Glossary

Navigate shipping terminology with confidence using our comprehensive glossary—your go-to resource for understanding industry language and staying informed. 

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Access Points - Retail or commercial locations used as package pickup or drop-off sites instead of home delivery.

Accessorials - Extra services added to a shipment like liftgate, residential delivery, or inside pickup.

Actual Weight - The total weight of the shipment, including packaging and pallet (if any).

Additional Charges - Charges applied after booking for unexpected services or adjustments.

Additional Handling - Fee for non-standard items that require special handling or manual sorting.

Address Correction Change - Fee incurred when a shipment’s address is corrected after booking.

Adjustment - A billing update reflecting differences between quoted and final costs.

Admin Role - A user with full access to system settings, including managing other users.

Adult Signature - Delivery option requiring recipient to show legal age proof at delivery.

Advance Fee Charge - Fee for customs duties paid upfront by the courier on your behalf.

Amazon/FBA Delivery - A shipment sent directly to an Amazon Fulfillment Center.

Amusement Park - A recreational site treated as limited access for freight purposes.

API - Software connection allowing two systems to communicate automatically.

API Token - Secure, unique identifier used to authenticate system access via API.

Applicable Charges - Final shipment costs that may include fees beyond the original quote.

Appointment Delivery - Delivery method requiring a scheduled appointment time.

Autofill - System feature that auto-populates fields using saved data.

B

Bags - Soft-sided packaging used for lightweight, non-fragile items.

Bales - Large bundles of goods secured with wrap or straps for shipment.

Base Charge - Core cost of shipping before taxes, fuel, or extra services.

Batch Quote - Ability to generate quotes for multiple shipments at once with the same origin.

BC Carbon Tax - A fee applied to emissions-producing transportation in British Columbia.

Beyond Surcharge - Fee for service to remote or less-accessible regions.

Bill of Lading (BOL) - Legal document between shipper and carrier describing the shipment and terms.

Billing Adjustment - Updated invoice reflecting corrected shipment charges.

Billing Reference Code - Custom identifier used internally to track a shipment.

Bond Fee - Cost incurred when duties are unpaid and courier must post a customs bond.

Bonded Warehouse - Secure storage for imported goods awaiting customs clearance.

Boxes - Standard cardboard containers used for shipping goods.

C

CA Compliance Surcharge - Additional charge for doing business in the state of California.

Cancelled - A shipment or claim that has been withdrawn or voided.

Canpar Oversize Package Surcharge - Fee for shipments exceeding Canpar’s maximum size.

Carbon Surcharge - Charge to offset environmental impact from carbon emissions.

Carrier - The company responsible for physically transporting a shipment.

Certificate of Origin - Document stating where a product was manufactured for customs purposes.

Claim - Formal request for reimbursement due to loss, damage, or service failure.

Claim Approved - Confirmation that a submitted claim has been accepted and will be paid.

Claim Denied - Carrier has rejected a claim with no reimbursement.

Claim Settled - The process of paying out a validated claim has been completed.

Class & Density Calculator - Tool for estimating freight classification based on package specs.

Commercial Business with Dock - Facility equipped to load or unload freight without special equipment.

Commercial Business with Tailgate Required - Locations that require a truck liftgate due to lack of loading equipment.

Commercial Sample - Non-sale promotional item sent to demonstrate a product.

Commercially Sold Goods - Items bought and sold in a business transaction.

Commodity - A basic product or good that is traded or transported.

Consignee - The recipient of the shipment.

Consignor - The sender of the shipment.

D

Damaged - Shipment or contents arrived in broken or unusable condition.

Dangerous Goods - Hazardous materials requiring special labeling and handling in transit.

Declared Value Charge - Value assigned to a shipment for liability or customs purposes.

Default Address - Saved pickup location automatically filled for shipping.

Delayed - A shipment that is taking longer than expected to arrive.

Delivered - Status indicating the shipment has reached its final destination.

Delivery Area Surcharge - Fee for deliveries to areas with limited or difficult access.

Delivery to Room of Choice - One-person - A one-person team delivers items inside to a designated room.

Delivery to Room of Choice - Two-person - A two-person team delivers heavier items into a specified room.

Delivery to Room of Choice and Packaging Removal - Two-person - Two-person delivery with room placement and packaging debris removal.

Delivery to Room of Choice with Packaging Removal - One-person - Single-person delivery including room placement and debris cleanup.

Delivery to Threshold - One-person - Delivery to the door or entryway by one person.

Delivery to Threshold - Two-person - Two-person delivery service to the entryway without entering the home.

Description vs Commodity - Clarifies written descriptions versus standardized item classification.

DG/Hazmat Form - Required documentation when shipping hazardous materials.

Dicom/GLS Large Package Surcharge - Fee for packages exceeding Dicom/GLS size thresholds.

Dimensional Weight - Calculated weight based on volume rather than actual weight.

Dispatch Later - Shipment booked but pickup not yet scheduled.

Dispatch Scheduled - Shipment pickup scheduled with the carrier.

Dispute - A customer challenge against unexpected shipment fees.

Dispute in Process - Ongoing review between shipper and carrier over disputed charges.

Dispute in Review - The carrier is evaluating evidence submitted for a charge dispute.

Disputed Charge Approved - Disputed amount has been removed or refunded.

Disputed Charge Denied - Dispute has been rejected and charges stand.

Distribution - Shipment strategy involving the same item sent to multiple recipients.

Distribution/Grocery Warehouse Delivery - Delivery to a bulk distribution center or grocery warehouse.

Distribution List - List of shipment recipients used for bulk or multi-address shipping.

Documentation - Any paperwork accompanying a shipment like labels, invoices, or claims forms.

Drums - Cylindrical shipping containers for bulk liquids or chemicals.

Duties Taxes Paid - Indicates customs charges have already been settled before delivery.

Duty Charge - Government tax applied to imported goods.

E

eCommerce Integrations (with ClickShip) - Direct connections between online stores and ClickShip for automated order syncing and label generation.

End-of-Day Billing - Consolidated invoice issued for all bookings made in a single day.

Entry Prep Fee - Customs processing fee when a courier prepares clearance paperwork on your behalf.

Envelope - Lightweight, document-only packaging format for shipments.

Escrow - Prepaid customer funds held for future use or to secure pending charges.

Estate - Large private property, often with restricted access and special delivery conditions.

Exception - Status indicating a shipment is delayed or held due to unforeseen issues.

Excess Length - Fee applied to packages exceeding standard length thresholds.

Expired (Claim) - Claim window has closed due to inactivity or policy limits.

Expired (Shipment) - Booked shipment that has not been picked up within the required time frame.

Extended Area Charge - Fee for servicing rural or low-accessibility zones.

Extension - Arrangement allowing delayed payment beyond the standard deadline.

Extra Care Charge - Surcharge for delicate shipments needing additional handling attention.

F

Fair - Event venue requiring special access for delivery.

Farm - Agricultural location often considered limited access for freight services.

FDA - U.S. agency regulating food, drug, and health-related imports.

FedEx Express (Canada) Package Restrictions - Limits on size and weight for Canadian Express services.

FedEx Ground (Canada) Package Restrictions - Limits on size and weight for Canadian Ground shipments.

Freight Broker - A third-party agent connecting shippers with transportation providers.

Freight Class - Numeric classification used to price and categorize freight in the U.S.

From Metro Congestion - Extra fee for pickups in traffic-heavy postal zones.

Full Truckloads (FTL) - A shipment that fills an entire truck trailer.

Furtherance Charge - Additional cost when a shipment must be transferred to a partner carrier.

G

Geographical Linehaul - Fee based on the route and location of the pickup or delivery area.

Gift - Item sent without commercial transaction; may affect customs classification.

Girth - Combined measurement of width and height used in dimensional weight calculations.

H

Heated Service - Temperature-controlled shipping to prevent freezing.

Height - Vertical measurement of a parcel from base to top.

High-Cost Area - Delivery area with increased operational costs triggering surcharges.

Hotshot - Expedited truckload delivery using dedicated vehicles for urgent shipments.

HS Code - HS or (Harmonized System) codes are used to classify traded goods internationally. HS codes are typically 6-10 digits long, with the first 6 digits being internationally standardized and additional digits added by individual countries for more specific classification.

I

In Dispute - Status for charges being formally contested by the shipper.

In Process - Claim or order is actively under carrier or support review.

In-Bond (IT) - Shipment transported between bonded facilities without full customs clearance.

In-Bond (T&E) - Goods exported through a different port than they entered.

In-Bond Freight - Freight awaiting customs processing while in transit or storage.

Inactive Account - Shipping privileges suspended due to overdue payments.

Industry Type - Classification indicating business sector or operational focus.

Insurance - Optional coverage protecting against damage, loss, or theft of goods.

Insurance Certificate - Proof of insurance policy for a specific shipment.

Invoice in Dispute - Invoice under review due to billing disagreement.

Invoice Number - Unique identifier associated with a shipment's billing record.

ISPM-15 Standards - International standard for wood packaging materials in global trade.

J

Job Site - Construction or work area requiring special delivery access and scheduling.

K

Knocked Down - Items disassembled for efficient shipping or packing.

L

Label Expires Soon - Notification that a shipping label must be used or reissued shortly.

Lacey Act Form - Required documentation for importing specific wood-based products into the U.S.

Large Package - Shipment exceeding standard size thresholds incurring surcharges.

Length - Longest side measurement of a package.

Less Than Truckload (LTL) - Shipment that shares trailer space with other goods.

Limited Access - Locations that pose challenges to delivery due to physical or logistical barriers.

M

Marine Protection - Extra charge for shipments requiring ferry transit through protected waterways.

Military Base Delivery - Surcharge for delivering to secure or restricted military facilities.

Miscellaneous Charge - Unclassified additional fee applied to certain shipments.

Missing - Shipment lost in transit and under investigation or claim review.

Multi-Piece Surcharge - Fee applied to shipments with multiple packages requiring extra handling.

N

NMFC - National Motor Freight Classification system used to determine shipping rates in the U.S.

Non-Conveyable - Irregularly shaped or sized items that must be handled manually.

Non-Insurable Items - Goods not covered under standard shipping insurance policies.

O

Original VAT Amount - Initial value-added tax levied on goods by customs.

Out of Delivery Area - Delivery location outside the carrier’s standard service region.

Outstanding - Unpaid balance remaining on a shipment or account.

Over Max Limit - Parcel exceeds maximum weight or dimension allowed by the courier.

P

Package - Standard shipping unit typically enclosed in a box or envelope.

Packing Slip - Document detailing contents included in a shipment.

Paid Invoice - Billing record that has been settled in full.

Pallets - Platform used for bundling and transporting goods by forklift.

Partial Truckload (PTL) - Shipment larger than LTL but smaller than a full truckload.

Peak Season - High-volume shipping period with possible delays and surcharges.

Proof of Delivery (POD) - Confirmation that the shipment was successfully received.

Q

Quote - Estimated cost to ship goods based on provided shipment details.

R

Receiver - Party designated to receive the shipped goods.

Redelivery Charge - Fee applied for second delivery attempts.

Remote Area Delivery - Shipment destined for low-accessibility locations requiring additional fees.

Residential Delivery - Service to non-commercial addresses often involving added costs.

Return Shipment - Goods sent back from receiver to sender.

S

Sales Invoice - Document showing transaction details and item pricing for goods sold.

Same-Day Shipment - Delivery service completed within the same business day.

Saturday Delivery - Surcharge for deliveries occurring on a Saturday.

Shipper - Person or business sending the goods.

Shipping Label - Label with details like address, tracking number, and barcode for a shipment.

Shipping Rates - Carrier pricing determined by service level, distance, and weight.

Signature - Proof required by the carrier to confirm delivery completion.

Surcharges - Additional fees applied beyond base rate and taxes.

T

Tailgate - Hydraulic lift at truck rear used for ground-level loading/unloading.

Tax ID - Identifier required for customs clearance in some jurisdictions.

Threshold Delivery - Shipment dropped off at the door or garage, not brought inside.

Tracking Number - Unique code used to trace a shipment's status in transit.

Trade Show Delivery - Shipment to an exhibition or conference venue.

U

Unit Price - Cost per single item in the shipment.

Urgent Invoice - Payment request past due and requiring immediate resolution.

User Role - Access level assigned to a system user (e.g., admin, vendor).

USMCA - Trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada replacing NAFTA.

V

Value Added Tax (VAT) - Tax added on the sale of goods and services, collected by governments.

Value of Goods - Declared monetary value of shipment contents.

Vendor Role - System access level limited to quoting and booking shipments.

W

Waiting Time - Fee incurred when a driver is delayed during pickup or delivery.

Watchlist - Flagged shipments are monitored closely for updates or issues.

White-Glove Service - Premium delivery including inside placement, setup, or debris removal.

X

XML Integration - Data exchange format used for syncing systems or platforms.

Y

Yard Delivery - Shipment delivered to a fenced or gated outdoor area.

Z

Zone Rate - Shipping price calculated based on geographical zones or regions.