Transportation Glossary

A

API
An application programming interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software and applications. Southeastern’s APIs are a suite known as WebConnect.

Accessorial Charges
Fees applied for services performed outside of the freight charges per the customer’s request.

Accessorial Services
Service performed for customer (i.e. inside delivery, liftgate, etc.)

Arbitrary Charge
A charge added in addition to regular freight charges to compensate for unusual conditions such as an island delivery (Nantucket).

Arrival Notice
A notice to customer confirming arrival of freight. A fee for this service applies.

Articulated Truck
A truck which consists of two or more separate frames connected by couplings (tractor & trailer). This is opposed to a straight truck in which all axles are attached to a single frame.

B

Bill of Lading
Contract for transportation services between the carrier and shipper. This document designates the shipper, consignee, commodity information, and other pertinent information for a given shipment.

Bobtail
A tractor operating without a trailer.

C

COD
Collection on Delivery (COD) is payment for the goods being shipped. Amount should be designated on the bill of lading. There is a fee for this service which is a percentage of the COD amount.

Carrier
An individual, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of transporting goods.

Claim
Request by the customer to a carrier requesting compensation for the loss or damage of goods in transit.

Classification of Freight
The class to which an article is assigned based on the characteristics of the freight. These classes range from 50-500 and are assigned per the National Motor Freight Classification.

Collect Shipment
A shipment for which the freight charges will be paid by the consignee.

Commodity
The goods or product moving on a given shipment.

Consignee
The receiving party on a transportation movement.

Consignor
The shipper on a transportation movement.

Corrected Bill of Lading
When at the request of the customer a new document is provided altering that as originally shown on the bill of lading at pickup. There is a fee assessed for this service.

Cube
The volume of space that a shipment occupies in a trailer.

Cubic Foot
Measurement used in determining density. One cubic foot 12”x12”x12” is 1728 cubic inches.

Customer Manifest
A customer report in CSV or HTML format accessible via MySEFL that provides daily shipment activity of your choosing. Numerous manifest options are available including Location, OB/IB, Yesterday's Pickups, Yesterday's Deliveries, All in Transit, Delayed Shipments, Potential Delayed Shipments, Shortages or Damages, and Previous Days W&I Changes. These can be for all shipments, specific shipments, or even shipments for individual customers.

Customized Data Report
A history customer report accessible via MySEFL that allows a customer to design a customized data file with data of their choosing to be delivered in CSV format. This report can be used to import information into an internal system.

Customs Fees
Charges assessed when a shipment is moving as an import or export to or from another country when crossing the border.

D

D.O.T.
Department of Transportation

Declared Value
Designation by the shipper of the total dollar value of a transportation movement.

Deficit Weight
This is applied to a shipment when it is less expensive to rate the shipment at the next highest weight group. An example of this would be a shipment from zip code 23225 to zip code 37919, at class 100 and 495#. When rating before discount the 495# would rate at $162.08 per 100# for a total of $802.30. If the shipment alternates with the next weight group of 500#, it would rate at a lesser per 100# rate of $147.70 for a total of $738.50. The carrier makes this calculation when an actual shipment weight is nearing another weight group and applies this lower rate for the customer.

Delivery Receipt
Legal document signed by the consignee at delivery acknowledging receipt of a shipment.

Density of Commodity
This is the pounds per cubic foot of a shipment. Density is calculated by multiplying the L x W x H of the freight using inches. Divide this total by 1728 to arrive at the cubic feet. Then divide the weight of the commodity by the calculated cubic feet to find the density. Exmaple: 1000 pound shipment with dimensions of 64”x64”x64”. Dimensions 64x64x64/1728= 151.703 cubic feet. Weight of 1000 pounds/151.703= 6.591 pounds per cubic foot which is the calculated density.

Destination
The point to which a shipment is consigned.

Diversion
A change made in the consignee, destination, or shipment route while in transit.

Doubles
Combination of a tractor and two trailers connected in tandem by a converter dolly. Also known as Twins.

E

EDI
Electronic Data Interchange is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format between business partners. Southeastern Freight Lines supports the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for EDI.

Email/Text Notifications
A customer reporting option set up via MySEFL that sends email or texts on all or individual shipments for specified status changes. Pro Statuses that can prompt a notification are: Enroute to Destination, Arrived at Destination, Out for Delivery, Appointment Scheduled, Delivered, Delayed/Potentially Late, Shortage/Damaged/Delivered Exceptions, or Delivery receipt Available.

Enroute
Freight moving towards a Service Center.

Exclusive Use of Truck
A request by a customer allowing them to utilize the complete trailer while not allowing another customer’s freight on board.

Export
To ship goods to a foreign country.

Extra Labor
When requested by the consignor or consignee, extra labor will be furnished by the carrier for loading or unloading. There is a fee for this service based on the number of workers and time.

F

FOB Destination
Free on board at destination. Freight cost is paid to the destination (prepaid). Title transfers at destination.

FOB Origin
Free on board at origin. Freight cost released at origin and paid by the consignee (collect). Title transfers at origin.

Free on Board (FOB)
The point at which the title of the good passes from the shipper to the consignee.

Freight Bill
This is the carrier’s invoice to the customer.

Freight Charge
The total charges for transporting the freight.

Freight Classification
A key part of rating shipments moving by truck accurately is the description of the article being shipped. To provide an equitable, consistent standard to identify and rate commodities we transport, we use the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). The NMFC provides classes for all articles shipped based on their handling characteristics: loadability, packaging, susceptibility to damage and other factors. Your bill of lading should include the proper NMFC item number(s) for each article shipped.

Fuel Surcharge
A charge added to the freight bill based on the weekly diesel fuel price found in the National Fuel Index. This fee helps to offset the high cost of diesel fuel.

Full Value Insurance
Cargo Insurance that can be added to a shipment to cover the amount of the invoice as supplied by the shipper or consignee plus 10%. This is used to cover loss and preserve the relationship between shipper and consignee.

Full Visible Capacity
When the quantity of freight that fills a trailer will not allow for an additional article equal to the largest article on the shipment to be loaded on the trailer.

G

G.B.L.
Government bill of lading.

Gross Weight
The entire weight of a shipment to include containers and packaging materials.

H

Hazardous Materials
A substance or material which may pose an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property when transported. A fee will apply when shipping this type of commodity.

I

Import
To receive goods from a foreign country.

In Bond
Freight in custody of a government/bonded warehouse and will not be released by U.S. Customs until the taxes or duties are paid. A fee will apply on shipments moving In Bond.

Inbound
Freight moving towards a Service Center.

Inside Delivery
When the customer requests the carrier to place the freight inside the location of delivery somewhere other than a shipping dock. There is a fee for this services. Any request above the first floor could incur additional fees.

Interline Partnership
Relationship between Regional carriers to extend their service to areas outside of their directly serviced region into the partner’s region.

Interline Shipment
A shipment between two or more carriers.

Intermodal
The transportation of freight involving more than one mode (e.g., rail/motor, motor/air, rail/water).

Interstate Traffic
Traffic which moves across state lines in the course of a transportation movement.

Intrastate Traffic
Traffic originating and terminating within a given state and not moving out of the state at any point.

J

K

KDF (Knocked Down Flat)
When articles are disassembled for shipping.

L

LTL
Less than truckload shipment. In this case, a trailer may be comprised of freight from many different customers.

LTL Carrier
A trucking company that consolidates less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle.

Liftgate
A power operated tailgate to assist in loading and unloading freight. There is a fee assessed for this service.

Limited Access
When carrier makes a pickup or delivery to a limited access (difficult pickup or delivery location) location; a fee will be assessed for this service.

Linehaul Driver
Truck driver who travels a set route from the Service Center in one city to a Service Center in another city and typically returns home after each shift. Also known as a regional driver.

M

Marking of Freight
When a customer requests freight to be relabeled, carrier will perform this service. There is a fee assessed for this service. Also known as Tagging of Freight.

Minimum Charge
The minimum rate represents the lowest rate that may be charged on any movement between given points for a given commodity.

MySEFL
The secure area of the Southeastern Freight Lines website, where account specific tools are found, including Rate Quotes, Pickup Requests, and Invoice Payments Tools.

MySEFL Customer Reports
Reports available only through the secure area of the Southeastern Freight Lines website. They are created with a login and can include one or more customer accounts. Also see Shipment Planning Summary, Customer Manifest, Email/Text Notifications, Shipment History, and Customized Data Report.

N

NMFC
National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is a publication is used to help determine the applicable description and class for any particular commodity being shipped.

Notification Prior to Delivery
Notification will be made at the request of the customer for the carrier to provide notice of the arrival of the freight. This is not applicable on shipments of 20,000# and above. There is a fee assessed for this service.

O

Outbound Freight
Freight loaded on a trailer moving from one Service Center to another.

P

P&D
Pickup and delivery. May also be referred to as a city driver.

Prepaid shipment
A shipment for which the freight charges have been or will be paid by the shipper (or a third party as the shipper).

Pro Number
The label referencing a number placed on the freight bill by a carrier. This is used to identify and track shipments. Pro is short for the progressive range used to generate that number on a freight bill.

Proof of Delivery
Documentation provided by the carrier to the customer verifying signed receipt by the consignee of delivery.

Pup
A 28-foot trailer.

Q

R

Reconsignment
The process of changing the consignee while a shipment is in route through a change in the bill of lading. There are various fees applicable for this service depending on the circumstances of the reconsignment.

Redelivery
After initial delivery is attempted and the freight is refused, each subsequent delivery attempt is considered a redelivery. There is an additional fee for each attempt.

Reefer
Refrigerated trailer with insulate walls and a self-powered refrigeration unit. Most commonly used for transporting food.

Release Value
The value of a shipment set by the shipper which establishes the maximum liability of the carrier. Some commodities are also classed per the NMFC dependent on the value.

S

SU (Set-up)
When articles are completely assembled for shipment.

Section 7 (SEC 7)
When this section is signed on the bill of lading it relieves the shipper of responsibility of the freight charges if the carrier cannot collect from the consignee.

Service Center
One of the facilities for a trucking company that uses docks to move freight from trailer to trailer. LTL carriers pick up freight from multiple customers on one trailer. At the Service Center this freight is taken off the P&D trailer and loaded to appropriate Linehaul trailers to be transported to the appropriate cities. Once arrived in the destination city, those trailers are unloaded and reloaded onto appropriate P&D trailers for delivery to varies areas in that city. Also known as a Terminal.

Shipment History Summary
A historical customer report accessible via MySEFL that includes delivered shipment activity for date ranges within the past three months. These reports can include shipment details or summaries and can be used to monitor shipment volumes, transit performance, and the cost of freight services.

Shipment Planning Summary
A customer report accessible via MySEFL that provides a summary of the current OB and IB shipment activity by date. This report is to be used for a quick view of current shipment activity but provides links for quickly drilling down to more detailed shipment information.

Shipper Load and Count (SLC)
A notation made on the bill of lading that the loading and counting was performed by the shipper without carrier supervision or verification.

Sorting and Segregating
When the customer requests the carrier to assemble, pack, unpack, dismantle, inspect, or sort/segregate the freight. This is not included in the standard loading or unloading service. There is a fee assessed for this service.

Stop-off
Truckload or volume shipments with multiple stops in transit. There is a fee assessed for this service.

Storage
A charge for the storage of freight at the carrier’s facility in excess of the free time allowed.

Straight Truck
A truck in which all axles are attached to a single frame. This is opposed to an articulated vehicle, which consists of two or more separate frames connected by couplings (tractor & trailer).

T

TL Carrier
Trucking company which dedicates trailers to a single shipper’s cargo, as opposed to an LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier which transports the consolidated cargo of several shippers and makes multiple deliveries.

Tagging of Freight
When a customer requests freight to be relabeled, carrier will perform this service. There is a fee assessed for this service. Also known as Marking of Freight.

Terminal
One of the facilities for a trucking company that uses docks to move freight from trailer to trailer. LTL carriers pick up freight from multiple customers on one trailer. At the terminal this freight is taken off the P&D trailer and loaded to appropriate Linehaul trailers to be transported to the appropriate cities. Once arrived in the destination city, those trailers are unloaded and reloaded onto appropriate P&D trailers for delivery to varies areas in that city. Also known as a Service Center.

Third Party
The paying party of the freight charges on a shipment that is neither the shipper nor the consignee.

Tractor
Truck designed primarily to pull a trailer by means of a fifth wheel mounted over the rear axle.

Tractor Trailer
Tractor and semitrailer combination.

Transit Maps
Map of serviceable area with designations of the typical number of days required to transport freight to each area.

Truckload
A truckload shipment will be a single trailer filled with freight from one customer. This is in contrast to Less Than Truckload (LTL) in which a trailer may be comprised of freight from many different customers.

Twins
Combination of a tractor and two trailers connected in tandem by a converter dolly. Also known as doubles.

U

V

Van
An enclosed trailer in size typically of 40’, 45’, 48’, or 53’.

W

W&I
Weight and Inspection (W&I) is a process used to audit freight to ensure that it is properly weighed and has the proper class assigned.

WebConnect
The suite of APIs offered by Southeastern Freight Lines. See API.

X

Y

Z