Airway Bill (AWB): air transportation contract drawn up in triplicate by the loader.

BAE: Available for release. This is a document issued by customs, and allows the importer to take possession of his goods.

BAF: Bunker Adjustment Factor: a maritime transportation surcharge in the event of an increase in fuel prices.

CAD: Cash against Document (Payment against document): the transit documents are consigned to a bank, which is instructed to deliver them to the importer only against payment.

CAF: Currency Adjustment Factor: a maritime transportation surcharge if changes in exchange rates have been unfavourable to the carrier since the price list was established.

Clean: this means that there are no reservations associated with the shipping documents.

Clean on board: a term to indicate that the goods have been boarded without reservation.

CMR: a road transportation convention which corresponds to the transportation document and to the attestation of responsibility for goods.

Congestion: traffic delays at the entrance to a port.

CTR: abbreviation of “container”

Documentary credit: an international payment technique consisting in obtaining payment by the purchaser’s bank (or by one’s own bank, if it is confirmed) rather than by one’s customer. It therefore amounts to an excellent guarantee, at the cost of a certain administrative complexity.

ETA: expected time (date) of arrival

ETD: estimated time (date) of departure

FCL: Full Container Load.

FCL/FCL: full container from departure to arrival, implying 1 sender and 1 recipient.

FCL/LCL: full container at departure for various recipients at the destination. Goods have to be degrouped at destination, implying 1 sender and several recipients

Grouping: the technique used to combine the goods of several senders so as to effect the main shipment in one loading unit (generally a maritime container).

IATA: International Air Transportation Association.

IFP: Interim Fuel Participation, a surcharge equivalent to the BAF, in the event of an increase in fuel prices

Incoterms: terms which specify the international conditions of sale. These contractual terms are standardised by the International Chamber of Commerce, and are used to establish the obligations of the seller and buyer in relation to the transportation chain.