Author name: The Alibaba.com Team

A common carrier is a transportation service provider that serves the public for a fee and is liable for any loss or damage of goods during transit.

A consolidator is an entity that combines shipments from different shippers or locations into full container loads for economical & efficient freight.

Cross-docking is a logistics technique that transfers goods from inbound transport to outbound transport with minimal storage or handling.

Contract of carriage is a legal agreement between carrier and shipper for transporting goods under certain terms and conditions.

An export license is a government permit allowing the exportation of specified controlled goods, with the due diligence required from the exporters.

Inland Haulage Charges (IHC) are land transportation costs for goods to/from ports and vary depending on the type and weight of the goods.

Intermodal shipping is moving goods using different transport modes and carriers with standardized containers for efficiency.

Multimodal shipping is the seamless coordination of shipment through varied methods under one contract. It may use different types of containers.

Customs Brokers are licensed experts who speed up customs clearance, ensure compliance and handle documents for international trade.

Tare weight is the recognized weight of an empty container, essential for accurately determining cargo weight in logistics & ensuring correct billing.

USMCA is a trade agreement between the US, Mexico, & Canada that replaces NAFTA and adapts trade rules to the current and future economic challenges.

Palletizations refer to the ways to arrange and secure goods on flat structures for easy, safe handling, storage, and transport, to protect the cargo.

Reefer is a refrigerated container or ship with climate control for perishable cargo transport.

A Letter of Credit (LC) is a banking tool designed to assure payment to the seller upon meeting specified terms to minimize any transaction risks.

A Power of Attorney (POA) authorizes a third party to handle primarily customs matters for importers or exporters. POA requirements vary by country.