| Appraisement | Determination of the dutiable value of imported merchandise by a Customs official who follows procedures outlined in their country's tariff, such as the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930. |
| Appraiser's Stores | The warehouse or public stores to which samples of imported goods are taken to be inspected, analyzed, weighed, etc. by examiners or appraisers. |
| Arbitrary | A stated amount over a fixed rate to one point to make a rate to another point. |
| Arrival Notice | A notification by carrier of ship's arrival to the consignee, the "Notify Party," and - when applicable - the "Also Notify Party." These parties in interest are listed in blocks 3, 4 and 10, respectively, of the Bill of Lading. |
| ASC X12 | American Standards Committee X12 responsible for developing EDI standards for the United States. |
| Assignment | A term commonly used in connection with a bill of lading. It involves the transfer of rights, title and interest in order to assign goods by endorsing the bill of lading. |
| Astern | Behind a vessel. Move in a reverse direction. |
| ATDNSHINC | Any time Day or Night Sundays & Holidays Included. |
| Athwartships | A direction across the width of a vessel. |
| Average | See insurance. |
| Avoirdupois Pound | Same as 0.4535924277 kilograms. |
| AWWL | Always within Institute Warranties Limits (Insurance purpose). |
| B/L | Abbreviation for "Bill of Lading." |
| Backhaul | To haul a shipment back over part of a route it has traveled. |
| BAF | Abbreviation for "Bunker Adjustment Factor." Used to compensate steamship lines for fluctuating fuel costs. Sometimes called "Fuel Adjustment Factor" or FAF. |
| Balloon Freight | Light, bulky articles. |
| Bank Guarantee | Guarantee issued by a bank to a carrier to be used in lieu of lost or misplaced original negotiable bill of lading. |
| Barratry | An act committed by the master or mariners of a vessel, for some unlawful or fraudulent purpose, contrary to their duty to the owners, whereby the latter sustain injury. It may include negligence, if so gross as to evidence fraud. |
| Barrel (BBL) | A term of measure referring to 42 gallons of liquid at 60o F. |
| Base Rate | A tariff term referring to ocean rate less accessorial charges, or simply the base tariff rate. |
| BB | Ballast Bonus (Special payment above the Chartering price when the ship has to sail a long way on ballast to reach the loading port.) |
| BCO | Abbreviation for "Beneficial Cargo Owner." Refers to the importer of record, who physically takes possession of cargo at destination and does not act as a third party in the movement of such goods. |
| Beam | The width of a ship. |
| Belt Line | A switching railroad operating within a commercial area. |
| Beneficiary | Entity to whom money is payable. |
| Berth Terms | Shipped under rate that includes cost from end of ship's tackle at load port to end of ship's tackle at discharge port. |
| Beyond | Used with reference to charges assessed for cargo movement past a line-haul terminating point. |
| Bilateral | A contract term meaning both parties agree to provide something for the other. |
| Bill of Exchange | In the United States, commonly known as a "Draft." However, bill of exchange is the correct term. |
| Bill of Lading | Multi-use documents that are essential to conduct the day-to-day operations when transportation of supplies, materials, and personal property is required. These primary documents are used to procure freight and express transportation and related services from commercial carriers, including freight forwarders. |
| Bill of Lading Port of Discharge | Port where cargo is discharged from means of transport. |
| Bill of Sale | Confirms the transfer of ownership of certain goods to another person in return for money paid or loaned. |
| Bill to Party | Customer designated as party paying for services. |
| Billed Weight | The weight shown in a waybill and freight bill, i.e, the invoiced weight. |
| Blanket Bond | A bond covering a group of persons, articles or properties. |
| Blanket Rate | A rate applicable to or from a group of points. A special rate applicable to several different articles in a single shipment. |
| Blanket Waybill | A waybill covering two or more consignments of freight. |
| Blind Shipment | A B/L wherein the paying customer has contracted with the carrier that shipper or consignee information is not given. |
| Block Stowage | Stowing cargo destined for a specific location close together to avoid unnecessary cargo movement. |
| Blocked Trains | Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction. |
