Resources
Freight forwarding & customs glossary.
Plain-English definitions for the terms a small forwarder's back office runs on, and how TIO handles each one.
Customs
Customs Broker
A customs broker is a person or firm licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to file customs entries an…
HTS Code (Harmonized Tariff Schedule)
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is the classification system that assigns a numeric code t…
ISF (Importer Security Filing)
An Importer Security Filing, often called ISF-10 or the "10+2", is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection requir…
Operations
Demurrage
Demurrage is a charge the carrier or terminal levies when a container stays at the port beyond the allotted fr…
Drayage
Drayage is the short-distance trucking of a container, typically between a port or rail terminal and a nearby …
Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder arranges the movement of cargo on behalf of shippers, coordinating carriers, documentation…
Pre-Alert
A pre-alert is the package of documents an overseas agent or origin office sends ahead of a shipment's arrival…
Vessel Rollover
A vessel rollover happens when booked cargo is not loaded onto its scheduled vessel and is moved to a later sa…
Documents
Arrival Notice
An arrival notice is the document the carrier or forwarder sends to inform the consignee that a shipment has a…
Bill of Lading
A bill of lading is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. It serves as a receipt for t…
Commercial Invoice
A commercial invoice is the seller's bill for the goods. It states the buyer and seller, description, quantity…
Trade
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
Cost, Insurance and Freight is an Incoterm for sea transport where the seller pays the cost and freight to bri…
FOB (Free On Board)
Free On Board is an Incoterm for sea and inland waterway transport. Under FOB, the seller delivers the goods o…
Incoterms
Incoterms are the standardized international commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commer…