Glossary

Knowing where containers are before, during, and after transit. See Tracking and Tracing.

The location designated by the carrier for receiving, assembling, holding, storing, and delivering containers, and where containers may be picked and returned.

A steamship-line service where freight is transported from an origin container yard to the destination container yard.

Preparations made to deal with calamities (e.g., natural disasters) and noncalamitous situations (e.g., strikes) before they occur.

The streamlined pull of products in response to customer requirements while minimizing the total costs of distribution.

A process to measure performance, review the performance, and put in place procedures to improve the performance. Then repeat continuously.

The manufacturing and movement of product through the supply chain is initiated when the identical product is purchased by an end user.

An agreement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law. It outlines each party's obligations to provide or pay for goods or services.

Managing all aspects of a contract to ensure both parties fulfil their obligations.

A for-hire carrier that serves shippers it has contracts with rather than the general public. The carrier must secure a permit to operate and obey regulations.

Agreement between a cargo shipper and carrier for the transport of multiple cargoes over a period of time. Includes quantities, ports, rates and contract duration.

The earnings remaining after all direct costs have been subtracted from revenue. This remainder is available to pay for any fixed costs that a business incurs.

Represents the incremental money generated for each product/unit sold after deducting the variable portion of the firm's costs; stated on a gross or per-unit basis.

Areas within a warehouse or yard that are secured through being fenced and gated and often monitored with cameras. Typically used to store high-value items.

The means by which goods or materials are transported, such as trucks, trains, ships, and planes.

A material handling device that moves materials, packages, or items from one place to another. Most often used in warehouse operations.

Private business organizations that are owned and controlled by the people and businesses who use its products, supplies or services.

The use of two or more carriers of different modes to transport a shipment. Often done to improve efficiency or save money.

Produces or packages goods for other companies, usually under the other company’s label or name. Often used in the consumer packaged goods and food areas.

Common Object Request Broker Architecture. Enables software written in multiple computer languages and running on multiple computers to work together.

A capability or expertise of a business that is fundamental to its success and often provides a competitive advantage.

The critical capability that is central to a company’s competitive strategy.

Internal (not GAAP-compliant) managerial accounting system designed to evaluate company costs for the purpose of improving productivity and increasing profit.

The process of identifying, accumulating, and assigning costs incurred by activities and distributing them to appropriate accounts.

Seller arranges and pays for transport of goods to the destination port but risk transfers from seller to buyer once the goods are loaded on board at the origin port.