Arrival notice. The steamship line’s notice that a container is arriving, usually showing the vessel, ETA, container number, size and charges.
Availability / release. When a container has no customs, line or terminal holds and can be picked up.
Bobtail. A tractor driving without a chassis or container.
Booking. The export reservation with a steamship line. It authorizes the empty container pickup.
Chassis. The wheeled frame a container sits on. See chassis.
Chassis split. Picking up or returning a chassis at a different location from the container, which adds a stop.
Cutoff (port cutoff). The last time an export container can be returned to the terminal for its vessel.
Demurrage. Storage charges for a container staying at the terminal past its free time. See demurrage, per diem and detention.
Driver detention / waiting time. A charge for keeping the truck waiting beyond the included time.
Drop. Leaving a container at your facility and picking it up later. See live unload vs. drop.
Dry run. A trip that couldn’t be completed, for example because the container wasn’t available or the facility couldn’t receive it.
EIR (equipment interchange receipt). The terminal’s gate record of a container and chassis, with exact times. See EIRs.
ERD (earliest return date). The first day a terminal accepts an export container for a vessel.
FSC (fuel surcharge). A charge that adjusts for fuel prices, either separate or included in the line haul.
Genset. A generator that powers a refrigerated container on the road.
Gross vehicle weight. Tractor + chassis + container + cargo. See weight.
Interchange agreement. The contract allowing a trucker to use someone else’s equipment, such as a container, chassis or trailer.
LFD (last free day). The last day an import container can stay at the terminal without storage charges.
Line haul. The base charge for the move itself.
Live unload / live load. The driver waits while the container is unloaded or loaded.
Overweight. Over a legal gross or axle limit. Moving it requires a permit and a permitted route, if available at all.
Per diem. A daily charge from the steamship line for keeping its container outside the terminal past the free days. Chassis rental is a separate daily charge. See demurrage, per diem and detention.
Power only. The carrier provides the tractor and driver; the customer provides the trailer.
Prepull. Moving a container to a yard before delivery. See prepulls.
Steamship line (ocean carrier). The company that carries the container by sea and controls its free time and return.
Tare weight. The weight of the empty container, printed on the door.
TMF (Traffic Mitigation Fee). A PierPass fee on certain loaded container moves at LA/Long Beach terminals.
Tri-axle chassis. A chassis with three axles, used to spread the weight of heavy containers.