Access Point

An access point, also known as a drop-off point, is a convenient location for people to drop off and collect parcels and packages. Many drop-off points are located at places such as convenience stores and supermarkets.

Act Of God

An incident or event such as extreme weather or war outside human control, results in a carrier delaying shipments.

Air Freight

The transportation of freight, cargo, parcels, and documents via air transport, typically occurs in metal containers.

Air Waybill (AWB)

Also known as an air consignment note, an air waybill is a document that is produced by an airline as evidence of receiving goods. It acts as a receipt for the shipper. An air waybill is non-negotiable. An air waybill is usually attached alongside goods sent by air transport.

Airport to Airport

Airport to airport is a shipping service where cargo is shipped between airports and does not stop at any other location.

Bill Of Landing (BOL)

A document that is produced by a carrier that lists the amount, type and destination of goods being shipped. The purpose of a bill of lading that it is a receipt for goods sent. Different types of bill of lading documents include:

• Air waybills

• Inland bill of lading

• Multimodal bill of lading,

• Ocean bill of lading

• ‘To order’ bill of lading

Bonded Warehouse

A building where goods that are normally subject to customs duties, may be stored, manufactured and altered without the goods needing to have any customs duties charged on them. Some bonded warehouses may be used to keep goods such as electronic items, watches, jewellery, and other expensive goods.

Booking Number

A set of unique numbers, that act as an identifier for a shipment. Some booking numbers can be used to track the journey of a shipment.

Booking Number

A set of unique numbers, that act as an identifier for a shipment. Some booking numbers can be used to track the journey of a shipment.

Bulk Cargo

Cargo transported in an unpacked state and large amounts. Examples of bulk cargo include petroleum, coal, and grain.

Carriage And Insurance Paid (CIP)

The seller assumes all responsibilities and risks until the goods are successfully delivered to the carrier at the place of shipment and not at the place of destination. Once the goods reach the carrier, the buyer assumes all risks.

Carrier

The brand that will courier the goods. All of the following companies are World Options’ partner carriers.

Carrier Surcharges

Carrier surcharges are extra charges that carriers add onto the cost of a shipment if the goods exceed the carrier’s shipping rules. Example instances which may trigger a carrier surcharge include:

• Incorrect address

• Missing or invalid account number

• Late payment charge on an overdue invoice

• Oversized pallet

• Receiver or third party refuses to pay shipping charges

• Inaccurate customer measurement of package weight, size and dimensions

• Package over maximum limits (weight and height)

Cash On Delivery (COD)

COD payments are where a person will pay for the delivery at the time of delivery and not in advance. Some couriers do not allow someone to inspect their shipment, without paying first.

Certificate Of Origin(COO)

A certificate of origin is produced by the exporter and is a document that lists the country in which the item was manufactured. There are typically two types of certificate of origin documents

• Non-Preferential Certificate Of Origin

These certify that the country in which the goods originate from do not qualify for any special or preferential handling. Many countries consider these to be ‘ordinary COs.’

• Preferential Certificate Of Origin

These documents signify that the goods qualify for lower tariffs.

Charter

Hiring an aircraft from a courier to transport cargo. Items moved using this method include:

• Animals (cattle, horses)

• Bulky cargo

• Temperature-controlled goods (medical products, urgent health supplies, etc)

CIF

The term CIF is an abbreviation used in the freight industry and stands for cost, insurance and freight. CIF is used for freight shipments when a buyer of goods requires the seller of the goods to arrange the delivery by sea to a designated port paid for by the seller. Which means the seller is liable for any loss or damage to the buyer's order in transit until it reaches the export port. When the goods are loaded at the export port, the buyer then becomes responsible for loss or damage to the shipment thereafter.

Click & Collect

When placing an online order or shipment, some retailers and courier suppliers offer customers the option of “Click & Collect” which means the customer or business placing the order can collect the goods from a retailer or collection point rather than receive the delivery at their address.

Collection Cut-off Time

The is the latest time in which a courier can collect the items which require delivery. Meaning the customer or business placing the order must have the goods ready for collection before the collection cutoff time. Cut-off times vary depending on courier and postcode of the item being collected.

Commercial Invoice

A document created when processing a shipment that describes the goods being transported, address of the sender and receiver, the value of the shipment, country of origin, harmonised tariff codes, quantity, weight, net, and gross price, EORI number, plus any taxes or customs charges. When booking a shipment, the World Options online shipping portal gives customers the ability to create an electronic commercial invoice like the below.

Commodity Code

A commodity code is a 8-digit number for exporting goods inside and outside the European Union. For importing goods from outside the EU, the commodity code becomes a 10-digit number. All products are placed in a commodity code and the code will dictate the amount of duty and VAT the item is liable to be charged for and whether there are any import or export restrictions in place.

Common Carrier

A courier brand that services general customers.

Common-Law

Common law makes decisions based on previous cases, instead of making judgements based on statutes and regulations.

Consignee

A company or person that receives goods at the point of delivery. A consignee is not the owner of the goods. The consignee only becomes the owner of the goods, once they have paid the consignor(sellers) invoice in full.

Consolidated Freight

Consolidated freight is when multiple parcels or shipments are put together into one large shipment or container and transported by a carrier by road, sea or air. Consolidated freight can be shipments from multiple consignors to save space when shipping multiple small items to the same destination, city, port or country.

Couriers

The shipping and logistics companies World Options is partnered with. These couriers are UPS, FedEx, DHL, TNT.

CTO

C.T.O or C/T/O stands for Country of Origin. When booking an international shipment C/T/O is a required field on the booking form. This means the sender is required to state the country the goods are being sent from.

Customs

Every country has a customs department located at ports and airports. The customs department are appointed by the government of that country to monitor goods being imported into their country as well as apply and collect duties and taxes for goods upon the point it reaches the port. It’s also the duty of a customs department to prevent goods from entering their country if they are dangerous, banned, restricted and prohibited.

Customs Clearance

Customs clearance involves the process of a country allowing goods to be either shipped in or out of the country. The first step is the shipper correctly preparing documentation for shipping. Next, a customs officer will check the paperwork and see if any taxes/duties need to be applied. If taxes haven’t been paid, the officer will request payment - this is done via DDU(Deliver duty unpaid) and DDP(Deliver duty paid.) Once the taxes have been paid, the shipment is allowed to finish the journey.

Customs Invoice

A customs invoice is a more detailed type of commercial invoice, in that a customs invoice will be in a specific format and will contain information such as description, quantity, price, freight, terms of delivery, volume, conditions of sale, unit price, total

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods are items which may pose a risk to people, animals or the environment. Flammable items are also classed as being dangerous. Goods commonly classed as being dangerous include:

• Batteries

• Chemicals

• Explosives

• Flammable liquids

• Toxic substances

• Radioactive material

• Corrosives

Dangerous, Hazardous, Prohibited & Restricted Items

There are a variety of items which are classed as:

• Dangerous & Hazardous Items

• Prohibited Items

• Restricted Items

It’s important to note that all the above categories have different meanings and vary in shipping requirements and restrictions. Please view the above categories alphabetically further down this page for detail of what the terms mean.

Dangerous & Hazardous Items

Dangerous and hazardous items cannot be shipped under normal circumstances. Specialist carriers and transportation services may ship these goods, however World Options and its partner carriers do not ship the following items.

Please Note: These restrictions apply to all services offered by the world options shipping service. However, it is highly advisable to also check that you comply with customs at the destination country and also the policy of your chosen carrier, because further restrictions may apply. If in any doubt, please contact world options customer support team.

Declared Value

Declared value is the amount of money that a carrier will payout to a customer if their goods are damaged or lost during delivery. If the value of goods is not declared on a shipping label or if there is no written proof of the value of the goods - most carriers will only pay out compensation up to a specific amount. This amount is usually around £100.

Delivered At Place (DAP)

An incoterm where the seller agrees to pay for all of the costs (packaging, documentation, delivery, etc) and is responsible for all losses, if goods are damaged or lost during transit. The buyer has to pay for import and other duties and taxes, once the goods have arrived at their location.

Delivered At Terminal (DAT)

The seller is responsible for the goods clearing export and customs, unloading the goods and is responsible for all risks until the consignment reaches the named terminal on destination. The named terminal can be a cargo terminal, warehouse, quay or container/storage yard. Once the goods are unloaded and are made available at the terminal on destination, the buyer is responsible for all risks.

Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)

The seller assumes all risks until the goods are delivered to a named place of delivery. The seller is also responsible for the goods clearing customs, paying for the cost of delivering the goods to a named place of delivery. The buyer takes on all responsibilities once the goods have reached the named place of delivery.

Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)

DDU is no longer used, as it is an old shipping term. DAP is now used instead of DDU.

When exporting goods, the sender pays for the shipment of the goods and the receiver will pay for any duties and taxes applied by customs when the goods arrive at the destination country. This is the most common and safest way of avoiding duties and taxes issues for the sender. The receiver of the goods is contacted by the courier to inform them of the customs charges before the charges are applied in case there is any dispute, the receiver is required to provide authorisation that they accept the charge.

Delivery Instructions

Occasionally, some carriers allow delivery instructions to be sent along with a shipment. The delivery instructions will usually contain specific information as to where the goods should be delivered to. Whether it be at an office reception area, another place or left with a person.

Delivery Note

A document which contains a description and quantity of the goods being shipped.

Density

Density refers to the capacity inside a box, package or container that goods will fill once packed. Shippers can lower their shipping costs by properly packing out their box, thus optimising all available space.

Destination

A shipment’s final location.

DHL

(Daley, Hillbolm, and Lynn.) A World Options shipping partner. The world’s second-largest logistics company. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany. DHL ships over 1 billion parcels every year around the world.

Dimensional Weight

The dimensional weight of an item is calculated by multiplying an items length, width and then sharing it by the volumetric divisor (length X width X height / volumetric divisor = dimensional weight.) Each courier uses a different volumetric divisor.

Dimensions

Dimensions are the size of the parcel or box that an item will be shipped in. A common way of calculating the dimensions is to multiply the length, width, and height of a package.

Disbursement Fees

Disbursement is a form of payment from a person or business to a dedicated fund to be paid on their behalf to a third party. When sending a shipment oversees the courier can request a disbursement fee from the sender or receiver in advance to cover customs fees. Instead of the sender or receiver paying this separately to customs they can pay this directly to the courier to ensure faster clearance of imported goods.

Domestic Shipping

Domestic shipping is goods which are shipped within the borders of the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Door-To-Door Delivery

Door to door delivery works by a courier driver collecting a package from the shipper and delivery directly to the destination.

DPD

(Dynamic Parcel Distribution.) A French shipping group operating around the world. DPD specialise in shipping parcels which weigh under 30 kg.

Driver

A courier company employee in charge of driving the van or vehicle which contains packages and is responsible for the delivery of goods.

Drop Off Point

Known alternatively as an access point - the location where packages may be dropped off at, to be collected by a courier.

Economy Delivery

Generally, the cheapest and slowest way to deliver goods. Most economy deliveries will take 2 to 3 days longer than express deliveries.

Entry

Entry documents are needed for goods to be passed through customs checking.

EORI Number

EORI stands for (Economic Operator Registration and Identification). This a unique set of numbers provided by the UK Government to each business which exports goods. It allows the business to move goods internationally, inside and outside of the EU. Here’s more information about how to get an EORI number.

Expedited

Quick delivery. One of the fastest delivery services available. Expedited delivery will cost more than economy delivery.

ETA

Estimated time of arrival is the time and date that goods are expected to arrive at a particular location.

Exception Scan

Exception scans are when packages are delayed due to a delivery problem, such as a package being held in customs or a delivery being attempted at an address but not succeeding. An exemption scan will tell the receiver that they need to contact the courier to resolve the issue.

Export

Goods which are sent outside the borders of a country.

Export Licence

Certain countries may limit the export of particular goods. Because of this exporters will need to produce documentation from the authorities allowing the goods to leave the country.

Express Delivery

Express delivery is quick delivery service, where goods are transported by air for the goods to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

FCC

The Federal Communication Commission is a federal US government agency in charge of regulating domestic and international radio, satellite and cable communications. The agency is also tasked with controlling the importation of electronic devices into the United States.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration is an American federal government agency whose mission it is to protect the US general public, by ensuring the safety of food, prescription drugs, medical devices, biological products, cosmetics, electronic products, veterinary and tobacco products

Fedex

Fedex (Federal Express) a multinational American logistics company, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Fedex is the world’s second-largest courier company.

Force Majeure

Force majeure is an event, which is out of human control, such as a natural disaster which delays carriers from delivering goods on time. The meaning of force majeure is the same as an act of God.

Free Carrier

An incoterm, which means that the seller of goods is responsible for all export processing and all tasks up to when the goods are delivered to the buyer’s chosen delivery location. All other costs and arrangements are to be taken up by the buyer.

Free On Board

Free on board is an incoterm where a seller is required to clear goods through customs and deliver them to the sellers chosen location. The buyer is responsible for all the risk and costs from the very moment that the goods have been loaded and are ready for transport. The buyer is also responsible for all customs and duty costs.

Freight

Freight is the shipment of a large amount of goods from one location to another. Freight is typically packed in large rectangular metal freight containers and transported by the means of either road, air or sea. Or a combination of all three modes of transport until the goods reach its destination.

Freight Companies

Freight companies are companies who are specialists in the moving of freight and cargo, between destinations.

Freight Forwarder

Freight forwarders act as agents in the shipping of goods on behalf of clients, by acting as a middle man between shippers and shipping companies by providing the best price possible for the cost of a shipment. Freight forwarders are generally highly experienced in that they will possess detailed knowledge regarding the law, shipping costs and banking requirements.

Goods

Products ready for use or consumption which are shipped by courier companies.

Gross Tonnage

Gross tonnage is the physical internal space within a sea shipping vessel. Specifically used to calculate volume in cubic meters to make provisions for the shipping of cargo by sea.

Gross Weight

Gross weight is the total weight of a shipment, this is calculated by combining the total weight of the shipment plus the internal and external packaging.

Harmonised System Code(HS)

A six-digit code that allows goods to be accurately classified. There are over 5,300 product descriptions

Haulage

The movement of goods via road and air.

Hazmat

An abbreviation for ‘hazardous materials’ – items which present a risk when handled or during transport.

IATA

International Air Transport Association is a trade association which represents the majority of the world’s airlines. The IATA works to ensure the air travel is safe and it also controls the movement of dangerous goods by air.

Import

The movement of goods into a country from abroad.

Import Duty

Import duty is levied upon goods by a country's customs authorities. Import duties vary from country to country, with differences in rates because of the different types of product.

Import Licence

A document issued by a government, which confirms the right of a business or agent to import products into a country from outside the country.

Import Tax

Import tax is charged on goods on entry into the country.

International Shipping

International shipping is the term used to describe shipments which are imports or exports to and from countries outside of the country of the sender. When a shipment is moved within the country of the sender is called a “Domestic Shipment or Domestic Shipping” and when the shipment is being transported outside of the country of the sender it is called an “International Shipment or International Shipping”. It refers to countries and territories around the world which World Options shipping partners deliver items to. World Options shipping partners ship to over 200 countries around the world.

In Transit

Packages that are on the move and are scheduled to be delivered.

Incoterms

‘International Commercial Terms’ are universally understood terms designed to provide clear directions and minimise confusion between importers and exporters.

Integrator

Integrator is a term used to describe the courier company which provides integration services for the delivery of goods. This can be software integration services which allow businesses ship goods to their customers. Overall it is used to describe the company responsible for the transportation of the goods via road, sea, and air.

Intermodal

The movement of goods on a journey via different means, such as road transport to air transport.

Landed Cost

The complete amount payable once the goods have arrived at the buyer's location. Items included in landed cost include: net price, transport fees, customs, duties, tariffs, taxes, and other costs incurred.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Packages that do not take up the entirety of a truck trailer.

Letter of Credit

Letter of credit is a letter provided by a bank to another receiving bank or by one company to a company or customer confirming the guaranteed payment which will be credited to the receiving company or customer at a specific date or when specific terms are met. Letter of credit is also often generated by accounts departments within companies when a customer or business client is owed an amount of money and requires reimbursement.

Letter of Indemnity

A letter of indemnity is used to provide assurances that the seller must ensure certain terms are met regarding the condition of goods upon arrival to the buyer. Meaning the seller must accept financial liability if the goods do not arrive in good condition specified within the terms of the letter of indemnity.

Logistics

The management of the supply chain of which shipping is a part of. Other areas of logistics include storage, packaging, inventory management.

Manifest

A document which lists the contents of a shipment.

Minimum Charge

Minimum charge is when a carrier has implemented a minimum charge based on the size of a consignment to cover their shipping costs.

Miss-Route

This is when a courier shipment has been diverted or directed to the wrong place or incorrect depot by mistake. Miss-routed shipments are often the reason items may get delayed or lost in transit if they have been loaded onto the wrong vehicle or taken to the wrong depot.

Non-Dutiable

Non-Dutiable shipment is when a shipment which is being imported into another country is exempt from import duty charges. Typically gifts and personal effects in most cases are non-dutiable especially if they are under a certain value.

Non-Stackable Pallet

A non-stackable pallet is a pallet which must not have any other pallets stacked on top of it. It is usually used for the transportation of fragile goods in which the customer sending the shipment has requested that extra care be taken to avoid damage to the fragile items within the shipment. Therefore a non-stackable pallet often costs more to ship due to the fact other pallets cannot be stacked on top of it which creates unused shipping space on top of the pallet.

Online Shipping Portal

This is an online tool where business customers can book shipments when they request a free shipping account with World Options. Click here to request a free World Options account. Customers can then login to the online shipping portal, enter the dimensions of their shipment, destination and then view multiple shipping quotes from carriers such as DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx and DPD in one place. Customers can then book the online shipment within seconds. When a shipment is booked, a shipping label is automatically generated, the customer is required to attach this to their shipment. The carrier will arrive to collect the goods and deliver it to its destination.

Oversized Cargo

A consignment which exceeds the standard size or weight limits. Couriers will charge extra if cargo is greater than the normal limits.

Packaging

The different products that goods are delivered in. Packaging can include, boxes, pallets, packets, tape, bubble filler, string or paper wrap.

Pallet

A flat structure constructed of wood, plastic, metal steel and aluminium, used for the loading of goods, whilst being lifted by forklifts and jacks. Pallets are also used to ship goods. This works by placing packages/boxes onto pallets and then securing the packages with plastic film or straps. The pallets are then easily transported by forklifts.

Parcel

A parcel is an item or items which have been wrapped and packaged for delivery. It is required to have the name and address of the recipient for it to be transported either via the postal service or by a courier provider. Parcels are required to have a barcode so they can be tracked all the stages until delivery to its destination.

Payee

The company that will receive the money.

Payor

The company responsible for the purchasing of goods.

Photographic Evidence

The process of providing photographs of your shipment ensuring the weight reading and tape measurements are visible on the photograph to prove its size and weight reading. Photographic evidence also shows if a parcel was packaged correctly at the time of collection. In the event of a carrier discrepancy, query or additional charges related to inaccurate weight, dimensions or improper packaging, having photographic evidence as proof can help resolve queries and could result in getting additional carrier charges refunded back to the customer.

Physical Weight

The actual weight of goods, measured in kilos(kg), pounds(lbs), or tonnes (mt). To calculate the billable weight of a consignment, a shipping company will compare the physical weight with the dimensional weight and charge their customers on the greater amount.

Point of Origin

The place where a consignment is picked up by a shipper or courier.

Port of Entry

The seaport from where goods enter a country. Seaports will contain customs officers who will inspect goods entering see whether the items need taxes or duties applying to them.

Port of Exit

The port from where goods will exit a country for shipment to another country.

Postage

The delivery of letters and parcels via post. Postage can also refer to paid parcel stamps pasted onto letters, to classify the mail by what class stamp the post has been marked with (1st class, 2nd class…)

Pro Forma Invoice

A proforma invoice is an estimated quote for the sale and shipment of goods before the goods are delivered. A proforma invoice will contain a description of the goods and delivery charges.

Remittance

A document which confirms to a seller that an invoice has been paid.

Remote Area

An area that a shipping company may consider as being difficult to get to. Remote areas may also be locations where the courier does not make many deliveries to. The company may charge extra for sending goods to a remote area.

Return

Goods which are sent back to a shipper by a customer.

Road Freight

The transportation of goods by roads and motorways using trucks, trailers or vans.

Scans

At various stages of the transportation of a shipment from hub to hub, its barcode will be scanned usually by a machine or computer to track it and check if it has been arrived at a specific location and moved onto its next location. Scans are used to track the shipment at specific stages of its journey. This information is fed back to allow the customer to track the shipment online.

Sea Freight

The transportation of goods via sea, which have been packed into metal containers and loaded onto cargo ships or vessels.

SED – Shippers Export Declaration

This is a form used for exports being sent from the US. The US government require a SED form to be completed for shipments leaving the US.

Shipment Value

This is the value of the content within the shipment used to declare a value for customs purposes. It can also be used for insurance cover. The shipment value is detailed on the customs invoice when booking a shipment.

Shipping Franchise

A business opportunity that allows individuals to sell World Options parcel, courier, and freight shipping services to businesses.

Shipping Invoice

A shipping invoice is a document which describes the goods which are being shipped and the costs incurred for the shipment, including the acceptable payment methods, taxes, and date when the payment is due.

Shipping Tariff

Charges for shipping freight made by a carrier.

Stackable Pallet

To maximise the space within a warehouse pallets are stacked on top of each other to make full use of the space provided. A stackable pallet is a pallet that can have multiple pallets stacked on top of it without damage being caused to the goods within the pallets.

Standart Shipping Note (SSN)

An SSN is a document which provides information on the contents of a shipment to, couriers, government bodies or shipping agent. Most standard shipping notes are attached to all deliveries, except non-hazardous and dangerous goods.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

The managing of the flow of goods between various points. Supply change management processes intend to make the process as quick, efficient and profitable as possible.

Support Ticket

Support tickets allow customers the ability to digitally request help or assistance to a service provider through a support tickets software system. World Options have a support tickets feature in the World Options online shipping portal which helps customers contact us about a shipping or invoice query quickly without having to call. Customers can request support by raising a new Shipping Query Support Ticket or Invoice Query Support Ticket in an instant and a member of the team will be allocated to help resolve the query within a certain time frame.

Surcharge

An additional cost added onto a shipment. Surcharges may include for example:

• Late package surcharge

• Over maximum weight

• Late payment fee

Tariff Code

Also known as a harmonisation code, tariff codes classify products, to ensure that the right amount of taxes and duties are charged.

Terms of sale

An incoterm - terms of sale refers to the contract between sellers and buyers, which details the purchasing of goods and how those goods will be delivered.

Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

Third party logistics (TPL) is when a company outsources logistics tasks to a third-party provider. Third-party logistics providers can offer services such as:

• Warehousing(ship, storing, handling returns)

• Product Distribution

• Transportation

TNT

Founded in 1946 as Thomas Nationwide Transport in Australia. Now based in the Netherlands. TNT was taken over by FedEx in 2016.

Toxicology Report

Toxicology reports may be needed to facilitate the importation of certain types of goods into a country, to ensure that they are safe to be imported. Toxicology reports may be required for products such as:

• Food (additives)

• Cosmetic products

• Prescription drugs

Void

Void stands for cancelling a shipment from being completed and or requesting a refund.

Volumetric Weight

Also known as dimensional weight - volumetric weight stands for the weight of a package, based upon its volume. Determining the volumetric weight of a package is achieved by calculating the length X width X height of a package.

War Risk

A surcharge applied by carriers on consignments headed to volatile areas, which are at war, may be heading towards war or may be prone to piracy and hijacking. Below are a list of some high risk areas (as of July 2019)

• Libya

• Gulf of Guinea (Nigeria, Benin, Togo)

• Gulf of Aden (Somalia, Yemen)

• Strait of Hormuz (Iran)

Warehouse

A building where goods are stored, before being transported for processing or delivery.

WAREHOUSE ENTRY

A document which names the goods that have been imported and stored in a bonded warehouse.