Glossary

Accessorial Charges (also called "Assessorial Charges") - Charges made for performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery such as inside delivery or storage charges.

Bill of Lading (B/L) - A bill of lading is a binding contract that serves three main purposes: (1) a receipt for the goods delivered to the carrier for shipment; (2) a definition or description of the goods; and (3) evidence of title to the relative goods, if "negotiable."

Breakbulk Terminal - Consolidation and distribution center. A facility in the Diversified Transportation Services system that unloads and consolidates shipments received from both its smaller terminals and from other breakbulks. This facility may have its own city operation. Example: Freight destined for Texas from several New England states will be consolidated at our Stroudsurgh, PA, breakbulk for forwarding to Texas.

Bonded Carrier: A carrier licensed by U.S. Customs to carry Customs-controlled merchandise between Customs points.

COFC - Container of flatcar; intermodal container that ships without chassis on rail flatcars.

Consignee - The receiver of a freight shipment.

CWT - Hundredweight or per 100 lbs.

Cartage Agent - A carrier that performs pickup or delivery in areas that Diversified Transportation Services does not service. Claim Cargo Claim - A "Cargo Claim" is a demand made upon a transportation company for payment due to freight loss or damage alleged to have occurred while shipment was in the possession of carrier. Under the terms and conditions the Uniform Bill of Lading, all cargo claims must be filed within 9 months. Commodity - Any article of commerce. Goods shipped. Consignee - The person or place where a shipment will be transferred for the last time (destination); the individual or organization to whom the freight is addressed.

Commodity: Any article of commerce.

Demurrage / Detention - Charges that are assessed when consignor or consignee fail to load or unload shipments in specified time limits. Also known as detention.

Density - The physical characteristic measuring mass in pounds per foot; affects equipment utilization and rate decisions.

Delivery Receipt - Document dated and signed by consignee or its agent at the time of delivery stating the condition of the goods at delivery. The signed delivery receipt is returned to the driver for retention at the terminal as proof of delivery. The customer retains the remaining copy.

Dock: a platform where trucks or trains can be loaded or unloaded.

Expedited Shipment - Shipments that need to move more quickly than normal service, usually at a higher cost.

FAK - Freight all kinds; either a mixture of products and/or special rates being applied. •Flatbeds - Some shipments require that the main deck be free of walls or ceiling constraints. To facilitate loading or unloading, these shipments may require a flatbed trailer. A wide variety of flatbed trailers accommodate the trucking of almost any type of surface shipment. Flatbeds are also used for trucking anything that cannot be moved in a van, such as: special equipment; wide, long, oversized or heavy haul loads; or, any other type of trucking that can legally move by highway in North America.

Flatbeds: truck which can be either articulated or rigid. It has an entirely flat, level body with absolutely no sides or roof.

Surcharge - Surcharge imposed by carriers when fuel prices reach over certain levels.

Freight - Any commodity being transported.

Freight Bill - Shipping document that gives a description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid. If bill is prepaid, freight charges are paid by shipper. If bill is collect, freight charges are paid by the receiver of the goods or a third party.

FAK - Freight All Kinds; either a mixture of products and/or special rates being applied.

Fuel Surcharge: Surcharge imposed by carriers when fuel prices reach over certain levels.

Heavy Haul and Oversized Shipments - Heavy haul and oversized are also known as over-dimensional shipments and can pose special challenges for shippers. Shipments can be both heavy haul and oversized in nature. Heavy haul shipments may require special routings because only certain highways allow extremely heavy vehicle weights. These shipments also may require special trucks and trailers or special permits issued by various state or local government agencies.

Hazardous Material - Hazardous materials are defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law. A substance or material may be designated as hazardous if the transportation of the material in a particular amount and form poses an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property.

Hazardous material includes: explosives, radioactive materials, etiologic agents, flammable or combustible liquids or solids, poisons, oxidizing or corrosive materials, and compressed gases. For more information, go to the U.S. DOT web site at http://hazmat.dot.gov/. Is any solid, liquid, or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.

Minimum Charge - The lowest charge for which a shipment will be handled after discount and/or adjustment.

National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) - Industry standard tariff published by motor carriers, which contains rules, descriptions, and rating for all commodities. Used to classify freight for the purpose of rating the freight bill. More information about freight classes and the NMFC can be found at http://www.nmfta.org/.

Oversized Shipments: the transportation of over-dimensional shipments, usually requiere special trucks and trailers or special permits issued by various states or local government agencies.

Pallet - A small platform, usually 40 x 48 on which goods are placed. Depending on how it's loaded into the trailer, 22-24 pallet positions fit in a 48' trailer; 26-28 pallet positions in a 53' trailer.

Piggyback - Rail-truck service. Same as intermodal.

PRO - An acronym for "progressive rotating order." A PRO number is assigned to each shipment and serves as a tracking number and a Diversified Transportation Services invoice number.

PRO: Progressive Rotating Order: It is a number assigned to each shipment and serves as a tracking number.

SLC - Shippers Load & Count; notation on Bill of Lading.

Shipping Documents - Papers accompanying a shipment as it moves through the Diversified Transportation Services system.

Shipper: The sender of a freight shipment.

TOFC - Trailer on Flatcar; truck trailer that ships on rail flatcar.

Service - This can be the answer to the time-critical or intrinsically valuable large shipment. This is a service used when a shipment requires expedited delivery ¬ beyond what normal transit time can deliver. A two-person team drives in shifts and the truck is stopped only for fuel. Team drivers take turns sleeping, while the fresh driver is at the wheel. Although slightly more expensive due to additional labor costs, team service is used when critical shipments need to be moved quickly. These shipments may be so large or heavy that air freight costs are prohibitively expensive. Team service is the fastest, over-the-road shipping option available. A two-person team drives in shifts and the truck is stopped only for fuel. Team drivers take turns sleeping, while the fresh driver is at the wheel. Although slightly more expensive due to additional labor costs, team service is used when critical shipments need to be moved quickly. Team service is the fastest, over-the-road shipping option available.

Truckload - Full truckloads (FTL or sometimes TL) utilizing van or flatbed trailers, depending upon shipment configuration. A covered or enclosed truck often used for transporting goods. Usually are 48 or 53 foot long.

UN Number: Four-digit numbers assigned by the United Nations that identify hazardous substances and articles in the transportation industry.

Vans - Many shipments are serviced by van trailers, especially loads comprised of loose cartons or unitized or palletized freight. (In order to determine an accurate cost estimate, it is important to know whether or not a palletized shipment can be stacked.) This type of service usually requires 48 or 53-foot trailers. While trailer lengths are standard, styles vary.

Warehousing: A place in which goods or merchandise are stored; a storehouse.