The TSL (Transport, Forwarding, Logistics) industry operates with highly specialized jargon, abbreviations, and international regulations. The following list is an alphabetically organized professional knowledge base, essential for the correct interpretation of transport documentation, the use of TMS (Transport Management System) class software, and smooth communication within the supply chain.
A
ADR (Accord Dangereuses Route): An international convention concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. It classifies materials into hazard classes and mandates the use of appropriate safety measures and specific driver qualifications.
ATP: An international agreement on the carriage of perishable foodstuffs. It standardizes requirements for refrigerated and isothermal vehicles.
Advice / Advising: A prior, formalized notification to a warehouse, logistics center, or recipient regarding a vehicle’s planned arrival time (often linked to booking a specific time slot).
B
BDO (Waste Database): A Polish IT system for waste tracking. Required for every carrier performing the transport or transit of waste within Poland.
C
Cabotage: The transport of goods between two points within the territory of one country by a carrier registered in another country.
CEMT / EKMT: A permit from the European Conference of Ministers of Transport. A document authorizing carriers to perform international road transport between EKMT member countries.
CMR: An international consignment note. Proof of the contract of carriage, standardizing the carrier’s liability. It serves as the basis for claims and freight settlements.
Coil well: A special trough in the trailer floor used for the safe transport of steel in coils.
Cross-docking: A logistics strategy consisting of unloading goods from an incoming vehicle directly onto an outbound vehicle, bypassing the warehouse storage stage.
Curtainsider: The most popular type of trailer in Europe. It features sliding side curtains and a sliding roof, enabling quick side or top loading.
D
DDD files: Digital files downloaded from the tachograph and driver cards. They contain an accurate record of activities (working time, driving, rest).
DDT (Documento di Trasporto): An Italian transport document serving as proof of delivery (often used as a local supplement to the CMR).
E
e-CMR: An electronic version of the CMR consignment note, digitizing the document flow in international transport.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): The electronic exchange of data. A standard in the TSL industry allowing for the automatic transmission of orders, statuses, and invoices between the ERP/TMS systems of different companies.
EPAL (Europallet): A standardized wooden pallet measuring 1200 x 800 mm, constituting the basic loading unit in European transport.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival): The estimated time the vehicle will arrive at the destination point.
ETD (Estimated Time of Departure): The estimated time the vehicle will depart from the loading site.
F
FIX: Transport with a strictly mandatory loading or unloading deadline (no flexibility, high risk of contractual penalties in case of delay).
Forwarding: The organization of goods transport. The forwarder acts as an intermediary and organizer of the entire process, aiming to optimize costs and routes, without necessarily owning their own fleet.
Freight: The fee (remuneration) for performing a cargo transport service. The term is also often used in reference to the cargo itself.
FTL (Full Truckload): A shipment that occupies the entire space of a trailer or meets its weight capacity. One client rents the entire cargo space.
G
Gitterbox: A standardized metal mesh crate (often used in the automotive industry), designed for stacking and handling by forklifts.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): The maximum weight of a vehicle including its load with which it can legally travel on roads (in Europe, for a standard truck set, this is usually 40 tons).
H
HACCP: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. In refrigerated transport, it mandates rigorous hygiene procedures and the maintenance of the cold chain.
I
Incoterms: International Commercial Terms defining the division of costs, risks, and obligations between buyer and seller (e.g., EXW, DAP, DDP, FCA).
Intermodal Transport: Cargo transport using more than one mode of transport (e.g., road + rail + sea) in the same loading unit (container, trailer), without handling the goods themselves during transfers.
J
JIS (Just in Sequence): An extension of JIT. Components are delivered not only on time but also in a strictly defined sequence corresponding to the assembly order on the production line.
JIT (Just in Time): A “exactly on time” delivery strategy, eliminating the need for component storage at the recipient’s site.
L
LDM (Loading Meter): A unit of measurement for space on a trailer. 1 LDM is 1 linear meter of length relative to the trailer width (approx. 2.40 m). A standard trailer has 13.6 LDM.
Load Board: An online platform (e.g., Trans.eu, TimoCom) connecting carriers, forwarders, and shippers, used for trading available loads and free cargo spaces.
Logistics Hub: A central transshipment point in a distribution network where the consolidation or deconsolidation of cargo occurs.
Low-deck: A tractor unit with a lowered fifth wheel, working with trailers of increased internal height (Mega).
LTL (Less Than Truckload): Partial transport or groupage. The consolidation of loads from various clients on a single vehicle.
M
Milk-run: A delivery method involving a single vehicle cyclically visiting several pre-determined points for the pickup or delivery of goods (similar to a traditional milkman’s route).
Mobility Package: A set of EU legal regulations governing road transport work (including rules for posting drivers, rest periods, cabotage, and the return of trucks to base).
O
OCP (Carrier’s Liability Insurance): Insurance protecting the carrier against the financial consequences of damage to or theft of entrusted cargo.
OCS (Forwarder’s Liability Insurance): Insurance protecting the forwarder for errors committed during transport organization (e.g., documentation errors, incorrect carrier selection).
Out-of-gauge: The transport of cargo exceeding standard dimensions or weight. Requires specialized trailers, road permits, and often pilot cars.
R
Ratchet straps: Equipment used for securing and fastening cargo on a trailer (requires proper certification and parameters, e.g., LC - lashing capacity).
Ro-Ro (Roll-on / Roll-off): A type of ship/ferry designed for wheeled vehicles (trucks, trailers) to be driven on and off.
Road Toll: An electronic road fee collected from heavy vehicles for the use of specific sections of roads and motorways.
S
Semi-mega: A trailer with an internal height of approximately 2.85 m.
SENT: A Polish fiscal system monitoring the real-time transport of “sensitive goods” (fuel, tobacco, chemicals).
Stacking: Placing goods or loading units (e.g., pallets) on top of one another to optimally utilize the vertical cargo space.
Swap body (BDF): A system allowing for the quick disconnection of the cargo container from the truck chassis, eliminating downtime during unloading.
T
Tachograph: A device recording driver activity, working time, speed, and distance traveled. The current standard is smart digital tachographs with a GNSS module.
Tail lift: A lifting platform mounted at the rear of a distribution vehicle, allowing the driver to unload pallets with a pallet jack in locations without ramps.
Tare: The weight of the cargo packaging itself or the weight of an empty vehicle (without cargo).
Telematics: Advanced IT and navigation systems in a vehicle used for GPS tracking, fuel consumption monitoring, communication, and CAN data retrieval.
Time windows / Slot: Strictly designated timeframes for the servicing (loading/unloading) of a vehicle at a warehouse ramp.
TMS (Transport Management System): Enterprise-class software used for comprehensive planning, execution, optimization, and settlement of transport operations.
Truck-mounted Crane: A heavy vehicle with an integrated crane, allowing for the self-unloading of goods (e.g., at construction sites).
