Common Shipping & Logistics Abbreviations
Expand your shipping vocabulary with commonly used abbreviations in logistics and supply chain management.
List of Abbreviations
ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
The projected date and time when a shipment is expected to arrive at its destination.
ETD – Estimated Time of Departure
The projected date and time when a shipment is expected to depart from its origin or a transit point.
POD – Proof of Delivery
A document or electronic notification verifying that a shipment has been received and signed for by the intended recipient.
FOB – Free on Board
An Incoterm indicating that the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel. The buyer assumes risk and transportation costs from that point onward.
CIF – Cost, Insurance, and Freight
An Incoterm meaning the seller covers the cost, insurance, and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination.
TEU – Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit
A standard measure used to describe the capacity of container ships and terminals, based on a standard 20-foot shipping container.
LCL – Less than Container Load
A shipment that does not fill a full container, allowing multiple shippers’ goods to be consolidated into a single container.
FCL – Full Container Load
A shipment that occupies an entire container, used when a shipper’s goods alone fill the container.
AWB – Air Waybill
A non-negotiable document issued by an airline that serves as a contract of carriage and a receipt of goods.
B/L – Bill of Lading
A legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods. It also serves as a shipment receipt upon delivery.