What Are Common International Shipping Terms?

International shipping includes a range of terms related to customs, freight, documentation, and carrier charges. Understanding the most common terms can make it easier to prepare shipments and understand carrier requirements.

Common international shipping terms

Accessorial Charges
Additional fees for services outside standard pickup and delivery, such as storage, wait time, special handling, or other carrier services.

Bill of Lading (BOL)
A shipping document issued by the carrier that outlines the goods being transported and serves as a receipt and contract of carriage.

Bonded Warehouse
A customs-controlled facility where imported goods may be stored before duties and taxes are paid or customs clearance is completed.

Cubic Feet (CBF / CF / CFT)
A unit of volume used to describe shipment size in cubic feet.

Cubic Meter (CBM)
A unit of volume used to describe shipment size in cubic metres.

Destination Delivery Charge (DDC)
A charge that may apply to certain ocean freight shipments for destination handling and delivery-related costs.

Documentation Fee (DOC)
A fee associated with preparing or processing shipping documents.

Freight Prepaid
Indicates that freight charges have been paid by the shipper before transportation.

Full Truckload (FTL)
A freight service where an entire truck or trailer is dedicated to one shipment or customer.

Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
Goods classified as hazardous or dangerous and subject to special packaging, documentation, handling, and transportation requirements.

Intermodal Shipping
Transportation that uses more than one mode, such as truck and rail, to move the same shipment.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)
A freight service where shipments from multiple customers share space on the same truck.

Packing List
A document listing the contents of a shipment, typically including quantities and packaging details.

Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)
An additional carrier charge that may apply during periods of increased shipping demand.

Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS)
A charge that may apply when congestion or delays at a port increase handling or transportation costs.

Port Security Fee (PSF)
A fee that may be charged by a port or carrier to cover security-related costs.

Said to Contain (STC)
A notation indicating that the carrier has received a shipment as described by the shipper but has not independently verified the exact contents.

Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED)
A legacy term commonly associated with U.S. export reporting. Current U.S. export filing requirements are generally handled electronically through the Automated Export System (AES), where applicable.

Terminal Handling Charge (THC)
A charge for handling cargo at a port or terminal.

Value Added Tax (VAT)
A consumption tax applied in many countries to goods and services. For international shipments, VAT may apply when goods are imported.

Weight or Measure (W/M)
A freight-rating method where charges are based on either the shipment’s weight or volume, depending on which calculation applies.

Why are these terms important?

Understanding common shipping terminology can help you:

• review freight quotes and invoices
• understand carrier charges
• prepare international documentation
• communicate with carriers, customs brokers, and logistics providers
• better understand the requirements of international shipments

Some terms are more common in freight and ocean shipping than in standard parcel shipping, so not every term will apply to every ShipTime shipment.

If you have questions about a term that appears on a ShipTime shipment, quote, or carrier document, contact our Heroic Support™ team and we can help clarify what it means.

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