What do common freight abbreviations mean?

APPT Appointment. A scheduled pickup or delivery time or window.

BOL Bill of Lading. The primary shipping document describing the freight and movement.

B2B Business to Business. A shipment moving between commercial locations.

B2C Business to Consumer. A shipment moving to an individual consumer.

COD Collect on Delivery or Cash on Delivery, depending on the carrier and context. Confirm the carrier's usage before assuming.

DC Distribution Center. A facility used to receive, store, sort or ship freight.

DOT Department of Transportation. In U.S. trucking, this usually refers to the U.S. Department of Transportation or a DOT identification number.

EDI Electronic Data Interchange. Standardized electronic exchange of freight and business documents.

ETA Estimated Time of Arrival. The expected arrival time, not necessarily a guaranteed appointment.

ETD Estimated Time of Departure. The expected departure time.

FCFS First Come, First Served. Trucks are generally handled in arrival order rather than by a fixed appointment.

FOB Free on Board. A domestic U.S. sales delivery term when used under UCC-style contracts; the named place matters. See FOB Origin vs FOB Destination.

FTL Full Truckload. A shipment using dedicated truck capacity rather than standard LTL network sharing.

GVW Gross Vehicle Weight. The actual weight of the vehicle plus cargo at a given time.

GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The manufacturer's rated maximum operating weight for the vehicle.

HOS Hours of Service. Federal rules governing commercial-driver driving and on-duty time.

LTL Less Than Truckload. Freight that shares network capacity with other shipments.

MC Motor Carrier. Commonly used when referring to a carrier's FMCSA operating-authority number.

NMFC National Motor Freight Classification. The U.S. LTL classification standard maintained by NMFTA.

NMFTA National Motor Freight Traffic Association. The organization that maintains the NMFC.

OS&D Over, Short and Damaged. A freight-receiving exception category. See OS&D.

P&D Pickup and Delivery. Local freight movement at the origin or destination end of a carrier network.

POD Proof of Delivery. Documentation showing that delivery was completed.

PO Purchase Order. The buyer's commercial order reference.

PRO Progressive Rotating Order or carrier PRO number in traditional freight usage; in practice, use it as the carrier-assigned LTL tracking number.

PTL Partial Truckload. Freight that occupies more space than typical LTL but less than a full dedicated trailer.

RDD Required Delivery Date. A date by which a shipment is required or committed to deliver in a particular service context.

SCAC Standard Carrier Alpha Code. A short code used to identify transportation companies.

TMS Transportation Management System. Software used to plan, tender, track and manage freight.

TONU Truck Ordered Not Used. A charge that may apply after a truck is committed but the shipment does not move. See TONU.

WMS Warehouse Management System. Software used to manage inventory and warehouse activity.