Shipping Definitions
CES (Centralized Examination Station)
A central examination station is an inspection hub used by freight forwarders and customs brokers to streamline and expedite the arduous task of importing cargo freight and containers shipped into the United States from overseas.
CBP (Customs and Border Protection)
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the law enforcement agency that regulates all goods shipped to the United States. The CBP facilitates lawful trade by inspecting cargo and collecting import duties when necessary.
CBM (Cubic Meter)
CBM, or cubic meter, is the freight volume of the shipment for domestic and international freight. This measurement is calculated by multiplying the width, height and length together of the shipment.
CAIN (Customs Assigned Importer Number)
A CAIN is a Customs Assigned Importer Number used for foreign importers.
Bulk Cargo
A bulk cargo is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement, in its cargo holds.
Break Bulk
Break bulk cargo or general cargo are goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain.
Bonded Warehouse
A bonded warehouse, or bond, is a building or other secured area in which dutiable goods may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty.
Bobtail Fee
Bobtail fees apply to drayage shipments. When a truck offloads a full container load at a warehouse but leaves empty, the shipper will accrue a fee which is typically around half of the cost of the shipment.
Blind Shipment
The term Blind Shipment is when one or more parties to a shipment don't know who is the shipper, receiver, or both.
Blank Sailing
A blank sailing could refer to a sailing skipping one specific port (while still traversing the rest of the scheduled route) or the entire sailing being canceled.
BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
Bunker adjustment factor, bunker surcharge or BAF refers to floating part of sea freight charges which represents additions due to oil prices.
Automated Manifest System (AMS)
Advanced Manifest System requires shipping carriers to report their cargo to destination customs before sailing.
Automated Export System (AES)
The Automated Export System (AES) is the system used by U.S. exporters to electronically declare their international exports, known as Electronic ExportInformation (EEI), to the Census Bureau to help compile U.S. export and trade statistics.
Anti-dumping Duties (AD)
An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.
Airline Terminal Fee
An airline terminal fee is placed on all air shipments for handling the cargo.
Air Waybill (AWB)
An air waybill or air consignment note is a receipt issued by an international airline for goods and an evidence of the contract of carriage, it is a document of title to the goods. Hence, the air waybill is non-negotiable.