Freight and Shipping Terms Glossary
Logistics Worldwide’s Freight and Shipping Terms Glossary helps you understand the language of transportation—from common acronyms and industry terminology to payment, credit, and supply chain terms.
Select a letter below to browse terms alphabetically. If you can’t find a term or need help understanding how it applies to your shipment, contact Logistics Worldwide.
The Freight Terms Glossary was compiled by the Georgia Institute of Technology in association with the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute.
- Jacket
A wood or fiber cover placed around such containers as cans and bottles.
- Jacob's Ladder
A rope ladder suspended from the side of a vessel and used for boarding.
- Jettison
Act of throwing cargo or equipment (jetsam) overboard when a ship is in danger.
- JIT
Abbreviation for "Just In Time." In this method of inventory control, warehousing is minimal or non_existent; the container is the movable warehouse and must arrive "just in time;" not too early nor too late.
- Joint Rate
A rate applicable from a point on one transportation line to a point on another line, made by agreement and published in a single tariff by all transportation lines over which the rate applies.
