-to-day operation of a marine terminal or rail ramp. They manage container availability, appointments, equipment movement, and the process of getting containers in and out of the facility.

A termination is the return of an empty container to the location designated by the steamship line, ending the carrier's responsibility for the equipment. Once the container is terminated, detention responsibility ends.

A TMS is the system a transportation company uses to manage its daily operation. It's where orders are entered, drivers are dispatched, shipments are tracked, customers are billed, and the business keeps track of everything happening throughout the container's journey.

TONU stands for Truck Ordered Not Used. It applies when a truck is dispatched for a move but is cancelled before any work is performed. The charge helps recover the driver's lost time and the equipment that was committed to the shipment.

Transit time is the amount of time it takes a container to move between two points in its journey. It can refer to the ocean voyage, the rail leg, or the final truck move, and it directly affects how quickly cargo reaches its destination.

Transshipment means a container is transferred from one vessel to another before reaching its final destination. This is common on international routes and usually happens at a major hub port.

A truck brokerage connects customers that need freight moved with motor carriers that have the capacity to move it. The broker coordinates the shipment but doesn't operate the truck performing the move.

A trucker-owned chassis belongs to the motor carrier instead of a chassis pool. These are less common but give carriers greater control over equipment availability and maintenance.

Turn time is how long it takes a driver to complete a pickup or return at a terminal or rail facility. Long turn times reduce how many moves a driver can complete in a day and directly affect carrier capacity and cost.

Twist locks are the mechanical locking devices that secure a shipping container to a chassis, railcar, or vessel, preventing the container from shifting during transportation.

The Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement (UIIA) is the agreement that allows trucking companies to interchange containers and chassis with participating equipment providers. Without an active UIIA, most dray carriers can't retrieve containers from major terminals or railroads.

An ungrounded rail container is still sitting on the railcar. Instead of waiting for it to be grounded, the rail pulls it directly from the train so the driver can hook up. Not every rail offers ungrounded service.

A USDA Hold means the Department of Agriculture needs to review or inspect the shipment. This can apply to agricultural products, plants, wood packaging, food items, or anything that could create an agricultural risk.

VACIS is a container scan used by CBP to look inside the shipment without unloading it. The container is moved through imaging equipment, and CBP decides whether the scan is enough or whether a physical exam is still needed.

The vessel is the container ship moving freight between countries. For imports, almost everything starts with the vessel arriving because the container can't move until it's discharged from the ship.

Vessel Arrival is when the ship reaches the port. While this starts the import process, containers still must be discharged, processed, and released before they become available for pickup.

Vessel Departure is when the vessel leaves the port after completing cargo operations. For exports, missing the vessel departure usually means waiting for the next sailing.

A voyage number identifies a specific trip a vessel is making. Even if it's the same ship, every sailing has its own voyage number so everyone knows which trip the container is on.

A waybill is the shipping document used by the railroad to move freight through its network. It identifies the shipment, routing, destination, and handling instructions for the rail movement.

A webhook automatically tells another system when something changes. Instead of constantly checking for updates, the sending system pushes a notification the moment an event occurs, allowing the receiving system to react immediately.

A wheeled container is already sitting on a chassis and can typically be hooked and moved without first mounting it onto equipment.

An X-Ray is a non-physical container exam where CBP scans the shipment to review what is inside. Depending on the results, the container may be released or sent for a more detailed inspection.

Yard storage is when the dray carrier stores a container in its yard between moves because it can't be delivered or returned immediately. This usually happens during prepulls or when appointments or empty return instructions are not yet available.

Yard storage is charged when a dray carrier stores a container in its own yard between moves. This usually happens because the container can't be delivered, returned, or accepted by the next facility yet.