A single quoted figure covering freight and the named surcharges, so the customer sees one number. What it includes must be stated, or disputes follow.

Example USD 1,500 all-in door to door, excluding duty and taxes.

See also Local Charges, THC

Bunker Adjustment Factor: a surcharge reflecting the cost of marine fuel, adjusted periodically by the carrier.

Example Freight quoted all-in, or as base freight plus BAF.

See also CAF, Surcharge

Cubic metre - the standard measure of shipment volume, calculated as length x width x height in metres.

Example 120 x 80 x 100 cm = 0.96 CBM per piece.

See also Volumetric Weight, LCL

The weight a shipment is billed on: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. It is why a light, bulky consignment can cost the same as a dense one.

Example 300 kg actual against 480 kg volumetric means you pay on 480 kg.

See also Volumetric Weight, Gross Weight

Full Container Load: the shipper takes a whole container, whether or not it is physically full.

Example One shipper books a 40' HC for their own cargo.

See also LCL, Consolidation

Less than Container Load: cargo from several shippers consolidated into one container, charged on volume or weight, whichever is greater.

Example Three pallets moving with other shippers' cargo.

See also FCL, CFS, Consolidation

Terminal Handling Charge: the terminal's fee for moving a container between the quay and the stack. Charged at both ends and quoted separately from ocean freight.

Example Origin THC at Nhava Sheva, destination THC at Rotterdam.

See also Local Charges, FOB

A weight derived from a shipment's dimensions, used so that carriers are paid for the space consumed. Air freight commonly divides cubic centimetres by 6000; sea LCL usually treats one cubic metre as one tonne.

Example 1.2 x 0.8 x 1.0 m by air = 160 kg volumetric.

See also Chargeable Weight, CBM