Freight glossary
Freight & Shipping Terms Explained
Freight has a language of its own — Incoterms, bills of lading, FCL and LCL, demurrage, cross-trade. This glossary explains the freight and shipping terms you’ll meet when moving goods by air, sea or road, in plain English. Use the jump links below to find a term, or simply let Atrax handle the move for you.
Jump to a term
What is a cross-trade shipment?
A cross-trade (or triangular) shipment moves goods directly from one country to another without the products ever entering the home country of the seller or the buyer. It typically involves three countries — the supplier’s, the buyer’s, and yours as the party arranging the deal. The benefits are real: cost efficiency, reduced cargo handling and a smaller environmental footprint, because the goods take the shortest sensible route instead of detouring through your country. It does call for careful documentation — often a switch bill of lading — to keep each party’s commercial details confidential.
What is a GRV (Goods Received Voucher)?
GRV is the acronym for a Goods Received Voucher. It’s normally issued as part of the receiving function at a warehouse to list the items received, and it can also capture important information about the condition of those items, their markings and their sizes. At Atrax we’re always looking for ways to increase efficiency, and we’ve transitioned to a paperless system for GRV handling that offers better traceability and greater sustainability.
What are Incoterms?
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are a set of standardised trade terms, published by the International Chamber of Commerce, that define exactly where the seller’s responsibility ends and the buyer’s begins — who pays for carriage, insurance and duties, and where the risk passes at each point of the journey. Common ones include EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP. Agreeing the right Incoterm up front prevents disputes about who bears which cost and risk.
What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
FOB (Free On Board) means the seller’s responsibility ends once the goods are loaded onto the vessel, after which cost and risk pass to the buyer. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) means the seller also covers the freight and insurance to the destination port. The choice affects your landed cost and the point at which your risk begins, so it’s worth settling before you agree terms.
What is a bill of lading (B/L)?
A bill of lading is the central document in sea freight. It plays three roles at once: a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title that can be used to claim the cargo at destination. Because it controls who can take delivery, original bills are handled with great care — almost like currency.
What is an air waybill (AWB)?
An air waybill is the equivalent document for air freight: a non-negotiable contract of carriage and receipt issued by the airline or its agent, tracking the shipment from origin to destination. Unlike a bill of lading it is not a document of title, so the goods are released to the named consignee.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (Full Container Load) means your cargo fills an entire container, which is ideal for large volumes. LCL (Less than Container Load) shares container space with other shippers, making it cost-effective for smaller shipments. The right choice comes down to your volume, your budget and how quickly you need the goods to move.
What is groupage (consolidation)?
Groupage, or consolidation, combines several smaller consignments from different shippers into one container or load. Each shipper pays only for the space they use, which makes moving smaller volumes far more economical than booking a whole container to yourself. It’s the practical mechanism behind LCL sea freight.
What is transhipment?
Transhipment is when cargo is unloaded from one vessel or vehicle and loaded onto another part-way to its final destination, usually at a hub port. It’s common on routes that have no direct service. Because it adds handling and can add transit time, it’s a useful factor to understand when you’re comparing shipping options.
What are demurrage and detention?
Demurrage and detention are charges that apply when containers aren’t moved within the free time allowed. Demurrage applies while a full container sits at the port or terminal beyond the free period; detention applies once you’ve taken the container away but haven’t returned the empty in time. Both add up quickly, so clearing and turning containers around promptly protects your costs.
What does a freight forwarder do?
A freight forwarder arranges the movement of goods on your behalf — booking carriers across air, sea and road, preparing documentation, arranging customs clearance and coordinating the whole journey door to door. Instead of dealing with multiple carriers and agents yourself, you work with one party who manages the chain. That’s the core of what Atrax does.
What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric (or dimensional) weight is a pricing measure that reflects how much space a shipment occupies rather than only how heavy it is. Carriers charge on whichever is greater — actual weight or volumetric weight — because a light but bulky shipment still uses up paid space. Packing efficiently can therefore reduce your freight cost.
What is a SAD500?
The SAD500 is South Africa’s Single Administrative Document — the standard customs declaration lodged with SARS for imports and exports. It captures the details customs needs to assess duties and release the cargo, and it’s one of the documents Atrax prepares and files when clearing your shipment. You’ll find the related paperwork explained on our customs documents page.
What do ETA and ETD mean?
ETA is the Estimated Time of Arrival and ETD the Estimated Time of Departure — the planning estimates for when a shipment will leave its origin and reach its destination. They are estimates rather than guarantees, since weather, port congestion and customs can all shift them, which is exactly why live tracking matters.
Related service
Sea Freight
FCL, LCL and breakbulk through all major South African ports, with strong carrier partnerships to 220+ destinations — one team from port handling to final delivery.
Get a free quote
Need to move freight?
Tell us what you’re shipping, from where to where, and we’ll come back within 24 hours with a clear quote across air, sea or road.