Logistics & Shipping Terms Glossary — Plain-English Definitions

Shipping has its own alphabet. This glossary defines the freight, container, cargo, document, and customs terms South African importers and exporters meet most often — in plain English, with the South African context that generic glossaries miss. JLog is a Cape Town 3PL and customs clearance specialist; we use these terms every day moving fine art, designer furniture, luxury goods, and e-commerce freight. Bookmark this page, or ask us if a term on your invoice isn’t here.

Freight & transportation terms

FCL — Full Container Load

You book an entire shipping container for your goods alone. Cost-effective when you have enough cargo to fill (or nearly fill) a container.

LCL — Less than Container Load

Your goods share a container with other shippers’ cargo. You pay for the space you use. Best for smaller consignments that don’t justify a full container.

FTL — Full Truck Load

An entire truck dedicated to your road freight.

LTL — Less than Truck Load

Your goods share truck space with other consignments — the road equivalent of LCL.

NVOCC — Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier

A company that consolidates and moves sea freight without owning the ships, issuing its own bills of lading.

Containers & shipping terms

TEU — Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit

The standard measure of container capacity, based on a 20-foot container. One 20-foot container = 1 TEU.

FEU — Forty-foot Equivalent Unit

A 40-foot container = 2 TEU. Used to describe larger container volumes.

VGM — Verified Gross Mass

The certified total weight of a packed container, legally required before it can be loaded onto a vessel.

POL — Port of Loading

The port where cargo is loaded onto the vessel.

POD — Port of Discharge

The port where cargo is unloaded. (Note: POD can also mean Proof of Delivery in last-mile courier contexts — check the situation.)

Cargo measurement & pricing terms

CBM — Cubic Metre

The volume of your cargo (length × width × height in metres). Sea freight is often priced per CBM.

CW — Chargeable Weight

The weight an airline or courier bills you on — the greater of actual weight or volumetric (dimensional) weight. Bulky-but-light cargo is charged on its size.

Shipping documents

AWB — Air Waybill

The transport contract and tracking document for air freight, issued by the airline or forwarder.

BOL — Bill of Lading

The transport document for sea freight — it’s the contract of carriage, receipt for the goods, and (for an original BOL) a document of title.

COO — Certificate of Origin

States where goods were made. Needed to claim preferential duty rates under trade agreements (e.g. the SA–UK or SA–EU agreements).

COC — Certificate of Conformity

Certifies that goods meet the required standards or regulations of the destination country.

LC — Letter of Credit

A bank guarantee that the seller will be paid once shipping conditions are met. Common in first-time or higher-risk international deals.

MSDS — Material Safety Data Sheet

Required for shipping hazardous or regulated materials; details handling, hazards, and emergency information.

Customs & compliance terms

HS Code — Harmonised System Code

The internationally standardised number that classifies a product for customs. It determines the duty rate. South Africa uses 8-digit codes built on the 6-digit international standard, maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and used by more than 200 countries and territories. Look yours up with the JLog HS Code Directory.

SAD500 — Single Administrative Document

The customs declaration (bill of entry) lodged with SARS for every formal import or export.

Deferment Account

A SARS facility that lets an importer or clearing agent defer payment of duties and VAT to a set date, rather than paying per shipment — easing cash flow. (Sometimes loosely called a “duty deferment” arrangement.)

FOB — Free On Board

The value of goods at the point of export, before international freight and insurance. South Africa’s customs duty is calculated on the FOB value — not on CIF. See the Incoterms guide for how this differs from the commercial Incoterm.

CIF — Cost, Insurance & Freight

A commercial Incoterm meaning the price includes shipping and insurance to the destination port. Important SA nuance: CIF is a pricing term — it is NOT the South African customs valuation base (SARS uses FOB + 10% uplift + duty = the Added Tax Value).

Need a term explained?

If a code or abbreviation on your shipping documents isn’t listed here, email [email protected] or call 021 300 6099 — we’ll explain it and tell you whether it affects your duty, your timeline, or your paperwork. JLog also handles the work behind these terms — customs clearance, fine art shipping, and import duty calculation — across South Africa. For the trade terms that decide who pays for freight, insurance, and customs, see our Incoterms explained guide.

Last updated: June 2026 · JLog — Specialist 3PL & Customs, Cape Town