Courier and Logistics Glossary: 40 Terms Explained

Courier and logistics vocabulary is full of abbreviations and terms that sound alike but mean different things. This glossary defines 40 of them in plain language, grouped by topic, so you can read a quote, fill out a form, or brief a dispatcher without guessing. Definitions describe common usage; individual providers, carriers, and regulators can define terms slightly differently, so confirm anything that affects cost or liability in writing.

How to Use This Glossary

Terms are grouped into seven sections: service levels and timing, service models, documents and proof, the parties involved, aviation, regulated and medical shipments, and cost and risk. Where a term has a longer explanation elsewhere on our site, the definition links to it. If a quote or form uses a term that is not here, ask the provider to define it before you accept.

Service Levels and Timing

Same-day delivery: A pickup and delivery completed within the same calendar day, usually requiring a booking before a cut-off time. See same-day vs next-day delivery.
Next-day delivery: Delivery on the business day after pickup. It is usually cheaper than same-day because it fits into planned routes.
Rush (expedited) delivery: A service prioritized above standard timing. The term is not standardized, so ask what time frame the provider means.
Time-critical: Describes a shipment where lateness has serious consequences, such as a missed procedure or a grounded aircraft. See what time-critical means.
Pickup and delivery windows: The periods during which the driver is expected to arrive at the pickup address and the shipment is expected to reach its destination.
Cut-off time: The latest time a booking can be placed or a shipment can be ready to meet a given service level.
ETA: Estimated time of arrival. It is a forecast, not a guarantee, and it changes with traffic, weather, and access.
Direct run: A trip from pickup to delivery with no other stops. It is the fastest model and usually the most costly.

Service Models

Dedicated courier: A driver and vehicle reserved for one customer's job or period. See dedicated vs shared routes.
Shared route: A route that combines several customers' jobs, which lowers cost but adds stops and time.
Onboard courier (OBC): A person who travels with a shipment and hands it over in person at the destination. See what an onboard courier is.
Standing route: A recurring pickup or delivery on a fixed schedule, such as a daily clinic-to-lab run.

Documents and Proof

Proof of delivery (POD): A record that a shipment was delivered, typically a signature, name, time, and sometimes a photo.
Chain of custody: A documented record of who held a shipment at every stage, from pickup to delivery. See chain of custody.
Bill of lading: A document issued by a carrier that acknowledges receipt of goods and sets out the terms of carriage.
Waybill: A shipping document that travels with the goods and lists sender, recipient, and a description of the shipment. Unlike some bills of lading, it is not a document of title.
Air waybill (AWB): The shipping document for air cargo, identified by an 11-digit number. It is the contract of carriage between shipper and air carrier.
Packing list: A list of what is in the shipment, piece by piece, used to verify the contents on arrival.
Commercial invoice: A document that states what was sold, to whom, and for how much. It is a key document for cross-border shipments.
Wet-ink signature: A handwritten signature in ink on a paper document, which some registries and authorities still require in place of an electronic one. See sending original documents.
Apostille: A certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country that is party to the Hague convention.

The Parties Involved

Consignor (shipper): The person or company that sends the goods and offers them for transport.
Consignee: The person or company that receives the goods.
Carrier: A company that transports goods, whether by road, air, rail, or sea. See courier vs carrier.
Courier: A service focused on fast, tracked, often door-to-door delivery of parcels and documents, usually with a named handling chain.

Aviation

AOG (aircraft on ground): An aircraft that cannot fly until a part is delivered or a repair is made. See what AOG shipping is.
MRO: Maintenance, repair, and overhaul: the organizations that service aircraft and their components.
Rotable: A repairable aircraft component that is removed, overhauled, and reused rather than discarded. See rotable exchange logistics.
Release certificate: A document certifying the airworthiness status of a part. FAA Form 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 are common examples.
Air cargo terminal: A facility at an airport where freight is received, stored, and released to the consignee. See airport cargo pickup.

Regulated and Medical Shipments

Cold chain: An unbroken sequence of temperature-controlled handling from origin to destination. See cold-chain logistics.
TDG: Transportation of Dangerous Goods: Canada's regulatory framework for transporting hazardous materials. See the dangerous goods guide.
UN number: A four-digit identifier assigned to a dangerous substance or group of substances.
UN3373: The UN designation for Biological Substance, Category B, used for many diagnostic specimens.
Loaner set: A set of surgical instruments or implants lent by a manufacturer to a hospital for a procedure. See surgical loaner sets.

Cost and Risk

Declared value: The value the shipper states for a shipment, used to determine liability limits and any insurance.
Liability limit: The maximum amount a carrier will pay for loss or damage under its terms. See insurance and liability.
Accessorial charge: A charge in addition to the base rate, such as waiting time, after-hours work, or extra stops.
Wait time: Time a driver spends at a stop beyond what was planned, which some providers charge separately.
Failed attempt: A delivery or pickup that could not be completed, for instance because the recipient was absent or the address was wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does POD mean in shipping?

POD means proof of delivery: the record, usually a signature, name, and time, that a shipment reached its recipient. Ask your courier what its POD includes.

What is a cut-off time?

It is the latest time you can book, or have a shipment ready, to qualify for a given service level. Missing the cut-off often moves a job to the next available slot.

What is the difference between a waybill and a bill of lading?

Both travel with goods and describe them. A bill of lading is issued by a carrier as a receipt and as a statement of the terms of carriage; a waybill is a simpler document that is not a document of title.

What is a consignor?

The consignor is the party that sends the goods and offers them for transport. In regulated shipments, such as dangerous goods, it carries the main responsibility for classification and documents.

What does declared value mean?

It is the value you state for the shipment. It affects any liability limit and the insurance that applies, so state it honestly and before the pickup.

When in Doubt, Ask for the Definition in Writing

The most expensive misunderstandings in logistics are usually vocabulary: two people using the same word for different things. If a quote, form, or contract uses a term that affects price, timing, or liability, ask the provider to define it in writing.

If you have a question about a term that is not listed, send it through the contact page, or describe your job through the quote form and we will translate it into plain terms. For packing and booking, see our pickup checklist and our guide to what drives courier cost.